News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinesecuritycriminalizing-dissent — Viewing Item


Fbi probes on activists { December 1 2004 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-fbi-aclu,1,5737733.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-fbi-aclu,1,5737733.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

ACLU Seeking FBI Files on Activist Probes
By CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer

9:49 PM PST, December 1, 2004

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking information from the FBI on why bureau task forces set up to combat terrorism also looked into anti-war, animal rights and environmental groups.

Dozens of organizations have been subjected to scrutiny, according to the ACLU, which was filing Freedom of Information Act requests with the FBI on Thursday to try to find out why.

"We think it's clear that the public is interested in the possible return of FBI spying on political and religious groups," said Ann Beeson, the ACLU's associate legal counsel.

The FBI denies singling out individuals or groups for surveillance or investigation based solely on activities protected by the Constitution's guarantees of free speech.

Officials say agents adhere strictly to Justice Department guidelines requiring evidence of criminal activity or indications that a person may know something about a crime.

"Any investigation conducted by the FBI is done under the attorney general's guidelines and in full compliance with the guidelines," FBI spokesman Bill Carter said.

There are terrorism task forces in 100 cities and with more than 3,700 members, including at least 2,000 FBI agents, state and local police, and other federal law enforcement officials. More than half of the task forces were formed after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The ACLU was seeking FBI files on a broad range of individuals and groups that have been interviewed, investigated or subjected to searches by the task forces. The requests also seek information on how the task forces are funded, to determine if they are rewarded with government money by labeling high numbers of cases as related to terrorism, Beeson said.

"What we're afraid is happening is that these cities and towns can get federal anti-terrorism money by identifying local groups as threats in their areas," Beeson said.

The ACLU provided a list of examples, including the Quaker-affiliated American Friends Service Committee that had been monitored by Denver police and was listed as an "active case" by a local terrorism task force.

Others who contend they were improperly monitored or investigated include Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, the Washington-based Campaign for Labor Rights and a number of peace and environmental activists.

The information requests were being filed with FBI headquarters in Washington as well as field offices in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts, Beeson said. ACLU affiliates in California and New Jersey have previously filed lawsuits seeking similar information.

If the FBI declines to turn over the information, the ACLU can sue in federal court.

* __

On the Net:

American Civil Liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org

FBI: http://www.fbi.gov



dnc-protest-2004
inauguration-2005
kent-state
los-angeles-tanks-nov-2004
miami-ftaa-nov-2003
rnc-new-york-2004
rubber-bullets-protesters
Aclu asks fbi why tracking protesters { December 2 2004 }
Amnesty says security hurting human rights { May 23 2006 }
Antiterrorism agents spied on activists opposing war { March 15 2006 }
Arrested for peace tshirt
Britain secutiry measures infringe on free speech
Carlyle protesters sue new york police { April 7 2003 }
Catholic war protesters face federal conspiracy charges { September 19 2005 }
Cheney says security is new way of life
City violated wto protesters rights
Civil disobedience label terrorism { October 2 2003 }
Civil liberties tshirt causes alarm { October 16 2004 }
Civil_Liberties [jpg]
Congressmen request drop protester charges { May 27 2003 }
Counter terrorism fbi eyes protest web sites { July 18 2005 }
Counterterrorism unit monitored infiltrated peace groups
Dc police wrongfully arrested 400 imf protest { September 12 2003 }
Dc settles with mass arrest vicitms { January 25 2005 }
Deerborn student wears bush shirt { February 19 2003 }
Dnc chairman accuses bush new mccarthyism { May 17 2003 }
Executive order could prosecute war dissenters { July 23 2007 }
Fbi denies spying on protesters
Fbi examines ordinary citizens in terror hunt { November 6 2005 }
Fbi files alarm activists { July 18 2005 }
Fbi intel unit detained and interrogated war protesters { April 3 2007 }
Fbi keeps eye on anti war protesters { November 23 2003 }
Fbi probes on activists { December 1 2004 }
Fbi questions protesters about terrorist activities { May 18 2005 }
Fbi seizes indymedia servers { October 11 2004 }
Fbi takes independent media center hard drives
Fbi tracks potential protesters
Fbi watched activist groups new files show { December 20 2005 }
Fed wins right to protesters records
Gingrich says we must limit free speech to combat terror
Grannies arrested under british terror law { March 2006 }
Groups question fbi protest monitoring { November 23 2003 }
Hoax story of fbi visiting student makes big news { December 17 2005 }
Homeland security gags air marshal speaking
House approves flag burning constitutional amendment
Indymedia investigated for terrorism
Jail protesters terrorists { April 2 2003 }
Joint terrorism task force watching protesters
Judge decries sentence for muslim inciting jihad { July 14 2005 }
Lawyers guild lime green caps
Lawyers stirring cause { May 12 2003 }
Left wing groups put on terrorist watchlist { March 25 2005 }
Man jailed for yard signs
Mexican police torture at guadalajara summit
Miami police brutally crushed trade protests { January 16 2004 }
New york police broke up sheehan rally { September 20 2005 }
New york rejects central park protest
Officer threatens arrest for anti bush sticker { January 25 2005 }
Oregan jail protesters terrorists { April 2 2003 }
Oregon law jail protesters
Oregon police fire on crowd of protesters { October 15 2004 }
Peaceful protests outlawed in georgia { May 24 2004 }
Pentagon calls anti war groups terror threats { June 29 2006 }
Pentagon expanding domestic surveillance activity { November 27 2005 }
Pentagon terror database holds peace activist data { November 21 2006 }
Pentagon terrorist database has antiwar protesters { December 16 2005 }
Peta greenpeace and adc sue fbi for political monitoring { May 18 2005 }
Plain clothes officers protest rallies
Police coverup after mass arrests at protests { March 11 2004 }
Police excessive force seattle protest { June 3 2003 }
Police gather intel on G8 protests { May 2 2004 }
Police have tech tools ready for rnc august 2004 { August 20 2004 }
Police pepper protesters
Police question mother about teaching anti american values { December 15 2004 }
Police said falsely accused protester of creating bomb threat { June 8 2004 }
Police want to crack down on protest slogans { November 27 2006 }
Portland police use excessive force on protesters
Portland protest [jpg]
Protester abuse
Protesters abused { November 20 2002 }
Protesters arrested detained without cause { November 20 2002 }
S28 02 protests { October 1 2002 }
Seattle protest turns ugly { June 3 2003 }
Secret service question 7th grader for essay
Secret service took art from classroom { October 4 2005 }
Secret service visited college about art
Sedition charges against nurse investigated
Spirit of 76 [gif]
Spirit of 76 { July 14 1921 }
Students suspended arab 911 tshirt { March 2 2003 }
Two arrested for anti bush tshirt
Undercover police instigate fights during 2004 rnc { December 22 2005 }
Undercover police officers infiltrated anti war group { July 28 2006 }
Unrivaled security planned for inauguration { November 7 2004 }
US says terrorism net must be wide { December 2 2004 }

Files Listed: 88



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple