FBI spying (on peaceful activists) allegations supported by records

[UpInArms]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2573309,00.html

Officials with the American Civil Liberties Union accused the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on Thursday of collecting e-mails and license- plate numbers from peaceful activists labeled as terrorists.

The ACLU disclosed documents that it says show the terrorism task force is spying on people who are politically active in environmental, political and animal-rights issues.

In one instance, Colorado Springs police collected license-plate numbers of those at a peaceful protest against the timber industry and sent them to a Denver police detective on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the ACLU said.

In another, the ACLU said, task- force members obtained e-mails from activists planning peaceful activities on animal-rights issues and a Palestinian rally, as well as a schedule for Columbus Day protests.

<snip>

The ACLU's 24-page request, which the group posted on its website, says the FBI has labeled nonviolent protesters as members of terrorist organizations in a computerized database called the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File.

...more...

[prayin4rain]

1. This is scary because most people won't even care,

just like most people don't care about the environment or animals.

[bemildred]

2. No shit.

They expecially like to go after the "eco-terrorists". They used to
call such people "communists", but now it's gotta be "terrorists".
I think they would do better to concentrate on actual criminals as
opposed to political activists, but I guess that's more dangerous.
:puke:

[tanyev]

3. How long before DU is named

as a terrorist organization? (Freeps don't count.)

[Mari333]

4. ah yes, this happened in Chicago, the Red Squad...

they took pics of all of us at anti war protests in the early 70s...even visited people in their homes...
I guess its deja vu ....and the US public could care less.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Funny, I read a similar article, and it's not just left leaning

organizations, it's also right-leaning organizations. Maybe it was a lampoon?

[bemildred]

6. No, they "watch" "right-leaning" organizations too.

It's the political activism they don't like.

[theorist]

7. And this from the group that should have prevented 9/11.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is up to the same old tricks, but now they have a much larger budget, and I see they've broadened their scope from busting small time drug dealers and wannabe mafiosos to liberal activists.

I sometimes wonder: if you could put the entire JTTF in a room to take an open-book multiple choice exam on Islamic terrorism, would they not only get 30% of the answers correct, but would the answer sheet be covered in drool?

These guys are so totally incompetent that it's a wonder we haven't been hit again. This kind of thing really pisses me off.

[genieroze]

8. Vee Vill squash all dissent! eom

[natrat]

9. practice your goose stepping

[genieroze]

10. I hard to think like them.

[Sara Beverley]

11. When are people going to take to the streets? Are we numb or dumb?

If we don't stop this police state now it will be too late in few months. Can we take any lessons from the past Civil Rights movement and current Ukraine protests?

[Supersedeas]

12. the deep pockets of the timber industry is a "NATIONAL" interest, no?

to dissent is to terrorize little minds.

[Just Me]

13. Incompetence? Haven't the vast majority of domestic terrorists,...

,...been loners or associated with hate-smearing groups?

How the hell does a NONviolent protester or group fit within the definition of "terrorist"?

Yes,...this kind of crap really does indicate a "police state",...the paranoia (extreme, unrealistic fear) is especially indicative.

[nashville_brook]

14. this is our opportunity to gain power

when shit comes out like this we need to reach out to the most fevered privacy libertarians and say we've got back --sic 'em! we need to run up the hill with banners screaming NO BIG BROTHER! this is a message joe average will "get."

how can we network with the 2nd Amendment crowd to build a coalition?