Posted on 08/18/2004 3:09:02 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The FBI (news - web sites) anticipates violent protests at the upcoming Republican National Convention in New York but does not have enough evidence to move against any group or person, the bureau's top terrorism official said Wednesday.
New York officials have said they expect hundreds of thousands of people to stage demonstrations around the convention, which begins Aug. 30.
Concern over the convention comes amid heightened security across New York over fears that foreign terrorists might strike the city again. New York remains on a "high" terrorism alert level, while most of the country is on elevated alert.
Federal investigators have infiltrated some organizations and are monitoring plans for protests being published on the Internet. The FBI also interviewed some protesters around the country before last month's Democratic convention in Boston and in anticipation of the GOP convention.
"We don't have any specific plot where we have all the variables we need to go out and take pre-emptive and judicial action," said Gary Bald, assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division.
The FBI has noted that some activist Web sites critical of Republicans and the convention include links to a site that lists Molotov cocktails, slingshots and bolt cutters as appropriate "offensive weapons" to carry during protests.
Three Democratic lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) have criticized the FBI's interviews of protesters around the country. They asked the Justice Department (news - web sites)'s inspector general to investigate what they called "possible violations of First Amendment free speech and assembly rights."
The committee's ranking Democrat, Michigan's John Conyers, along with Reps. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott of Virginia and Jerrold Nadler of New York, said in a letter that the FBI "appears to be engaged in systematic political harassment and intimidation of legitimate anti-war protesters."
Bald, speaking with about 20 reporters at the bureau's headquarters, said FBI agents have interviewed only protesters they believed were plotting to firebomb media vehicles at the conventions or might have known about such plots. All these investigations are being treated as terrorism cases, Bald said.
"I've got more than enough to keep my people busy than to worry about if a protester is pro or con on some issue," Bald said. He called it "critically important that citizens have the ability to exercise their First Amendment rights."
Bald added, "We don't monitor rallies; we don't monitor people at rallies." But the FBI will open an investigation if it learns from tips, informants or other methods that protesters are planning to commit violent acts, Bald said.
The warning of a possible attack against media trucks, disclosed days before the Democratic convention, was based on claims by an informant who described an alleged plot by self-described anarchists in the Midwest to throw Molotov cocktails at television vans, a senior U.S. law enforcement official said.
Mark Silverstein, the Colorado legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites), said he was "very skeptical of the FBI's claim." The ACLU, which was contacted by some of the protesters who were interviewed by the FBI, said agents never asked directly about such an alleged plot.
Meanwhile, in New York, an anti-war group planning a massive demonstration the day before the GOP convention asked a judge Wednesday to overrule city officials and let protesters gather in Central Park. Lawyers for United for Peace and Justice argued that the city's denial violates the state constitution.
City officials had said the expected crowd at the Aug. 29 rally, which could exceed 250,000 people, would damage the grass.
Me too.
I thought they were wacko when they said Bush orchestrated 9/11 on purpose to make money for Halliburton. The other day one posted that Hurricane Charley had been "steered" away from MacDill AFB by using mystic signals from the HAARP site in Alaska. Wow. Even for a dim.
I say 'bring it on!' and remind people who the democrats REALLY are and what this country would be like if people like them ever get in power!
That's what happens when people get all of their information about government from watching re-runs of the 'X Files'.
Agreed. The best thing for us is if these half wit bolsheviks tear the place up and act like a bunch of Hippies on crack.
Broken windows and commie flags and effigies of Bush are what we need the public to see..
But then, I wonder if a line of counter protestors armed with garden hoses and buckets of soapy water wouldn't make the dirty hippies run for the border?
I believe you meant to say "Mr. Nadler will be the front line" (however, I think I did hear that he had lost weight).
Roosevelt and Truman? Roosevelt was very cozy with "Uncle Joe", Truman too.
The roots of today's leftism was planted in thier terms. Socialists and commies abounded in both thier administrations.
We've paid the price for thier treason, commie tendencies, and ineptitude for over 55 years. And we're still paying. Via the UN. Via big government. Via gun control. Etc and so on.
Roosevelt started America on the road to ruin. People who say he was a good pres are nuts.
I wouldn't argue the point. A lot of oldsters think that he was wonderful though, which was my point.
***No, I am giving a recent history of the city's view toward CP for the 97% of freepers who do not know it. You may of course twist it any way that suits you.***
`I "twisted" nothing. I asked what your opinion was. Your reply was very defensive, and very rude.
Look again... I did :o)
Will both of him be there or only one of his overly nourished carcasses be there? That reminds me, I have to render some suet for my bird feeders..................
Someone needs to remind the Clymer Nadler that it was in his district where approximately 3,000 people lost their lives on 9/11 and the FBI is only doing what they can to keep the convention and his beloved NYC safe.
I wish that NYers were smart enough to get rid of Jabba the Fat Waddler a long, long time ago. He is the absolute biggest joke.
LOL! I'll need to put my bifocals on next time I read your post! GMTA
In speaking to the FBI, I would have to say:
Well, I guess so.
It's not like they have kept it secret, that they hate Bush and all of us! And please, Mr. FBI man/woman, don't just slap them on the hand!!! Make the punishment fit the rebellion!
I just hope and pray for safety for our conventioners.
And for all the people speaking!
God Bless America!!!
BUSH/CHENEY 2004
They should have had a secret back-up replacement site and at the last minute, go there!
Your reply clearly implied that I was in favor of turning the Park over to these folks.
I didn't read her reply that way at all. Maybe you are a bit too sensitive?
btt
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