FBI watched array of environmental, animal, and poverty groups

FBI watched array of environmental, animal, and poverty groups

RAW STORY

Counterterrorism agents at the FBI have conducted numerous surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations that involved, at least indirectly, groups active in causes as diverse as the environment, animal cruelty and poverty relief, newly disclosed agency records show, the NEW YORK TIMES is set to splash in Tuesday's papers...

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FBI officials said Monday that their investigators had no interest in monitoring political or social activities and that any investigations that touched on advocacy groups were driven by evidence of criminal or violent activity at public protests and in other settings.

After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, John Ashcroft, who was then attorney general, loosened restrictions on the FBI's investigative powers. The bureau has used that authority to investigate not only groups with suspected ties to foreign terrorists, but also protest groups suspected of having links to violent or disruptive activities.


But the documents, coming after the Bush administration's confirmation that President Bush had authorized domestic anti-terrorism spying without warrants, prompted charges from civil rights advocates that the government had improperly blurred the line between terrorism and acts of civil disobedience and lawful protest.

One FBI document indicates that agents in Indianapolis planned to conduct surveillance as part of a "Vegan Community Project." Another document talks of the Catholic Workers group's "semi-communistic ideology." A third document indicates the bureau's interest in determining the location of a protest over llama fur planned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The documents, provided to The New York Times over the past week, came as part of a series of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which has sought access to FBI files on about 150 protest and social groups that it says may have been improperly monitored.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/FBI_watched_array_of_environmental_animal_1220.html

Where a list of the 150 improperly monitored groups may be?

Not an organization with the best interests of this country at heart, in my opinion.

....But the documents, coming after the Bush administration's confirmation that President Bush had authorized domestic anti-terrorism spying without warrants, prompted charges from civil rights advocates that the government had improperly blurred the line between terrorism and acts of civil disobedience and lawful protest.

That's the real kicker. Civil disobediance is illegal, people forget that....That's the point, the direct violation of unjust law. But these people aren't even doing that.

...there are dozens of right wing militia-type groups that would be of interest--unless, of course, terrorists are really not the targets. :nuke:

"A person of Interest" since I support all three of those causes. My goodness, where will it end.

and form a new group, and then rally against being oppressed. I think I am going to at that as my minority status from now on. "Are you a person of color?" "Ah no, but I am a person of interest!" ;)

...and for how long have they known it?

our constitutional liberties? (or borrowing as the case may be) Maybe a tax rebellion is in order.

I reserved 'The Little Red Book' by Mao. It got one kid in trouble. I'm wondering what kind of trouble it will get this old man into? If a million people checked out this and other books, say 'Communist Manifesto', it would tie the FIB into knots. f'em I say.