FBI terrorism unit investigating doings of peaceful green groups

Spies Like Us

FBI agents working on behalf of the bureau's counterterrorism unit have been gathering information on nonviolent environmental, civil-rights, and peace organizations for the past several years, according to Justice Department documents revealed in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The documents reveal that the FBI has amassed thousands of pages of records on the activities of groups like Greenpeace and the American Civil Liberties Union. The feds claim they're just trying to prevent violence at political demonstrations, not, you know, stifle free speech or free assembly or anything like that (heaven forfend!). But "if the FBI has taken the time to gather 2,400 pages of information on an organization that has a perfect record of peaceful activity for 34 years," said Greenpeace USA's John Passacantando, "it suggests they're just attempting to stifle the voices of their critics."

straight to the source: The Washington Post, Michael Dobbs, 18 Jul 2005

straight to the source: The New York Times, Eric Lichtblau, 18 Jul 2005

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	Read more about: Federal Bureau of Investigation \| Greenpeace \| news \| non-government organizations \| all of these topics Tools: print \| email \| discuss \| write to the editor \| subscribe \| RSS Share: digg \| hugg \| stumbleupon \| reddit \| newsvine \| fark \| facebook Bookmark: del.icio.us \| google \| yahoo Spies Like Us FBI terrorism unit investigating doings of peaceful green groups FBI agents working on behalf of the bureau's counterterrorism unit have been gathering information on nonviolent environmental, civil-rights, and peace organizations for the past several years, according to Justice Department documents revealed in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The documents reveal that the FBI has amassed thousands of pages of records on the activities of groups like Greenpeace and the American Civil Liberties Union. The feds claim they're just trying to prevent violence at political demonstrations, not, you know, stifle free speech or free assembly or anything like that (heaven forfend!). But "if the FBI has taken the time to gather 2,400 pages of information on an organization that has a perfect record of peaceful activity for 34 years," said Greenpeace USA's John Passacantando, "it suggests they're just attempting to stifle the voices of their critics." straight to the source: The Washington Post, Michael Dobbs, 18 Jul 2005 straight to the source: The New York Times, Eric Lichtblau, 18 Jul 2005 ADVERTISING POLICY Comments: There are no comments. Be the first to post! You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five. Username: Password: Forgot your password? Enter your username and click: The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?	Also in Grist The Death of Environmentalist How to green your funeral. If By Clean You Mean Filthy Is clean coal an oxymoron? Umbra clears up the confusion. iSave When you're not guzzling iBeer, conserve gas with new iPhone apps. Water on the Brain Author Elizabeth Royte spills about the bottled water boom and backlash. The Week's Most Popular Viewed Commented Emailed Ask Umbra on storing produce Ask Umbra on sea-level rise If you're going to eat meat, you can't shy away from the whole beast Blogosphere responds reservedly to Gore's call for 100 percent renewable electricity Author Elizabeth Royte chats about the bottled-water boom and backlash Are biofuels a core solution? Time to stop using the phrase 'renewable energy' Animal rights group called out for repeatedly exploiting women A conversation with energy guru Amory Lovins Ask Umbra on storing produce New Nature Conservancy prez chats about jumping from Goldman Sachs to the green scene As summer heats up, a tasting of six 'natural' white wines How to green your day job From the Archives A Dung Deal, 15 Jul 2005 Bad for the Fish, Good for the Grist Swim Team, 14 Jul 2005 Exx Marks the Boycott, 13 Jul 2005 Daily Grist Archives