FBI Goes Knocking for Political Troublemakers

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

News from today's NY Times: Mods, I looked and didn't see this posted anywhere. If it is, I'm sorry. Also move this if it isn't in the right forum, please.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/politics/campaign/16fbi.html?pagewanted=1&th

F.B.I. officials are urging agents to canvass their communities for information about planned disruptions aimed at the convention and other coming political events, and they say they have developed a list of people who they think may have information about possible violence. They say the inquiries, which began last month before the Democratic convention in Boston, are focused solely on possible crimes, not on dissent, at major political events.

But some people contacted by the F.B.I. say they are mystified by the bureau's interest and felt harassed by questions about their political plans.

snip

The unusual initiative comes after the Justice Department, in a previously undisclosed legal opinion, gave its blessing to controversial tactics used last year by the F.B.I in urging local police departments to report suspicious activity at political and antiwar demonstrations to counterterrorism squads. The F.B.I. bulletins that relayed the request for help detailed tactics used by demonstrators - everything from violent resistance to Internet fund-raising and recruitment.

In an internal complaint, an F.B.I. employee charged that the bulletins improperly blurred the line between lawfully protected speech and illegal activity. But the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy, in a five-page internal analysis obtained by The New York Times, disagreed.




Scary times, folks. Remember the fellow who wore a Kerry T shirt to a Bush rally, took it off when requested, and STILL wasn't allowed to stay, even though he was not in the least disruptive. Now the FBI is intimidating anyone who dares question W?

Hey, FBI man, I can't afford to go to NYC, but if I could, my protest would be peaceful. I don't know of anyone who would want to use violence except the RNC moles. Why don't you check with KKKarl Rove for a list of their names?

[Kierkegaard]

1. Scary stuff, indeed

It's just totally surreal. The Third Reich is rising from the ashes. Thank God it will be 'postponed' in November.

[Q]

2. COINTELPRO was never disbanded...

...and is being used today in the same way it was used in the 60s and 70s.

- I would guess that most Americans aren't aware of COINTELPRO or that it has been used against protestors/dissent to paint them as DANGEROUS RADICALS by infiltrating their groups, spreading misinformation about their intentions and inciting violence.

- The idea is to make protest/dissent unpopular, distract from the issues being protested and scare off those who might considering joining them in the future.

[mopaul]

3. i got your number Q...

you are a troublemaker. see you in prison traitor

[Q]

8. The FBI also has my number...

...and I know this for a fact because they came to my house a few years back to 'interview' me. They said they received an 'anonymous' call that made me a 'suspect'. During their visit they told me that I had been on their 'list' since my college Vietnam war protest days. That was three decades ago. They asked me questions like: have you ever made or know how to make a bomb?

- I've never done a violent thing in my life...but that doesn't mean anything to the FBI. Once you're on their list...you stay there forever and your name comes up every time they do a search.

[buycitgo]

4. did you see this?

it's the topic on Washington Journal

most callers are appalled, including me, who was first in line

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2220565#2220601

[lottie244]

5. We live in the "ultimate police state" hiding under the cover of democracy

Don't tell me I am paranoid. "Just because you think they are out to get you doesn't mean they're not."

[G_j]

6. an honest question

do we think this type of thing will end under Kerry?
I know he despises Ashcroft, but will the trends of the "Miami model" and FSZs be checked?
It will be crucial who Kerry picks to replace Ashcroft.
Goss wants the CIA to spy on Americans. Will Kerry keep him?

[NecessaryOnslaught]

9. Good question

Also Edwards is an advocate of an American MI-5 type domestic spy organization.

[Andy_Stephenson]

11. And Edwards voted as did Kerry

For Homeland Gestapo.

[southernleftylady]

7. see and this is why my mom is scared to speak up... she is a legal residen

... so not a u.s. citizen.. she tried but since she has depression and is under a doctors care for it she can not become a u.s. citizen.. and she is so scared of bush and his croonies that she will not speak up anymore.. she used to be VERY political.. still is.. but not as loud as she was in 92... what a sad sad day :(

[jukes]

10. jeezus X

i hope we don't have a "kent state" @ the rnc.