Thread by @45thabsurdist

All of this is true, so I’m going to post some links of information about grand juries and grand jury resistance

https://twitter.com/Claudio_Report/status/1390498706546323460

The civil liberties defense center has a bunch of information on grand juries. To start with here is an overview of what a grand jury is and how they work.
cldc.org/grand-juries/

Here is one story of how grand jury resistance works and why.

“In a strange twist of juridical logic reserved for grand jury investigations, Koch was imprisoned for the very same reason he was freed nearly eight months later: his silence.”

salon.com/2014/02/03/the…

The national lawyers guild Bay Area chapter has a plethora of information about how grand juries work and how to interact with them as an activist as well as training materials nlgsf.org/programs-commi…

“Let’s show the investigators that our lives and friendships are none of their business.”

Crimethinc. on the 2012 Seattle grand jury, convened to map & document anarchist organizing in the PNW during a previous high point in regional anarchist activity. crimethinc.com/2013/02/23/sup…

Grand juries are not trials. They are fact finding investigations to decide if there is enough evidence to bring cases. Oftentimes they are used to try and get names and information in increasingly larger circles

When you are subpoenaed for a grand jury your lawyer is not allowed in and all proceedings are kept secret.

If you don’t cooperate you can be jailed. For federal grand juries you can. E jailed for as long as the grand jury is in session.

Or you can be let go immediately even if you don’t talk. So no one knows for sure if you cooperated or not. This can be done to sow division and distrust and destroy activist networks.

The first time I played werewolf it was at an anarchist event during the green scare and was used to show how rumors and fear could tear communities apart with accusations. There were a lot of grand juries going on.

Grand jury resistance works. If it is clear that you will not talk you will be let go. Eventually. When everyone resists grand juries don’t work. However grand jury resistance requires solidarity with the resistors.

Being ready to resist for a long time is hard.

If people go to jail for months or longer they can loose their jobs and then their housing. How will your rent get paid if you resist? Will the activist community take care of your housing, your pets, your kids?

Solidarity with jury resistors makes their silence possible

Always make plans with friends to know how you will take care of each other and what needs will have to be covered. Support local resistors and don’t spread rumors and do the cops work for them. Here is some final reading materials for more. grandjuryresistance.org/statement.html

When we say make it clear you will not talk this can involve making public statements to that end publicizing your subpoena and your intent to resist. Talk to a lawyer.

This is “coercive detention”

As grand jury detention must (legally) be coercive, firm public statements that you *will not be coerced* can be an important defense.

On paper, the state is supposed to let you go if you say some version of “I won’t & you can’t make me!” with conviction, & they believe you.