Attention Left, Liberal and Radical Groups –
by Bill Quigley and Rachel Meeropol
Common Dreams
October 6, 2010
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/10/06-5
Thank you,
(ITRR), for reminding us how many bad-ass, dedicated, and
creative groups we count as allies in our efforts to create
a more just world!
Our friends at MoveON.org, the Ruckus Society, Immokalee
Workers, the new SDS, Jobs with Justice, the
Peace Community, ANSWER, PETA, Stop
Cruelty, MOVE, The Yes Men, Poor People's Economic Human
Rights Campaign, Climate Ground Zero, the Rainforest Action
Network, pro-Palestinian Groups, Puerto Rican nationalists,
prisoners' rights organizations, citizen conservation
groups, and immigration activists opposing
attempts to criminalize all non-citizens should know -
Just over a month ago, ProPublica broke the story that
the
private Israeli-based company, to assess terrorist threats
impacting law enforcement priorities in
For almost a year, ITTR provided bi-weekly intelligence
briefings to
equal part on "jihadist" communications and trainings
throughout the world, and also social justice organizing and
protests across the country.
Pennsylvania Homeland Security, in turn, distributed this
information to 800 federal, local and state law enforcement
agencies, along with "relevant stakeholders" like local
businesses. Information provided included the political
views and movement building strategies of hundreds of law-
abiding groups and individuals.
The targets of ITTR are not just
also a veritable who's who of left and liberal groups,
including MoveON.org, the Ruckus Society, Immokalee Workers,
the new SDS, Jobs with Justice, the
Community, ANSWER, PETA, Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty,
MOVE, The Yes Men, Poor People's Economic Human Rights
Campaign, Climate Ground Zero, the Rainforest Action
Network, pro-Palestinian Groups, Puerto Rican nationalists,
prisoners' rights organizations, citizen conservation
groups, and immigration activists opposing
attempts to criminalize all non-citizens.
In the scandal that followed PA Governor Rendell disavowed
ITRR's focus on First Amendment protected activity, and
promised to end the contract.
Security Director Ed Powers resigned. And in response to
significant public pressure, OHS published the hundred-odd
intelligence bulletins produced by ITTR over the last year
on its website. These bulletins are posted on the home page
of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
As lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights, many of
these groups are longtime friends and allies.
Indeed, even our organization, CCR, itself gets a mention,
as "
includes a lengthy discussion of an ALF press release
reminding activists that: "Nobody Talks, Everybody Walks"
and suggesting as further reading CCR's know-your-rights
pamphlet, "If an Agent Knocks." CCR is succinctly described
as "a veteran legal advocacy organization devoted to a
plethora of radical causes." Well said!
But we shouldn't joke too much.
While ITTR frequently acknowledges that the groups whose
first amendment actions it has so closely monitored have no
history of violence or illegality, over and over they warn
law enforcement of the risk of violence and property
destruction that accompanies protest.
Bulletin No. 6, for example, provides the details of an
anti-war protest at Lockheed Martin. "TAM-C analysis have
found no indication that this protest will be disorderly"
ITRR reports, but "Lockheed Martin is an [sic] key
commercial-resource ... The possibility exists that the
high-profile nature of the target will attract radical
protestors from the ranks of local Communist and/or
Anarchist movements." Similarly, a
the desecration of Native American
"peaceful protest designed to conform to legal norms" but,
"ITRR analysts note the small, but present, risk that the
above-mentioned issue may be taken up by more radical
elements, potentially including anarchists or lone-wolf
Native American rights supporters."
If there is one central theme to be taken from the
bulletins, it is this: dangerous anarchists are everywhere,
and even the most peaceful protest may turn violent.
ITTR provides not just dates and times, but "strategic
analysis." For example, the November 20, 2009 Bulletin
includes a lengthy and detailed account entitled "the Return
of Campus Activism." Students everywhere are organizing
against increases in tuition, we are told. Protests like one
at UC Davis, which included placards stating "Education only
for the rich" are not "spontaneous," but rather are "part of
an international Anarchist movement that has been
coordinated through Internet postings." If "student are
coordinating their activities" ITTR ominously concludes, "it
behooves law enforcement personnel from both the campus
environment and civil authorities ... to start working on
their coordinated responses."
Another exceptionally creepy bulletin includes a segment
entitled "
recounting an anti-war activist group's attempts to mobilize
people to attend anti-war demonstrations in DC. ITRR
recounts "thus far, the group has: lectured to college
students, taken part in a protest organized by the West
Society in opposition to the troop surge in
and some members have helped put out a radical newsletter."
Don't worry: "ITRR is monitoring anti-war activist
communications for additional planning related to
The extent of the "monitoring" here is far from clear. Much
of ITRR's information clearly comes from organizations' own
websites and press materials, but the bulletins are laced
with more sinister references to "intercepted internal
communications."
And not just groups are named, there are some references to
individuals too, including an inexplicably detailed bio and
discussion of the political views of the newly hired
Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network.
The Bulletins are so outrageous as to be almost comical, but
the upshot is not funny.
This is not an isolated incident. While ITRR claims to have
no other governmental contracts, it seems clear that they
generally perform just this type of surveillance and
monitoring of protest groups for corporations who fear the
impact of speech and organizing on their bottom lines. This
explains the constant rants regarding the potential
dangerousness of animal rights and environmental activists:
when successful, such groups force corporations to
internalize the harm they cause to the environment and to
the communities who stand in their way.
And yes, this contract may end shortly, but what has
happened to the hundreds of bulletins already distributed to
law enforcement across the country?
There is a direct negative effect of consistently teaching
law enforcement that protestors pose national security risks
has real effects on policing and on enforcement respect for
lawful protest.
Since 9-11 we have seen increased hurdles to dissent in the
US. Every protest now not only brings out local cops but
also is a potential terrorist event monitored by Joint
Terrorism Task Force personnel. These folks do not have any
real terrorists to monitor so they are going after First
Amendment protected activities of freedom to assemble and
freedom of speech.
For an example, we need look no further than the Office of
the Inspector General report released last month, detailing
what happens when an FBI agent has a slow day. It is titled
A Review of the FBI's Investigations of Certain Domestic
Advocacy Groups, Office of the Inspector General, Sept.
2010. Available online at
http://www.justice.gov/oig/special/s1009r.pdf Apparently the
FBI has so little work to do they occasionally tell new
agents something like "you might as well go watch the crowd
at a protest, and hey, while you are there, be sure to
photograph any folks who look Middle-Eastern." It is also
noteworthy that this report only discusses FBI surveillance
which people outside the FBI have documented.
Reflect as well, on the recent series of FBI raids and grand
jury subpoenas issued to over a dozen anti-war and anti-
imperialism activists. Going to
solidarity trip and protesting at the RNC? Well, our country
has FBI agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force people to
investigate you.
Our advice to you: take a look at the bulletins for
yourself. If you or your group is named, make a stink about
it. Find out if your local law enforcement offices have
received the information, and demand they destroy it. And
remember, at least you're in good company.
Bill Quigley and Rachel Meeropol are attorneys working with
the Center for Constitutional Rights. You can reach Bill at
quigley77@gmail.com
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