by Jacquelin Agostini, February 20, 2015
Ray was happy to spend February 14 at Sacred Heart parish, Camden, NJ, discussing the moral imperative of activism. It was a particular honor to be asked to share the podium with the Pastor of Sacred Heart, Fr. Michael Doyle of “The Camden 28,” and Bonnie and John Raines of the “Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI.”
Bonnie and John were part of a smaller group, which, on March 8, 1971, mounted a small raid on the FBI office in Media, PA, removing files that documented serious FBI crimes like COINTELPRO. They were never caught. Five months later, “The Camden 28” raided a Selective Service office in Camden, but the action was sabotaged by a FBI infiltrator.
After an historic trial in Camden, the jury decided that those committing this high-profile act of nonviolent civil disobedience in protest of an unjust war did the right thing. They were acquitted on all counts.
Good news: There is a very professional, and very moving, documentary on this, called “The Camden 28.” More good news: now there’s one on the Media, PA, raid, as well, called simply, “1971.”
When I was in NYC in early February for my Court appearance, I was invited to see this gripping new film by Johanna Hamilton, telling the story of the courageous folks who raided the FBI office in Media 44 years ago, escaped with documents more valuable than they could ever have imagined, and kept their involvement quiet until they announced it last year. This was no small embarrassment to J. Edgar Hoover and his stalwarts. It was not as though they were after professional criminals like Willie Sutton.
Stay tuned for further information regarding when and where to see “1971.”