NY Times – F.B.I. Scrutinizes Antiwar Rallies

[pruner]

By ERIC LICHTBLAU
Published: November 23, 2003

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has collected extensive information on the tactics, training and organization of antiwar demonstrators and has advised local law enforcement officials to report any suspicious activity at protests to its counterterrorism squads, according to interviews and a confidential bureau memorandum.

The memorandum, which the bureau sent to local law enforcement agencies last month in advance of antiwar demonstrations in Washington and San Francisco, detailed how protesters have sometimes used "training camps" to rehearse for demonstrations, the Internet to raise money and gas masks to defend against tear gas. The memorandum analyzed lawful activities like recruiting demonstrators, as well as illegal activities like using fake documentation to get into a secured site.

F.B.I. officials said in interviews that the intelligence-gathering effort was aimed at identifying anarchists and "extremist elements" plotting violence, not at monitoring the political speech of law-abiding protesters.

The initiative has won the support of some local police, who view it as a critical way to maintain order at large-scale demonstrations. Indeed, some law enforcement officials said they believed the F.B.I.'s approach had helped to ensure that nationwide antiwar demonstrations in recent months, drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters, remained largely free of violence and disruption.

But some civil rights advocates and legal scholars said the monitoring program could signal a return to the abuses of the 1960's and 1970's, when J. Edgar Hoover was the F.B.I. director and agents routinely spied on political protesters like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/23/national/23FBI.html?ex=1070168400&en=67560367b7120964&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[Ksec]

1. Jackbooted thugs

have returned. Thank you repuglicans.

[Cha]

2. They should spend their time more worthy

by "scrutinizing" bush for god's sake and for the sake of the Planet!

[Ksec]

4. Really this is what has come with corporate worship.

Stop anything that may interfere with their plans of running the country as a business

[NNN0LHI]

3. Wonder how the assholes are doing on the anthrax investigation?

They must be too busy watching 65 year old peace protesters.

Don

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. very good question

I'm not going to hold my breath for an answer though.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DUreader]

11. Obviously you do, why else would they film you?

FIB's got your pic now.

I'm pretty sure they have mine too.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrPrax]

14. It's intimidation...

Cops could easily photograph people from buildings or vans...they wander around with video cameras to intimidate people and make them think twice about showing up and protesting...

The 'cops' are a lot more bolder these days and brazen...they claim it is, in case, trouble happens or even, as ONE of the best explanations of PR 'spin' from a cop liaison person I have ever heard, said, 'Hey it is to protect you guys as well...!!'


Say Cheese!!!

[pinkpops]

6. yer eder wid us or agin us

[maggrwaggr]

7. at the LA protests in Century City a few months back, the LAPD

had a special video unit out videotaping everything and everybody. They even had a special vest of some kind on that identified them as such. I was pretty shocked.

Guess I'm on their tape!!

[izzie]

8. I think this is par for this type thing all the way back to.......

Union meetings.

[madrchsod]

9. nothing new

we`ve been fighting these people since we started fighting for our rights over a hundred years ago. we will be fighting these people for another hundred. nothing ever changes but the names.

[salin]

10. Add to this the recent high up military person: the US constitution can't

survive another terrorist attack... and start feeling a tad afraid.

I really haven't been nervous on that front... until these two items came out within days of one another.

[sventvkg]

15. I'm not afraid of these bastards and neither should you be.......

I will out there protesting in FULL KEVLAR Armour armed with Video cameras..Let they TRY to beat me and they will pay..Also, just think of how many cameras we will have videotaping The Facists violating our rights when the riots do begin...FCK THESE FACIST BASTARDS!!! DO not give in to their fear tactics..Most of these guys are pussies. Me against them on even terms with me in Kevlar armour and them in Riot Gear....I'm getting psyched up just thinking about it. I will not stand back and let our rights be stripped like the typical FAT LAZY American..I WILL FIGHT!!!!!!!! Give me Liberty or Give me DEATH! FUCK YOU FBI