FBI Spies on Anti-War Protestors in Denver

entsetzen · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2006, 06:44 PM

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/spyfile...s20060328.html

Quote:

DENVER -- As part of a “domestic terrorism” investigation, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted surveillance of a Denver bookstore on February 15, 2003 and monitored 40 people who gathered there to carpool to an anti-war demonstration in Colorado Springs later that day, according to an FBI report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado

“This report raises more questions about the degree to which the FBI is unjustifiably regarding demonstrations and public dissent as potential terrorism,” said Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado. “Why is the FBI conducting surveillance of a bookstore, monitoring the persons who gather there, and keeping files with lists of license plate numbers?”

The document, the latest the ACLU obtained in response to a series of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, reports that FBI agents spent two hours watching Breakdown Bookstore, counting about 40 persons who gathered there for the anti-war march. The report also indicates that the FBI recorded the descriptions and license plate numbers of a dozen cars “in the vicinity” of the now-closed political bookstore, located at the time in the 1400 block of Ogden Street.

Last December, the ACLU released a related document indicating that the FBI opened its investigation of the anti-war march four days earlier, on the basis of announcements the FBI encountered on the Web sites of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace.

SenaxFlatulus · #2 (**permalink**) 03-28-2006, 07:56 PM

I'm gonna' go out on a limb here and say that the ACLU website is biased just a tad to the left. (just a smidge)

Perhaps they didn't take into account the fact that it's possible the FBI is interested in an ongoing investigation that included a person or persons involved in that anti-war march. How would they know what the FBI was there for?

It seems to have the tone of, "How dare they follow us around! Don't they have anything better to do with taxpayer money than to watch us?" I noticed a distinct lack of pointing out anything that was actually illegal.

Besides... it probably only took 2 agents to keep an eye on this massive 40 member anti-war "crowd."

apotropoxy · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2006, 08:48 PM

[quote]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SenaxFlatulus";p=&quot

[color=blue]I'm gonna' go out on a limb here and say that the ACLU website is biased just a tad to the left. (just a smidge)

Flatulata rings in with a fine example of the Poisoning the Well Rhetorical Fallacy.

The12thMan · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 05:59 AM

Quote:

The two groups are advocating committing what they refer to "civil disobedience," possibly by blocking vehicular traffic at Maizeland and Academy....

Quote:

According to these leaflets, Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction and that, if the United States Iraq, Sadam Hussien [sic] will unleash biochemical weapons upon American soldiers.

I'm sure the investigation found that these organizations had little potential for violence, merely stupidity.

Rebellion · #5 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 08:01 AM

they have absolutely no idea why the FBI was there. For all they know there were specific targets in mind. It also is no constitutional violation to conduct surveillance from public property. You do not need a warrant. You did not need one before the Patriot Act and you do not need one after it.

ben-franklin · #6 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 10:36 AM

The FBI's Secret Scrutiny

"The FBI now issues more than 30,000 national security letters a year, according to government sources, a hundredfold increase over historic norms. The letters -- one of which can be used to sweep up the records of many people -- are extending the bureau's reach as never before into the telephone calls, correspondence and financial lives of ordinary Americans."

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archive...i_is_spyi.html

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artma...cle_7624.shtml

DuH2 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 12:56 PM

1. Who cares.

2.These groups harbor lunatics..lunatics are dangers to society. They should be watched.

3. Look on the bright side without this they wouldn't even make the news.

sputterman · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuH2";p=&quot

1. Who cares.

2.These groups harbor lunatics..lunatics are dangers to society. They should be watched.

3. Look on the bright side without this they wouldn't even make the news.

You have shown your totalitarian colors again.

sputterman · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuH2";p=&quot

1. Who cares.

2.These groups harbor lunatics..lunatics are dangers to society. They should be watched.

3. Look on the bright side without this they wouldn't even make the news.

Why, the FBI of course and probably the NSA. Why is the federal government so afraid of an anti-war protest? At least they haven't shot anyone yet. We are still ahead of Red China in that regard. At least for now.

sputterman · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by entsetzen";p=&quot

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/spyfiles/24790prs20060328.html

Quote:

DENVER -- As part of a “domestic terrorism" investigation, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted surveillance of a Denver bookstore on February 15, 2003 and monitored 40 people who gathered there to carpool to an anti-war demonstration in Colorado Springs later that day, according to an FBI report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado

“This report raises more questions about the degree to which the FBI is unjustifiably regarding demonstrations and public dissent as potential terrorism," said Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado. “Why is the FBI conducting surveillance of a bookstore, monitoring the persons who gather there, and keeping files with lists of license plate numbers?"

The document, the latest the ACLU obtained in response to a series of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, reports that FBI agents spent two hours watching Breakdown Bookstore, counting about 40 persons who gathered there for the anti-war march. The report also indicates that the FBI recorded the descriptions and license plate numbers of a dozen cars “in the vicinity" of the now-closed political bookstore, located at the time in the 1400 block of Ogden Street.

Last December, the ACLU released a related document indicating that the FBI opened its investigation of the anti-war march four days earlier, on the basis of announcements the FBI encountered on the Web sites of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace.

you cannot trust the feds. These are the 'al-qaida' they say they are spying on when in fact it is ordinary Americans exercising their rights that they spy on.

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