FBI Raids Homes of Seattle and Portland Occupy Activists

A US newspaper has revealed that the FBI has been raiding the houses of anti-Wall Street protesters in Oregon and Washington in what the agency describes an “ongoing violent crime investigation.”

(TEHRAN) - The Oregonian newspaper reported that heavily-armed domestic terrorism units of the FBI have been raiding the homes of activists in Seattle and Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon over the last month.

The report said that at least six homes have been raided in the two states since July 10.

The FBI has described the raids as part of an ongoing violent crime investigation, linked to last year’s Occupy May Day protests, during which a number of minor acts of vandalism allegedly took place.

In one of the raids, eyewitnesses reported as many as 80 agents in body armor, wearing military fatigues, and armed with assault rifles participated in the raid.

“I just heard lots of pounding at 6 o'clock, and I got up and I saw the whole thing," said one of the eyewitnesses, adding, "I saw them screaming to get in. They were using the battering ram, and then finally the door just opened.”

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele told the newspaper, “The warrants are sealed… and I anticipate they will remain sealed.”

The paper said the agents were searching for “anti-government or anarchist literature or material” and “documentation and communications related to the offenses, including but not limited to notes, diagrams, letters, diary and journal entries, address books, and other documentation in written or electronic form.”

The Occupy Wall Street movement began when a group of demonstrators gathered in New York's financial district on September 17, 2011 to protest against corruption, the unjust distribution of wealth in the country, and the excessive influence of big corporations on US policies.

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Ant August 22, 2012 6:23 pm (Pacific time)

This is Facism in all its glory! Enjoy the ride US, you are the first to experience this.... but i hope for humanities sake, we all wake up and start defending a basic right of freedom of speech. Then we can really start a real intent towards real freedom.

OH August 21, 2012 9:04 am (Pacific time)

The grievances of the 99% are not going away, the 1% is a robot that threatens all our lives, that be-littles our work, calls us lazy, corrupts our govt, we are not able to have sensible policies because of the 1%. While the 1% insults the 99% by calling us lazy, they demand ever greater worship, they want to take credit for all the inventions that people making under 200k a year should take credit for. Those making 100k a year have identified with the 1% but now they have a pay cut for their hard work and you know that a pay cut means lazy under the terms of the arrogant 1% who will not acknowledge any work that American workers do. There will certainly be silly agent provocateurs and manipulated teenagers and a few geeks who break windows, and I condemn them utterly, I condemn them to face the wrath of the establishment - throw your own protest man if you want to smash windows - get a few of your idiot window smashing frieds together - but dont try to come to a real legitimate rally - the 99% are going to win - however many setbacks because you cant tell the overwhelming majority of Americans that they have no grievances.

Hobbs August 18, 2012 2:36 pm (Pacific time)

Show me the proof or credible story (nothing from the likes of Breitbart.com) that says the Colorado shooter is/was an #Occupy member/participant.

Ronald von Pirch August 17, 2012 9:52 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Tim, beside the fact that a story like this you would never find in a German Newspaper, I would like to ask in what Newspaper you found it. You just wrote -A US newspaper- and second question is, if you allow that I spread a link of your articles to friends who have websites and comment blogs for critical citizens. I am also able to translate your article(s)into German and distribute, but not sure if that is o.k. with you. rgds Ron

Tim King: Indeed Ron, this look at the story as obvious as it is, has not appeared anywhere prior to now; you are welcome to blog it and republish it and to translate in to German. I really appreciate the interest, it is a German friend and contact who alerted me to this story in the first place, small world it is!

Mac August 15, 2012 4:25 pm (Pacific time)

The editor is obviously an Occupy supporter. Anyone who has issues with how Occupy protests is met with spin and deflection instead of admitting that there are some within the movement that do not behave themselves when they protest. That is one of the main reasons the public hasn't taken them seriously.

Editor: The public has taken it very seriously, just not the aspect you represent. Of course people with Occupy have made mistakes, one is a Marine Brother named Scott Olsen who made the MISTAKE of believing the police in Oakland weren't a rogue force capable of shooting not only people, with deadly tear gas canisters; they also threw a flash bang when his Veteran Brothers and Sisters went in to help, screaming "Corpsman! Medic" because the people who are Occupy are in many cases, our disenchanted Combat Vets who fought for their nation only to have it become what it is, a terrible, corrupt bankster led mess of a crime state that befriends governments that practice state terrorism. Oh yeah, that's right, the US is one of those. Thank God people are willing to stand up to it.

August 14, 2012 8:56 pm (Pacific time)

I agree, you have the right to voice your opinion. However, you do not have the right to destroy property, insult other individuals, rape women, and defecate and urinate on Police cars and buildings

Editor: You need to understand that Occupy has nothing to do with that, for a moment I thought you were talking about the conduct of Coalition troops in Iraq.

Anonymous August 14, 2012 9:07 am (Pacific time)

It's about time. Remember, the Colorado shooter was one of them. Tired of hard working tax money wasted to clean up their trash. Just lock them all up. It's really nice to see that this paper has close ties to Iran, makes me feel so safe.

Editor: Americans have a right to protest, maybe you aren't from this country, but it is what you call a melting pot. People are people, the Colorado shooter was a deranged idiot.

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FBI Raids Homes of Seattle and Portland Occupy Activists

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