Socialist Party Condemns Senate Investigation of Protected Political Activities

The Socialist Party condemns Senator Josh Hawley and the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism's abusive demand for information from groups organizing protests against ICE raids.

The party notes that this demand is not part of a criminal investigation, and is not targeted at anyone in custody for committing any crime. The Committee is seeking personal data, travel details, and internal communications between organizers of legal political, and advocacy groups.

In letters to several groups, Hawley demanded "internal communications, including emails [and] text messages" related to "protest planning", vendor agreements, "travel and lodging records for individuals or groups" involved in political protests, and donor lists.

Political and advocacy organizing and protest are Constitutionally protected activities that Senator Hawley and the Judiciary Subcommittee are attempting to chill with extralegal demands for private information.

The Socialist Party was decimated on multiple occasions by similar government actions, such as the use of the Sedition Act and Espionage Act to arrest and deport hundreds of Socialist leaders and the targeting of Socialists, Communists, and others for investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

The Socialist Party condemns these requests and urges the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism to drop any ongoing investigations that seek to chill legally protected political speech.

passed by the SPUSA NEC 6/13/2025