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Over the past few months everyone has been paying close attention to three activists on the west coast who have had their lives torn apart by the police and the legal system, simply because they refused to answer any questions in a grand jury case.

Even worse, this case is regarding crimes that they have absolutely no connection to, as they were not even in the same state at the time that the alleged crimes took place.

As of right now, two are still behind bars, with no clue when they will be able to get out.

They have not been given a sentence and will remain behind bars indefinitely, until the investigating federal officers say that they are allowed to go home.

Earlier this month, one of the activists was released in a very upset and traumatized state and is still recovering from the kidnap.

As friends and activists throughout the country are fighting to spring the remaining two from jail, the feds have widened their investigation, summoning another anarchists from the community.

Just this week Maddy Pfeiffer of Olympia, WA was served a subpoena in a similar grand jury proceeding that is involving the same investigation.

After receiving the subpoena he posted a statement that read in part:
"On October 25th, the day before my 23rd birthday, two FBI agents wearing ill-fitting khakis and too much gel in their hair, served me a subpoena for 9am on November 7th.

I knew my fate right away: 18 months in SeaTac Federal Detention Center.

Matt, Kteeo and Leah have all been imprisoned for their refusal and I will be the next. Despite the urgings of lawyers, agents and judges, I only have one option: non-cooperation.

Any other option is unthinkable.

I am being asked to testify before a Grand Jury on November 7th and will likely be detained on that date for refusing to cooperate.

The vultures of the state will try to imprison my comrades and I until we give in. We will never give in."
Grand jury trials are very shady ordeals, which have totally different rules than the typical court case.

Defense attorneys are not even allowed to be present, and the proceedings of the case are completely secret.

According to the grand jury infosheet on antipolitics.com:
"Since their inception, both in England and in the United States, grand juries have been used against political dissidents, the jurors often being hand-picked to ensure indictment.

A modern variation on this abuse of power relies on political activists' reluctance to turn informant.

Activists are subpoenaed with the expectation that they will refuse to testify, and thus end up in jail for lengthy periods.

The person who was subpoenaed is thereby immobilized, while other activists are deterred from further participation."
It doesn't matter if you agree with all of the philosophical conclusions that these particular activists have come to, they are peaceful people who don't belong behind bars.

The expansion of this investigation is a sign of the type of political witch hunt that is typical in the worst of dictatorships.

Read more articles by this author HERE.

J.G. Vibes is the author of an 87 chapter counter culture textbook called Alchemy of the Modern Renaissance, a staff writer and reporter for The Intel Hub and host of a show called Voluntary Hippie Radio.

You can keep up with his work, which includes free podcasts, free e-books & free audiobooks at his website www.aotmr.com