Posted on 07/17/2005 11:17:04 PM PDT by Jay777
WASHINGTON — The FBI has thousands of pages of records in its files relating to the monitoring of civil rights, environmental and similar advocacy groups, the Justice Department acknowledges.
The organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Greenpeace, are suing for the release of the documents. The organizations contend that the material will show that they have been subjected to scrutiny by FBI task forces set up to combat terrorism.
The FBI has identified 1,173 pages related to the ACLU and 2,383 pages about Greenpeace, but it needs at least until February to process the ACLU files and until June to review the Greenpeace documents, the government said in a filing in U.S. District Court in Washington.
The FBI has not said specifically what those pages contain. The ACLU's executive director, Anthony Romero, said the disclosure indicates that the FBI is monitoring organizations that are engaging in lawful conduct.
"I know for an absolute fact that we have not been involved in anything related to promoting terrorism and yet the government has collected almost 1,200 pages on our activities," Romero said. "Why is the ACLU now the subject of scrutiny from the FBI?"
John Passacantando, Greenpeace's U.S. executive director, said his group is a forceful, but peaceful, critic of the Bush administration's war and environmental policies.
"This administration has a history of using its powers against its peaceful critics. If, in fact, the FBI has been deployed to help in that effort, that would be quite shocking," Passacantando said.
Justice Department and FBI spokesmen declined to comment, citing the ongoing case. The FBI has denied singling out individuals or groups for surveillance or investigation based solely on activities protected by the Constitution's guarantees of free speech.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Because the FBI is preparing to apprehend, "give the guilty b@stards a fair trial," then execute EVERY SINGLE ONE them?
Time to celebrate...
I know for an absolute fact that we have not been involved in anything related to promoting terrorism....
yeah right, only defending them.
Teddy?
FBI Monitored Web Sites for 2004 Protests
Groups Criticize Agency's Surveillance for Terror Unit
Love Your tagline.
Maybe the FBI will turn those files over to the IRS where they belong. Although these groups list themselves as 501 (c)(3)'s they are far from charitable organizations and they DO engage in lobbying activities in violation of IRS regs.
Hmm, how's that old saying go? Oh yeah...
If you have to ask..
Go here or type in "Kennedy Nazi" in Google.
It was wrong then, and it's wrong now. Unless there's evidence of criminal actions, these groups should not be targeted. Keeping political opponents under state observation for ideology alone is anathema to the Constitution.
If there is evidence that they actually were engaged in a crime, this is perfectly justified. If there isn't, then it's as wrong as the Clintoons' abuses.
These are "rights groups"?
The KKK is a "white rights" group but they do so for the benefit of only select white people and squash the rights of others.
The ACLU is the same. They are an anti-Christian organization decidely trying to squash my religious expression (while taking a different stance on Islam in school).
Don't forget the FBI files on 900+ individuals that Hillary illegally posessed.
The left makes death threats. Some of these crackpots are members of these activist organizations.
There is always the possibility for things to go fullscale riot at a protest.
Most of the information is probably inconclusive but once it enters the file, there it remains.
I think that if someone contacts the FBI, that too goes into the file.
How many pages do they have on DailyKos and DU?
I'm sure the FBI has always monitored almost all groups of any size in this country, as well as a lot of little groups that have certain leanings.
Of course... They better.
Exactly, what a non-story. Of course they have files on these groups and their leaderships actions are watched closely. As they should be.
Unless there's evidence of criminal actions...
You can't be serious! There is a mountain of evidence on the ACLU and Greepeace. Their own statements indict them. They have been blatantly disassembling our free society since their inception. What the hell other proof do we need, highball?
Proof of *criminal* actions.
Not merely politics with which we disagree.
How then do we determine *criminal* actions without investigation? It sounds like you're turning a blind eye to reality and giving them a free pass. If you think these organizations are merely conducting legally acceptable political activities, you have a seious case of naivete.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.