Chicago-Police infiltration of protest groups upsets rights activists

[LiviaOlivia]

February 19, 2004
Chicago Sun-Times
BY FRANK MAIN Crime Reporter

Chicago Police officers infiltrated five protest groups in 2002 and launched four other spying operations in 2003 -- actions that civil rights activists are calling outrageous.

The investigations have come in the wake of a court decision that expanded the department's intelligence-gathering powers.

In 2002, undercover officers were assigned to attend meetings, rallies and fund-raisers of the Chicago Direct Action Network, the American Friends Service Committee, The Autonomous Zone, Not in Our Name, and Anarchist Black Cross.

Police zeroed in on the groups because protesters were threatening to disrupt the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue -- a meeting of international business leaders held in Chicago in 2002 -- according to an internal police audit obtained by the Sun-Times. The department made video and audio recordings of the protests, the audit said.

The department would not describe what organizations were targeted in 2003.

<snip>

full article
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-spy19.html

[burrowowl]

1. The American Friends Service Comittee

I mean what do they have to fear from Quakers?
Ooops! PEACE
They did it in Denver too.
Give Peace a chance! No why in the facisization of the U$.

[lebkuchen]

2. Oh the scapegoating that will take place should the Chimp cheat the system

again.

[kysrsoze]

7. If not for these brave undercovers, there would be rampant

trespassing. Think of the damage to society.

[Snazzy]

3. The department would not describe what organizations were targeted in 2003

More of them.

Not being a lawyer, I can't say exactly how the Patriot Act plays into this--but it does, right.

Somehow all this is greenlighted now, versus the changes that came in the exposure of FBI's cointelpro--up to what? Reagan? Wasn't Ford supposed to have shut it down?

But it did stop, for just a few years under Clinton, right? Now we're back, plus unleash the CIA and FBI while you're at it (Ford did stop that--FBI. I think their charter stopped CIA until now, this will be a new twist). Not to mention the dept. HS oh and the military wants in too. The new North American Command--never mind that pesky posse comitatus concept (1878).

So, it ramps up, and ramps up slowly. But it ramps up! What is the connection to foreign terrorists--none.

This is going to end in November or it is going to get really Kent State and dead civil rights leaders ugly. Just hope we make it to November.

----

On edit, cointelpro went on till at least the late 80's. I remember the story re the Earth Firster!, Judi Barri (?, sorry link not handy). And I had a group in Oregon infiltrated circa then. Something changed shortly there after and Clinton did it--what was that?

[madrchsod]

4. the red squad

is back in business- one always assumes there are informers in your group

[POed_Ex_Repub]

5. It's Orwellian tactics like this

That make people paranoid...

:tinfoilhat:

Then again, is it paranoia if they really are out to get you?

*waving to whatever government agency is "infiltrating DU"*

:hi:

[LiviaOlivia]

6. Yes we have all seen this movie before

Everyone say cheese!

[truthspeaker]

8. you know what bothers me about this?

I'm a clean-cut white guy with short hair, and I usually dress in a subdued manned. I wouldn't blame people for suspecting I'm an undercover cop.