Repeal FARA! Campaign launched to defend free speech & peace organizing

On Saturday, December 13th, the Uhuru Solidarity Coalition launched its campaign to repeal the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Two of the Uhuru Defendants, Jesse Nevel and Omali Yeshitela, spoke at the meeting, along with Reginald Calloway of New Zealand. Two Center for Political Innovation speakers joined the webinar.

Jesse Nevel introduced Caleb Maupin, saying: “We’re very honored to have Caleb on with us today. He’s been a staunch supporter and freedom fighter with the Hands Off struggle from the very beginning.” Caleb’s remarks focused on how the FARA law, which originated in the Roosevelt era, has been a tool primarily of the Atlanticist wing of the American elite. Caleb cited Carroll Quigley’s analysis of the “Anglo-American Establishment” and noted how Jimmy Carter mobilized Congress to go after allies of Park Chung Hee’s government in South Korea, invoking FARA and publishing hundreds of pages of allegations against various Korean businessmen and Rev. Sun Myung Moon. He then went on to describe how Obama utilized the law to target Palestine activists and Ben Israel, a Black Hebrew Israelite organizer who was imprisoned for alleged ties to the government of Zimbabwe. Caleb emphasized that many on the dissident MAGA right wing are confused and believe the law can be utilized against Israel, when in reality it is a tool in the hands of the Anglo-Zionists that can be weaponized against anyone who advocates peace.

John McCarthy, also representing CPI, received a warm introduction from Jesse Nevel: “I want to appreciate John McCarthy. I feel like he’s exemplary in this regard. Any opportunity John has to stand up with some flyers and make a statement at an event—whether it’s, you know, with Julian Assange’s father and brother who came to Chicago, or any other opportunity, you know, Jimmy Dore—any opportunity that John has to get the word out, he takes it. So we want everybody to be like John. And, you know, all of us have a responsibility to be the foot soldiers for this campaign. This is our ammunition right here, and we also have ammunition for distributing the word online.”

John delivered spirited remarks hailing the African People’s Socialist Party for standing up to the prosecution and bringing together a diverse coalition, and emphasizing that CPI will throw itself solidly into the campaign to get this unconstitutional law—which restricts peace activism and free speech—abolished.

In his keynote presentation, Chairman Omali emphasized the division within the ruling class and how FARA has been utilized against Trump by his opponents. He referred back to Caleb’s presentation and referenced the Trilateral Commission and NATO. Chairman Omali also emphasized the moves against pro-Palestine voices by the administration and the need to protect civil liberties. Chairman Omali made a point of especially honoring the Center for Political Innovation, saying: “I saw Caleb—actually I saw him in Russia—talk to the president about our case, you know, in a mass meeting and what have you. I mean, that’s what I really appreciate about these comrades. They are there. And, you know, there have been folks who at times have told us that we should not have a relationship with them. I’m sure there are people who told them they shouldn’t have a relationship with us too. But I just think that some of the same people who make those statements were nowhere to be found when the attacks came. And so I just wanted to elaborate on their presence and their participation in this movement. We really appreciate you comrades deeply. And it’s despite, you know, recognizing some ideological and theoretical differences—but these comrades have been there.”

During the Q&A session, Uhuru organizers inquired about CPI’s relationship with the Libertarian Party and other forces. The Saturday afternoon webinar is intended to be the start of a full-blown campaign and coalition to protect free speech.

Transcript of Caleb Maupin’s remarks:

Thank you for having this important webinar to discuss a truly important issue. Jesse gave an excellent and thorough history, and I want to both compliment and supplement his overview—particularly regarding the Uhuru case, but also with a specific focus on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

This issue becomes especially interesting when we look at divisions within the American elite. One particular faction has been widely acknowledged. Carroll Quigley, who was a mentor to Bill Clinton, wrote a book called The Anglo-American Establishment, in which he argued that there is a faction within the American power structure rooted in New England and closely tied to the British Empire. This faction, he argued, represents the old, entrenched elite of American capital and is often in conflict with other sections of the American ruling class.

Much of U.S. politics can be interpreted as a struggle between this Eastern, New England–based Atlanticist establishment—strongly pro-NATO—and other layers of capital. The history of the Foreign Agents Registration Act fits squarely into this framework.

FARA was passed during the Roosevelt administration. As Brother Jesse noted, this is a law that liberals and Democrats have tended to use. During the McCarthy era, many people were arrested and charged for being members of the Communist Party or for alleged closeness to the Soviet Union. However, aside from the case of W.E.B. Du Bois, the Foreign Agents Registration Act was generally not used. Why was that?

The reason is that there were a number of other laws available at the time. The Smith Act of 1940, the McCarran Internal Security Act, and the Communist Control Act were all passed specifically to target the Soviet Union and its allies. These were the primary tools used against the Communist Party during the McCarthy years.

What changed?

In 1956, Nikita Khrushchev became the leader of the Soviet Union and launched his leadership at the 20th Party Congress with a tirade against Stalin. In his infamous “Secret Speech,” he accused Stalin of mass murder, essentially affirming everything U.S. and Western media had long claimed. This speech was a signal to the United States and Western colonial powers that the Soviet leadership would not confront them directly and was willing to restrain anti-colonial movements aligned with the USSR in exchange for détente.

Following Khrushchev’s 1956 speech, McCarthyism in the United States began to ebb. The Eastern establishment—particularly the Rockefeller family—pushed back against McCarthyism. Through this process, the Warren Court overturned many anti-communist laws, including the Smith Act and the Communist Control Act. These laws were dismantled as part of a broader strategy by the Eastern establishment to use revisionist leadership within the Communist movement to manage and restrain anti-colonial struggles worldwide.

Eventually, this strategy culminated in the collapse of the Soviet Union itself, as the Gorbachev reformist wing effectively surrendered in the early 1990s.

What is particularly interesting is that during the Carter administration, renewed attention was given to the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Many figures in the Carter administration came out of the Trilateral Commission, a Rockefeller-funded think tank. During the Koreagate investigations of 1978–1979, the administration began exploring the use of FARA.

At that time, South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee was asserting independence. He pursued an independent nuclear weapons program, which could have led to the withdrawal of U.S. troops, and he sought autonomous economic development. The Carter administration responded by effectively declaring political war on Park Chung-hee and his U.S. allies. Congressional investigations targeted Korean business owners and specifically focused on Reverend Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Movement, an anti-communist religious organization operating in the United States.

Hundreds of pages of reports accused allies of the South Korean dictatorship of violating FARA. Ultimately, the law was not used directly against the Unification Movement; instead, authorities relied on tax charges. Still, this episode marked a key moment when FARA was discussed and prepared as a political weapon in response to perceived independence from U.S. control.

It was not until the Obama administration that the law began to be fully weaponized in the way we see today. During Barack Obama’s presidency, in 2010, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald—working through figures such as Barry Jonas in Chicago—sent the FBI to raid the homes of members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and the offices of pro-Palestinian media outlets. Anti-war and anti-imperialist activists in the Chicago area were targeted.

One of the individuals targeted was Ben Israel, a leader of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement in Chicago. He was charged with being an unregistered agent of Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe’s anti-colonial government, which was redistributing land from white farmers. Ben Israel ultimately went to prison for several years.

It is worth noting that Barack Obama studied under Zbigniew Brzezinski at Columbia University. This was the Rockefeller wing of the establishment using FARA to go after political rivals. Prosecutions under the law increased further during the Russiagate investigations under Trump, as authorities alleged collusion with Russia and targeted Trump’s allies.

Under the Biden administration, the law has been used against the Uhuru 3. FARA has become a favored tool of the liberal, Atlanticist wing of the establishment—deeply aligned with NATO and opposition to Russia. This legal strategy has been developing for decades.

At the same time, this has opened space for unexpected alliances. Figures on the political right, including Tucker Carlson, have spoken out about the Uhuru case because they recognize the law as a threat. At our convention this summer, we honored the Uhuru Movement, and we also welcomed Angela McArdle of the Libertarian Party, who spoke about libertarian concerns over FARA and her direct discussions with officials about its weaponization.

We live in a confusing political moment. The traditional lines between left and right are increasingly unclear. I deeply admire Chairman Omali and the Uhuru Movement because you are not concerned with being labeled left or right—you are focused on opposing colonialism and empowering the Black community. Your Black Power Blueprint and community-building work are a model of effective anti-colonial organizing.

The Center for Political Innovation views the Uhuru Movement as a successful example of resilience—an organization that has built power while withstanding immense pressure from the federal government and the Atlanticist establishment, which seeks to crush Russia, China, Zimbabwe, the Sahel states, Ibrahim Traoré, and all forces resisting colonialism.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act is a threat to anyone in the United States who advocates peace. Some voices on the right now suggest using FARA against Israel. This is a serious mistake. FARA is a weapon wielded by forces that support Israel. We cannot expect it to suddenly be used for justice.

This law must be repealed. Just as we oppose restrictions on free speech—even if they are promised to be used against people we dislike—we must oppose FARA because it will always be used against movements resisting colonialism.

We are committed to supporting this campaign. As Brother Jesse said, this must be a mass campaign. Awareness must be raised, pressure must be built in the streets, and this law must be exposed for what it truly is. We look forward to deepening this coalition and continuing this struggle.

I am especially honored to hear from Chairman Omali, whose lifetime of struggle I deeply respect. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this important effort.

Thank you.

Transcript of John McCarthy’s Remarks:

On behalf of myself and the Center for Political Innovation, I want to express our deep gratitude—to Chairman Yeshitela, to the Uhuru 3, and to the African People’s Socialist Party—for standing up, for fighting back, for winning, and now for continuing the fight.

The state intended to use the Uhuru 3 case as a precedent. They expected you to cut some kind of deal, or to quietly fight it out in court as a purely legal matter. But Chairman Yeshitela had the wisdom to recognize that this was not a legal fight—it was a political fight.

Instead of confining the struggle to the courtroom, he took it to the streets. He took it to the airwaves. And in doing so, he won the people over and built mass support. As a result, the battle in Tampa was won.

In essence, the United States government surrendered—but they attempted to surrender on their own terms. They said, “Okay, we’ll sentence you to community service—essentially, to doing what you are already doing.” They said, “Keep doing what you’re doing.” And they added, “We will acknowledge that this law doesn’t really apply to you, but we want to keep it on the books so that we can use it whenever we want, against whoever we want.”

Chairman Yeshitela and the African People’s Socialist Party said, “Hell no.”

You did not take that deal because you are not only concerned about yourselves. Your goal is to ensure that humanity survives the current crisis and transitions to a higher level of social development. That is what free speech is truly about.

Free speech is not simply about airing opinions or expressing grievances. Free speech is about the ability to deliver essential truths to the people—truths they need in order to survive and to advance.

The truths the government is trying to suppress through laws like these are, first, that the current system we are living under is dying. That is not a secret—anyone living in this society can see it. Second, that a more humane system is emerging in the Global South and in the East. And third, that the imperialists and colonialists are willing to risk a world-ending nuclear war in order to stop that new world from emerging and prospering.

The Center for Political Innovation is profoundly grateful to the African People’s Socialist Party and to the Uhuru 3 because delivering these truths to the people is our purpose and our mission.

But this gratitude extends beyond us. The entire world should be grateful, because the entire world is at risk. Chairman Yeshitela, the Uhuru 3, and the African People’s Socialist Party have demonstrated that you are in this fight for real.

CPI stands with you until the end—until victory. Uhuru.

Thank you.