Pete Seeger Labelled 'Subversive' After Speaking Out Against Plan to Deport Japanese

[JEB]

Last edited Sat Dec 19, 2015, 11:30 PM - Edit history (2)

Newly released 1,700-page FBI file shows the US government 'went to lengths' to track beloved folk icon
by
Lauren McCauley

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/19/pete-seeger-labelled-subversive-after-speaking-out-against-plan-deport-japanese

Beloved singer and activist Pete Seeger inspired countless worldwide with his songs about peace and equality, and—according to his newly released FBI file—he also inspired the ire of the U.S. government, which spied on the folk icon for decades and labelled him a "subversive" for his Communist sympathies.

<snip>

AP notes that the FBI went to "lengths...to keep tabs on the singer's travels, performances and rally appearances at least into the 1970s." Seeger, who died in January 2014, was an active singer and activist until he passed at age 94.

According to the reporting, the National Archives plan to release additional Seeger files in the future.

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edit to add another link to a David Corn article on this same subject. Much more in depth.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/pete-seeger-fbi-file

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Pete was a subversive.

A proud American subversive, determined to do his best to subvert injustice all over this land.

[JEB]

2. What kind of government

spends so much money and time spying and investigating such an honorable man?

[bvf]

3. A government whose actions are reprehensible

in the eyes of an honorable man with a voice and a following.

[JEB]

4. The FBI gave him so much shit,

but Pete pretty much kicked their butts coming and going. All the time with a song in his heart. Now that is a tough guy.

[bvf]

5. It's a sure bet the FBI shit didn't end in the 70s, either. n/t

[JEB]

6. FBI has always done evil.

If we the people ever gain real power that is one agency that deserves a good house cleaning.

[Samantha]

9. Great reaction (nt)

[gratuitous]

7. Keep this in mind

When you hear some fatcat asshole talking about how oppressed he is because of some picayune thing that isn't going 100% his way, Pete Seeger knew what oppression was all about, what it felt like to have not just the government against you, but large swaths of the public who didn't want to be bothered by their country's oppression. Pete was far too fine a person to say, "You know something, you whiny sack of overprivileged monkey offal? Fuck you."

But I may not be too fine to say that.

[JEB]

8. You are fine enough to know it needs to be said.

Hold your head high and say it with a smile.

[Solly Mack]

10. What you said! (and said so finely)

[Solly Mack]

11. Doing the right thing and labeled subversive for it.

Some things never change.

[JEB]

14. Questioning the actions of the government, right or wrong,

draws the ire of "our" government. Especially don't cross the FBI, CIA, or any of the alphabet soup agencies.

[Solly Mack]

15. True.

[Octafish]

12. Guy spoke up for justice.

And that is taboo in a nation where such privileges are reserved for "just us."

[JEB]

16. Not only spoke up, but

sang up to powerful.

[Octafish]

18. We were going to hear him speak in Detroit...

...maybe five years ago, a panel discussion on ending discrimination during time of terror wars at the Arab American National Museum in Detroit. His health led to a cancellation. We all were very much saddened.

Thank you for your OP and thread, JEB.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. This country needs more subversives like Pete Seegar.

[JEB]

17. Absolutely, a lot more.