The Orange County GOP Firebombing case saw some activity this week with a Federal Grand Jury being convened in Greensboro. Subpoenaed by the Federal Grand Jury was one Katie Yow, an anarchist, and social worker.
The firebombing caused extensive damage to the building. Graffiti was left on one side of the building which was written in a distinctive manner and which read, “Nazi Republicans Leave Town or Else.”
Yow coordinated a protest and announced to media that she would be ‘resisting’ the Grand Jury. Refusing to comply can land a person in jail for up to 18 months.
Yow was subpoenaed to appear on Monday, July 31st. Various protesters, mainly anarchists, showed up to support Yow.
News and Record reporter Dana Battalgia also captured Yow’s remarks on the courthouse steps about her ‘resisting’ the Grand Jury. Yow also appears to have obtained legal representation.
Yow’s statement
A statement was issued through a website called NCResistsTheGrandJury.com:
“We have now learned more from the Assistant US Attorney about the subject of the federal grand jury to which I have been subpoenaed. This grand jury is looking into what the government has described as a bombing at the GOP headquarters in Hillsborough, NC this past fall. The AUSA has also indicated that they are interested in ‘other people’ and ‘other events.’ I don’t know anything relevant to a criminal investigation of the alleged incident at the GOP headquarters. The broad nature of the government’s interest in other information makes clear the way that this and other grand juries are used as fishing expeditions to attempt to coerce testimony on 1st amendment protected information. This is one of the many ways grand juries are used to repress social movements, and one of many reasons why we resist them.”
In addition to a website, Yow’s resistance movement also has a Twitter account.
Yow also released video statement.
More About the Anarchist
According to an article at the Triad City Beat, Yow allegedly used to be a teacher in Guilford County schools. Attempts to verify a teaching license being issued to her are ongoing.
She graduated from Guilford College in 2009 and seemed to be involved in a variety of activities.
Yow is apparently affiliated with all girls rock band club known as ‘Girls Rock’. In 2012, she was characterized as a ”radical librarian and puppeteer based in Chapel Hill, NC. She often works with groups like the Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Theater and others.”
Yow also earned a thank you in the acknowledgment section of the book, The ABCs of Anarchy by High Point University Professor, Brian Heagney.
According to Triad City Beat, Yow had no problems testifying in a trial previously.
She also co-managed North Carolina Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation leader Jorge Cornell’s 2009 campaign for Greensboro City Council, along with Eric Ginsburg. [Disclosure: Ginsburg serves as the managing editor and food writer for TCB.] When Cornell was indicted on federal racketeering charges in 2011, Yow played an active role in mobilizing support for him, and testified as a character witness in his trial the following year. She has continued to support him as he serves a 28-year sentence at Petersburg Medium FCI in Virginia after several unsuccessful appeals to his 2012 conviction.”
Yow called Cornell, “hugely influential.”
Grand Juries and “Resistance”
Yow and her supporters, mainly anarchists, Antifa, and far left groups, say that Grand Juries are “tools of the State” which are employed to “isolate, divide, and destroy social movements.”
Grand juries are actually a type of fact-finding commission consisting of around 23 jurors. The job of the Grand Jury is to determine whether or not there is enough evidence for a case to proceed to court, bring criminal charges or an indictment against a potential defendant.
A Grand Jury is usually reserved for only serious felonies with the proceedings being closed. The confidential setting of a Grand Jury is used to allow witnesses to speak freely, removes the fear of retaliation and can shield the potential defendant’s reputation.
There are two reasons a prosecutor might subpoena someone to testify in front of a Grand Jury.
One is that the witness is believed to have information about a crime committed by a third-party.
The other is that the witness is the person suspected of the crime and the prosecutor wants to gather evidence against the witness.
At this point, it is unclear if Yow is the target of the Grand Jury or merely a witness being called to testify. No other names have emerged in relation to this particular Grand Jury.
Yow’s website, NCResistingTheGrandJury, is also asking for donations to support Yow in case she is jailed, fined or misses work.
Donations are being collected through a second website called YouCaring. As of this article, just over $900 out of a $15,000 goal have been collected.
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