We can claim victory over the Feds in Iowa! But, is it time to breathe a sigh of relief? I say NO! It's time to organize, get ready for the next rounds of subpoenas. Bring not 200 activists to the courthouse but 20,000. Our right of dissent is at stake. Our ability to meet, to talk freely, to not be on a list, to protest are all at stake.

Over 200 people met at the Federal Courthouse steps in Des Moines Iowa February 10th, at noon to show support for four peace activists who had been subpoenaed to testify in front of a criminal grand jury. Drake University had been subpoenaed and gagged.

The crimes? The University and activists had met for a forum on civil disobedience sponsored by the Drake School of Law National Lawyers Guild Chapter. The activists protested the next day, using their first amendment rights.

The crowd, composed of activists from the peace community, students, civil libertarians and anti repression activists, cheered when it was announced that a Federal Judge had quashed the subpoenas. The motions to suppress the subpoenas were prepared for Drake University by The NLG and the motion for the Des Moines Four was prepared by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union.

The speakers told their stories, stories of fear, intimidation, where they felt the victim. Not one of those subpoenaed said this would stop them. Only one speaker asked what were we going to do if this happens again.

Was this some mistake on the government's part? Did some Federal prosecutor, acting alone, overzealously, subpoena these non-violent peace activists? In a town where the Federal Prosecutor is on a first name basis with some of those served subpoenas could this really have been an aberration or was this a test case in which the men who control the Juggernaut of fear and repression could see who turns out for the defense of the innocent?

In order for the government to successfully engage in war on the world it needs to kill dissent at home. Could this have been a warning, or was it a practice run to slice into the heart of the anti-war movement? The Feds have been cutting their teeth on these types of subpoenas in the Arab, Muslim, and South Asian communities since 2001.

The Press was on our side in Iowa, but next time it may not be those who are easily related to in the press who get a federal subpoena. Next time there may not be 200 people at the steps of the courthouse, next time the judge hearing the motions to suppress may be a Bush appointee. Next time they may come for you.

If we don't act now we allow them to gain valuable ground using the lessons they learned in Des Moines. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.