Two American pro-Palestinian activists have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury for unclear reasons, despite having already served jail sentences for their protest against an Israeli weapons company, according to The Grayzone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued subpoenas dated October 5 requiring Bridget Shergalis and Sophie Ross to appear before a grand jury in New Hampshire on October 21. However, the women received the subpoenas on October 16, just five days before their scheduled testimony.
“This comes two years after the conclusion of a state case against us and two co-defendants for taking action against an Elbit weapons factory in Merrimack, [New Hampshire]. Though we’ve yet to receive any information on the subject of this grand jury, we know it must be targeting at least one person, with the goal to charge and ultimately imprison them,” the pair told the Grayzone.
Shergalis, Ross, and another activist, Calla Walsh, previously faced potential prison sentences of up to 37 years each over their involvement in a protest on November 20, 2023, which included defacing the exterior of the facility and using bicycle locks to temporarily block access to its main entrance.
The two women later pleaded guilty to lesser charges and were sentenced to 60 days in jail. They acknowledged that they had sought to prevent the factory from producing weapons that would be used to facilitate Israel’s genocidal wars in West Asia.
Elbit Systems is a weapons company based in occupied Palestine and a major supplier of weaponry to the Israeli forces. The company has faced numerous protests over its role in the genocidal war on Palestinians.
The target of the grand jury investigation remains unclear. However, it is suggested that investigators may be seeking testimony against Fergie Chambers, a wealthy American activist who has funded projects in West Asia, including bakeries and healthcare facilities in Gaza.
Chambers is being held in Spain pending proceedings over a US extradition request. US authorities are accusing him of terrorism and involvement in the anti-Elbit action in Merrimack.
The full details of the allegations against Chambers have not been publicly disclosed, but his legal team has described the case as “politically motivated.”
Shergalis and Ross condemned the subpoenas as a legal fishing expedition, saying they could not adequately prepare without knowing what to expect.
The Trump administration is ramping up its prosecution of pro-Palestinian protesters and groups it associates with so-called “transnational far-left political terrorism,” a label that encompasses environmental activists, anti-fascist groups, Cuban solidarity networks, and pro-Palestinian activists.
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