FBI targets peaceful protesters as potential "terrorists"

FBI targets peaceful protesters as potential terrorists

Thu, 4 Aug 2005 11:35:33 -0700

Summary: The American Civil Liberties Union has announced the release of new documents which confirm that domestic terrorism investigations have been launched by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force against several non-violent protest groups in Colorado. “These documents underscore the ACLU’s concern that the JTTF inappropriately regards public protest as potential ‘domestic terrorism,’ and investigates and builds files on the political activities of peaceful dissenters because of the mere possibility that their activities will attract participants who may violate the law.”

[Posted By whitey]
By ACLU
Republished from American Civil Liberties Union
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act confirm the FBI has launched domestic terrorism investigations on non-violent protest groups
DENVER – The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado today released new documents that it says confirm that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is inappropriately treating people who engage in peaceful protest as potential terrorists.

The ACLU obtained the documents in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed last December on behalf of 16 organizations and ten individuals. The files released today contain information on the Colorado American Indian Movement and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.

“These documents underscore the ACLU’s concern that the JTTF inappropriately regards public protest as potential ‘domestic terrorism,’ and investigates and builds files on the political activities of peaceful dissenters because of the mere possibility that their activities will attract participants who may violate the law,” said Mark Silverstein, ACLU of Colorado Legal Director. “By casting its net so unjustifiably wide, the FBI wastes taxpayers’ money and threatens to chill legitimate dissent.”

Silverstein said that the new files show that JTTF agents opened “domestic terrorism” investigations after they read notices on Web sites announcing an antiwar protest in Colorado Springs in 2003 and a protest against Columbus Day in Denver in 2002. They also reveal that the JTTF monitored the peaceful protest activities of law-abiding groups that formed the Coalition to Stop Vail Expansion in the late 1990s and that it investigated the Boulder-based Activist Media Project for videotaping a Lockheed Martin facility from a public street.

The ACLU said that these documents should raise particular concern from state officials because the Denver Police Department contributes the services of two full-time detectives to the JTTF. In May, the ACLU asked Denver to withdraw from the FBI task force, stating that a settlement agreement that resolved the “Spy Files” case forbids Denver detectives to target individuals or organizations for investigation because of their First Amendment activities.

The Colorado FOIA is part of a nationwide ACLU effort to expose and prevent FBI spying on people and groups simply for speaking out or practicing their faith. Last month, the FBI released the contents of a report on United for Peace and Justice, a national peace organization that coordinates non-violent protests. The document, sections of which are redacted, is addressed to FBI “Counterterrorism” personnel and quotes from the organization’s Web site calling for a public demonstration prior to the 2004 Republican National Convention.

The ACLU expects to receive additional responses from the FBI in the next few months.

More information on the ACLU’s nationwide effort is online at www.aclu.org/spyfiles.

Links to the JTTF files on the Colorado American Indian Movement and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center are available at here.

Additional information on the ACLU of Colorado’s work regarding the Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force is available at here.

 

well are you suprised, "The war on terror is a perfect cover for the war on dissent"

 

I hate to break it to ya, but several 'groups' like the rainbow family, deadheads, and just general peaceful groups have been on lists for awhile. Welcome to the club, let's shake hands, do a dance, start a fire, and get funky.

 

Yes, i agree with all of you.

Love your signature, element7.

Amen

 

ditto

 

double ditto

 

Yup, and now even people who openly advocate for the Constitution are to be looked at as "persons of interest". Interesting times we live in, eh?

 

You guys are slow. It's called the Patriot Act, which was passed right after the 9/11 incident. In short, you are a terrorist if you even THINK anything against the US Govt.

 

Anyway, let's hope that September's mobilization will be a huge turnout and turning point for the anti-war and global justice movements, who will hopefully unite once and for all.

www.septemberaction.org

 

Sarcasm.

 

J. Edgar Hoover protecting generations from Communism.
:X

PS: What's Icon 38? Obviously something cryptic...

 

I dunno about that...seems to be getting to that point pretty fast...

 

Well let's look at the words of GW directly to see what he thinks about the issue:


"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." - George W. Bush Sept. 20, 2001

"Either you are with us our you are with the terrorists." George W. Bush Sept. 21, 2001

"You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror." George W. Bush Nov. 6, 2001

 

www.fbiwitchhunt.com

 

They say history does repeat itself, welcome back to the paranoia of the 50's & 60's.
You'd think one of these days we would learn and not repeat our mistakes.

 

Yes, but don't you love it?

 

sounds like a "sith" talking to me...

 

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artm...icle_4636.shtml

Summary of the Commander-in-Chief's current state of mind - You gotta read this one!

"Rise of the Reactionary Right!"



Oh peace & safety —what crimes are committed in thy name?

 

How muich?

Let's make it big money.

But I'd win, you'd hire a lawyer, sudden eruptions in jucial prudence would hapen based on corporate hedgemony, and you'd blame me for your broken ankle while trying to ride a bike or something.

it would get twisted for shure.

You don't seem like the kinda guy to get into a real bet with.

Bets are you'd cheat.

 

Yes, I have an ear to the ground. Assume nothing. I'm supporting my gut feelings with reality here, forwarding supporting evidence. Don't kill the messenger, tripper. Easy come, easy go... :$