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naaman fletcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:35 AM
Original message
FBI targeting political activists as terrorists
Source: Russia Today

Anti-terrorism resources are being used to target environmentalists, peace, animal and political activists who hold different views than the government.

It was recently revealed that a counter-terrorism firm spied on individuals who attended film screenings of the documentary Gasland. The film focuses on the practice of natural gas fracking and what impact it has on the environment and in the communities where it is used.

The FBI and other government agencies are cracking down on those who are not willing to say in line with the status quo.

In Pennsylvania, activists have faced terrorism charges for writing slogans in chalk on sidewalks. In California, 27 individuals are set to go on trial stemming for protest actions Elsewhere 23 anti-war, pro-labor and international solidarity activists may face a grand jury on trumped up charged. The FBI boasts 164,000 suspicious activity reports that are made up of activists who do not follow the governments view on matters.

Read more: http://rt.com/usa/news/fbi-political-activists-terrorists/



fyi
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Warren Stupidity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:38 AM
Response to Original message
1. Who cares? Ed called some rw gasbag a slot, WE ARE OUTRAGED!
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ixion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:44 AM
Response to Original message
2. Which is PRECISELY what many of us said it would be used for
No surprise there whatsoever.
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Hannah Bell Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:47 PM
Response to Reply #2
25. kr.
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leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 06:46 AM
Response to Original message
3. We don't need the Russians to tell us that we're acting like the Soviets.
This sort of politically selective repression in America goes back to the Palmer Raids and the Red Scare of 1919. Earlier - the 1880s, if you count police and private goon squad violence against the emerging Labor Movement.

A history that is, uhh . . . rather like Russia's. See, http://journals.democraticunderground.com/leveymg/211; http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2893522,
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txlibdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:04 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. Truth. Thank you for posting
The CIA is our international terror wing, the FBI is our Stasi/SS/KGB/Contra Death Squad -- pick your favorite name for them.

Americans have had to fight and die for every single inch of respect and the meager rights that we enjoy today -- and the current batch in congress is bargaining it all away wholesale.

It looks like we're coming up on another time to fight the power. We are many, they are few!
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tonybgood Donating Member (33 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:25 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. When are we going to learn?
This is going to continue until voters have enough guts to vote out BOTH political parties and institute some control over a government that is supposedly of the people, by the people and for the people. Because people, that is NOT what we have now. VOTE THEM OUT!!! Democrat, Republican, it makes no difference. They are sides of the same corporatocracy and THEY NEED TO GO!!!
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dipsydoodle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:37 AM
Response to Original message
6. K & R
:(
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Scottybeamer70 Donating Member (844 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
7. Might add the TSA to that list........
Did the TSA just threaten the state of Texas if the legislature passed a bill outlawing the TSA searches?
What's next? Will they want to search our homes later?........and if we protest.........then what?
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think Donating Member (316 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
8. Thought crimes are next......nt
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bvar22 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #8
24. Thought Crimes already targeted.
SEE: The preemptive arrests in Minneapolis prior to the Republican Convention.
These people were arrested because they might cause disorder during the convention.
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snot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:45 AM
Response to Original message
9. K&R'd
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jberryhill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:46 AM
Response to Original message
10. Oh, really? How about a link to that "Pennsylvania sidewalk chalk thing"

Using made up facts to support a premise is not helpful.

The "terrorism charges for sidewalk chalk" story apparently comes from here:

http://www.ocweekly.com/2010-06-17/news/nathan-pope-adriana-stumpo-animal-enterprise-terrorism-act/

"On Jan. 27, 2008, over the course of seven hours, 11 people dressed in black and wearing bandannas over their faces like a gang of train robbers, protested in front of the homes of various UC Berkeley professors who conduct bio-medical research using animals. The group chanted, marched and scrawled messages in chalk on the sidewalks.

<...>

On Feb. 24, 2008, five or six individuals protested in front of a UC Santa Cruz professor’s house. He was inside when he heard the group near his front door. He opened it, and they yelled at one another. There was a struggle, and the professor was hit with something, most likely a bullhorn."

They weren't "targeted by the FBI", they were arrested by the police for showing up in front of someone's house in mask, harassing the person who lived there, and getting into an altercation with him.

And, to be clear of the context of this "sidewalk chalk" thing:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/20/18572413.php

On October 21 in 2007, a small group of approximately twenty protesters, including Buddenberg, Pope, and Stumpo, demonstrated outside a University of California Berkeley professor’s personal residence in El Cerrito, California. The group, some wearing bandanas to hide their faces, trespassed on his front yard, chanted slogans, and accused him of being a murderer because of his use of animals in research. The professor told police the demonstration left him feeling frightened, harassed and intimidated by the extremists.

Just over two months later, on Sunday, January 27, 2008, a group of approximately eleven individuals, including Mr. Buddenberg, Mr. Pope, Ms. Stumpo, and Ms. Khajavi, demonstrated outside the private residences of several University of California Berkeley researchers over the course of the day. At each home, the activists -- dressed generally in all black clothing and wearing bandanas to hide their faces -- marched, chanted, and chalked defamatory comments on the public sidewalks in front of the residences. One of the researchers informed authorities he had been previously harassed and the incident had caused him to fear for his health and safety.

Approximately one month later on February 24, 2008, five to six individuals including Pope, Stumpo, and Khajavi, attempted to forcibly enter the private home of a University of California researcher in Santa Cruz. When her husband opened the door, a struggle ensued and he was hit by an object. As the individuals fled, one yelled “we’re gonna get you.” The UC Santa Cruz faculty member conducts biomedical research on breast cancer and neurological diseases. The professor and her husband both told the FBI they were terrified by the incident.

The final incident centered on threatening flyers that were found in late July at a Santa Cruz café. The stack of flyers titled "Murderers and torturers alive & well in Santa Cruz July 2008 edition" was found at the Café Pergolesi. The flyer listed the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of several University of California researchers and stated “animal abusers everywhere beware we know where you live we know where you work we will never back down until you end your abuse.” The investigation connected Buddenberg, Pope, and Stumpo to the production and distribution of the fliers.

Distribution of the fliers preceded two firebomb attacks outside researchers’ Santa Cruz homes, both of which are still under investigation by the FBI. Each defendant is facing charges under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

------

"In Pennsylvania, activists have faced terrorism charges for writing slogans in chalk on sidewalks."

Bullshit.

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Robb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:14 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. Are you suggesting Russia Today is not completely unbiased?
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jberryhill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:33 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. I just find it fascinating that some folks have no concern about truth or falsity of what they post

Russia Today's coverage of the birther issue is right up there with the high standards of World Net Daily.
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:55 AM
Response to Reply #15
20. Well, you didn't quite post the whole truth, either.
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jberryhill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:05 AM
Response to Reply #20
22. I requested, and still have not gotten, a link to whatever PA incident is noted in the OP
Edited on Thu May-26-11 10:45 AM by jberryhill
But because I was searching for the PA incident, I stumbled upon the much larger picture of why certain people in California were arrested.

What "whole truth" is missing? The final disposition of the case? That's not relevant to my question about the OP, which is STILL not answered.

NOBODY was arrested for simply writing slogans in sidewalk chalk. Nobody. I could understand an arrest premised on that alone if, for example, the "slogan" were a threat of some kind. But the activities for which the people in CA were arrested had nothing to do with simply writing slogans in sidewalk chalk. The OP is intentionally misleading in that regard, and I suspect that California was changed to "Pennsylvania" in order to prevent others from getting to the bottom of whatever is alleged there.

I don't put a lot of stock in Russia Today stuff. Do you want to discuss the factual accuracy of their birther coverage?
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Chris_Texas Donating Member (707 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:43 AM
Response to Reply #10
16. Thanks for the background
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think Donating Member (316 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:35 AM
Response to Reply #10
17. Great catch
Perhaps RT should have avoided sensationalism and just visited the ACLU's web site to get their info for the story instead:

http://www.aclu.org/spy-files/spying-first-amendment-activity-state-state
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Luminous Animal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:54 AM
Response to Reply #10
19. And a judge threw out the case because...
http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/aeta-4-case-thrown-out-dismissed/3015/
In order for an indictment to fulfill its constitutional purposes, it must allege facts that sufficiently inform each defendant of what it is that he or she is alleged to have done that constitutes a crime. This is particularly important where the species of behavior in question spans a wide spectrum from criminal conduct to constitutionally protected political protest. While “true threats” enjoy no First Amendment protection, picketing and political protest are at the very core of what is protected by the First Amendment. Where the defendants’ conduct falls on this spectrum in this case will very likely ultimately be decided by a jury. Before this case proceeds to a jury, however, the defendants are entitled to a more specific indictment setting forth their conduct alleged to be criminal.


And even though the FBI press release accused them of assault and threatening researchers with the fliers, the activists were never charged for those crimes.

The “AETA 4,”—Joseph Buddenburg, Maryam Khajavi, Nathan Pope, and Adriana Stumpo—have been indicted for “conspiracy” to violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. As justification of the charge, the indictment lists three specific acts:

1. A protest on October 21, 2007, at an animal researcher’s home. The government says this amounts to “threats, criminal trespass, harassment and intimidation.” In the criminal complaint, the FBI said that on this date “protesters trespassed onto Professor Number One’s front yard and rang his doorbell several times. The group was making a lot of noise and chanting animal rights slogans (“1, 2, 3, 4 open up the cage door; 5, 6, 7, 8, smash the locks and liberate; 9, 10, 11, 12, vivisectors go to hell”)…”
2. A protest on January 27, 2008, at an animal researcher’s home. The government says this amounts to “threats, harassment, and intimidation.” In the criminal complaint, the FBI said that on this date approximately 11 individuals demonstrated at the homes of multiple researchers. “At each residence, the individuals, dressed generally in all black clothing and wearing bandanas over their nose and mouth, marched, chanted, and chalked defamatory comments on the public sidewalks…”
3. Use of the Internet. They allegedly “used the Internet to find information on bio-medical researchers at the University of California at Santa Cruz.”

http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/animal-rights-activists-indicted-as-terrorists-for-home-protests/1657/


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jberryhill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 10:01 AM
Response to Reply #19
21. Correct, so?
Edited on Thu May-26-11 10:15 AM by jberryhill
The OP refers to people in Pennsylvania arrested and charged for sidewalk chalk drawings.

No such event occurred.

In California, several people were arrested and charged for doing a lot more than sidewalk chalk drawings.

As you mention, the case was dismissed.

Harm done to anyone? None.

OMIGOD, we live in a fascist dictatorship where people can be arrested for threatening others, and then have the case dismissed!

This fascist government policy will force them to pay for and build their own gulag, instead of getting a government-funded gulag.

When you have the link to ANYONE in Pennsylvania or elsewhere arrested for chalk sloganeering, do let me know.
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bemildred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 07:49 AM
Response to Original message
11. When have they ever not targeted political dissent? nt
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:09 AM
Response to Original message
12. Think it''s bad now? wait till everything is corporate owned.
You won't be able to breath the air without being charged with something.

We are a nation of timid fools.
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Scruffy1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 08:25 AM
Response to Original message
14. Business as usual.
In my life I have seen so many attacks on dissidents I can't even count them. SDS. Socialist Workers Party, American Indian Movement,and even before then CORE, SNCC, and the Southern Christian Leadership Committee. Of course nearly all of the antiwar groups have been harassed in the past, but I think the heat is being stepped up before the political shows we call "Conventions".

Of course this will never stop the committed from speaking their minds and protesting, but it is aimed at chilling
dissent by scaring away sympathizers and those that have too much to lose. It worked very well for the RNC and the raids in Minneapolis and Chicago were targeted at the Anti-War Committee and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization who were the the main organizers at the RNC.
I believe that without the pre Convention raids and the over the top policing the numbers might have been double. I met many who were afraid to go to Saint Paul at all-especially those with children.

So the Democratic Party will go to Charlotte to hide in Nascar country and hopefully avoid bad press for their dog and pony show. Meanwhile back at the ranch I'll be outside the FBI building picketing tomorrow. Fuck 'em I'm too damn old to start running now.
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socialist_n_TN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 09:43 AM
Response to Reply #14
18. Word Scruffy. You're exactly right. When have they NOT
targeted people who speak out? It can be more or less severe, but it's always there. I'm like you, too old to cower.
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indepat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 11:54 AM
Response to Original message
23. Nothing a tad brown-shirty here: nothing to see, move on
:patriot:
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girl gone mad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-26-11 05:49 PM
Response to Original message
26. k & r
It's the United States of Corporations vs. We the People.
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