Rep. Conyers: More Patriot Act Abuses – In My Home State

[paineinthearse]

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000224.htm

Blogged by JC on 08.31.05 @ 07:19 PM ET

More Patriot Act Abuses – In My Home State

The ACLU reported two days ago that the FBI had designated a Michigan-based peace group and affirmative action advocacy organization had been labeled "terrorist organizations." When we passed the Patriot Act, we warned that the definition of terrorism was so broad that it could sweep in benign groups who were simply using tools of civil disobedience to make a political point, or even unions engaged in picketing. The Republicans told us not to worry, that the Department could be trusted not to abuse their authority. Well this article tells me we need to worry and the Department of Justice cannot be trusted. I will be looking into this issue further.

The Michigan disclosure comes on top of last week’s report that, despite their repeated denials, the Department was indeed using the Patriot Act to demand library records. Again, it seems that nothing is sacred or off limits from the reach of big brother these days.

The Patriot Act will go to conference when Congress returns, and I will do everything in my power to insure that it is balanced and limited. For a copy of my views on the entire Act passed by the Republican Congress, click here.

[livvy]

1. Here's some more info...

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18965&c=282
FBI Document Labels Michigan Affirmative Action and Peace Groups as Terrorists

August 29, 2005
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union today released an FBI document that designates a Michigan-based peace group and an affirmative action advocacy group as potentially "involved in terrorist activities." The file was obtained through an ongoing nationwide ACLU effort seeking information on the FBI's use of Joint Terrorism Task Forces to engage in political surveillance.

"This document confirms our fears that federal and state counterterrorism officers have turned their attention to groups and individuals engaged in peaceful protest activities," said Ben Wizner, an ACLU staff attorney and counsel in a lawsuit seeking the release of additional FBI records. "When the FBI and local law enforcement identify affirmative action advocates as potential terrorists, every American has cause for concern." >snip
Among the groups mentioned are Direct Action, an anti-war group, and BAMN (By Any Means Necessary), a national organization dedicated to defending affirmative action, integration, and other gains of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The FBI acknowledges in the report that the Michigan State Police has information that BAMN has been peaceful in the past.>snip
"We're disturbed and dismayed that the FBI is misusing its power by spying on anti-war groups and monitoring political dissent to target activist groups," said 23-year-old Sarah McDonald, a member of Direct Action and recent graduate of Michigan State University. "We've protested the war, racial discrimination and the military recruitment of the high school students, but we're certainly not a terrorist group.">more

[Neocondriac]

6. The Patriot Act is sooo handy.....

....when Fascism just sounds too harsh !

[akarnitz]

8. This makes me wonder

who might be monitoing all of us here on DU.:hi:

[livvy]

9. We should all remember to give a wave every now and then to...

Agent Mike and friends!
Hi!:hi:

[wli]

2. Balanced and limited??? REPEALED would be better. n/t

[Independent_Liberal]

3. We're in this fight together Mr. Conyers...

Let's press on and clean up the Act!

:)

[NVMojo]

4. Repeal this joke of a law! It's nothing more than a political convenience

for the Bush idiots!

[paineinthearse]

5. .

:kick:

[Mnemosyne]

7. .

:kick: