FBI spied on political activists - see GD threads on NYT article

[chat_noir]

I remember reading about FBI spying on the protestors at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City, but can't find information online right now. Did find this however:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — FBI interviews and surveillance of at least a dozen political activists in Kansas and Missouri prior to the Democratic National Convention (search) amounted to intimidation, contends the American Civil Liberties Union (search).

The FBI and activists said agents carried out the interviews while investigating potential attacks on news vehicles at the Democratic convention in Boston. Spokesmen for the bureau said the interviews are routine when authorities receive credible information involving potential violence, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

But the ACLU, which is representing three activists, contends the FBI was trying to intimidate political protesters under the cloak of counterterrorism.

"The overt nature of the surveillance was very intimidating and, I think, done with the intent of frightening them," said Denise Lieberman, legal director of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri.

Three activists from Missouri received subpoenas to appear before a grand jury for an investigation into domestic terrorism the day they planned to travel to Boston, ending their plans to protest, Lieberman said.

Also, four FBI cars followed the men for five days, she said

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129400,00.html

Do any of you have any more instances of FBI surveillance in KC Metro area?

[chat_noir]

1. Protesters Feel Big Brother Watching

By Lewis W. Diuguid
Kansas City Star
Wednesday, November 19, 2003

A lot of unsavory stuff keeps happening at area peace protests.

Brad Grabs arrived early at 13th and Central streets for the Sept. 4 protest near the Music Hall, where President Bush was to speak. A government security official dressed in a dark suit and tie approached Grabs.

“He said, ‘Brad, I'd like to ask you to move your demonstration up a block to maybe 12th Street,' ” said Grabs, chairman of the Kansas City Iraq Task Force, which has organized area peace rallies. What astounded Grabs was he had never seen the man before, yet that security official knew Grabs' name.

“I was caught off guard by that,” said Grabs, who declined to move the protest. “It was sort of eerie.”

But anyone who has been to the peace rallies near the Country Club Plaza wouldn't be surprised. On the roof above the Cheesecake Factory, authorities openly shoot photos of protesters. Up there where the Plaza lights line the rooftop, the view of the peace rallies is spectacular.

But who's responsible? A Secret Service official in Washington, D.C., was noncommittal. “We wouldn't give out any information on current surveillance,” he said.

It wasn't the FBI. “We don't surveil people that are exercising their constitutional right,” said Jeff Lanza, FBI spokesman and special agent.

Kansas City police spokesman Capt. Rich Lockhart fessed up. Police investigative units have been shooting the pictures “to monitor those activities.” The information they've gathered also could be shared with other law enforcement agencies.

http://septembereleventh.org/newsarchive/2003-11-19-protesters.php

[atommom]

3. Well, we already know part of this to be false.

It wasn't the FBI. “We don't surveil people that are exercising their constitutional right,” said Jeff Lanza, FBI spokesman and special agent.

We know that the FBI does surveil people who are exercising their constitutional right. So it could have been them, it could have been the SS, or it could have been some other shadowy government entity. I agree with Proud2B ... this makes me want to make the protests bigger, not smaller. :patriot: Maybe we should make up some signs and take the kids. Surveilling them would be exhausting. ;)

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Okay that does it

Every single one of us needs to join the protests at 63 and Ward Parkway on Tues evenings. And are they still protesting on Sundays at the Nichols Fountain?

It's about time we exercised our constitutional rights.