Jul. 30, 2004 - 17:29 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Just Fishing

The further it goes, the more it piles up it would seem. An article in yesterday's Rocky Mountain News by Karen Abbot of the Rocky Mountain News -- In part:

FBI admits probe

"The FBI acknowledged Wednesday that it is interviewing activists in several states about "people or groups planning criminal acts" during the national political conventions."

"In Colorado, a dozen or so men and women have been questioned at two homes in Denver, and one man was questioned at his workplace in Fort Collins."

"The law enforcement interviewers have included police and sheriff's deputies assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force."

"JTTFs in several states were ?--tasked--? to conduct interviews of persons who reasonably could be expected to have specific details about people or groups planning criminal acts during a number of upcoming national events," FBI spokesman Joe Parris e-mailed from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C."

"The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and some of the Colorado activists who were questioned have said the interviews are intimidating and could discourage people from exercising their First Amendment rights to express opinions, associate with one another and peacefully protest government actions."

"Activists who were questioned in Colorado said they suspect they were questioned because they have participated in protests of war, economic globalization and a recent Denver police shooting."

"Denver settled an ACLU federal lawsuit last year with a promise to stop keeping "spy files of surveillance information on individuals and groups who engage in peaceful political demonstrations."

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Then in another article in today's Rocky Mountain News there is more by Karen Abbott. In part:

Missouri Activists dogged by FBI

Federal Subpoena ends Boston plans

"Three young activists in Missouri testified under subpoena before a federal grand jury Thursday, Instead of protesting at the Democratic National Convention in Boston as they had planned."

"The three men, all in their early 20s, earlier were questioned by members of an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, just as some activists in Colorado have been, according to Denise Liberman, legal director of the American civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri."

"They are quite terrified by the experience of being targeted by the Joint Terrorism Task Force because of their protest activities," Lieberman said."

"The FBI does not conduct investigations or interviews designed to discourage anyone from exercising their First Amendment right to assemble and peacefully protest," Parris said."

"The ACLU disagrees Lieberman said the three Missiouri activists had planned to travel to Boston to join in a protest Thursday at the Democratic National Convention but could not go because of their required grand jury appearance." "They were literally chilled from engaging in their activities," she said. "Once other people found out they'd been supoenaed, other folks who intended go to Boston also cancelled their plans," Lieberman said." "She said, "The three, who don't want their names disclosed, have no history of violence. They have demonstrated on behalf of a variety of causes and have been critical of the present political system in the United States."

"She said, "JTTF members first visited the three activists' parents, asking for their children's current addresses and information about their political activities."

"It was very distressing for their families," Lieberman said."

"The activists themselves were questioned late last week in Kirksville, Mo. home to Truman State University. One of the activists is studying for a master's degree and the other two are former students," Liberman said."

"She said, officers asked the three if they knew of anyone planning "criminally disorderly behavior" at the Democratic National Convention, the Republican National Convention in New York City in August, the presidential debates or the election or any other event."

"The second question was, "If you did know, would you tell me ?" Lieberman said."

The third question was whether the activists knew that assisting or failing to disclose any such plans would be crimes" "Colorado activists were asked similar questions."

"Lieberman said the three Missouri activists declined to answer the questions without an attorey present. They were served with grand jury subpoenas on Monday."

"The three went to St. Louis early in the week for that appearance and stayed with friends Lieberman said FBI agents and JTTF members conspicuously followed them around the city for days, and even followed their friends, who are not involved in any protest activities."

"One friend's supervisor expressed concerns to him about his continued employment there because he wanted to know why the FBI followed him to work," Lieberman said".

The use of the JTTF to go after protesters, dissidents -- even if they harbor radical views -- is inappropriate and, in this case an inappropriate show of of force," Lieberman said."

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My opinions -- The wording from on high in the FBI, "Persons who could reasonably be expected to have specific details about people or groups planning criminal acts," leaves the FBI et al all the room in the world to declare any protest criminal -- much as present day protesters are herded into wired enclosures away from anywhere they could be seen by the media or the public.

Their threat is there, "Answer our questions or get subpoenaed."

It appears to me that Homeland Security has gone totally paranoid or the adminisration is pulling this before and during the Democratic National Convention to prepare the way to crack down even harder on protesters at the Republican dog and pony show.

It boggles my mind that our dear government minions are going after peaceful protestors as if they know what any group might be planning to do criminally.

And of course, U.S. language is undergoing a PC change, notice no one has been told to do something, instructed to do something, or ordered to do something, but TASKED TO DO SOMETHING.

JTTF going to parents homes is going a bit too far I think, as well as the FBI obviously surveilling the three in St. Louis being off the wall. To do so to folks who have never done anything but "peacefully protest" their interrogation by government folks should be punished by my way of looking at things.

I remember the Denver spy list where very important (HAH) data such as the license plate numbers and names of the owners of those cars -- supposedly people who were attending activist meetings. Data of suspicion, often wrong of course was filed which haunted innocent people for a long time. I also remember that my son was in the ? SNCC ? was it ? back in his college days in the 60s and 70s and turned up in a list of suspicious characters back then.

So, I wonder if there is something horrible threatening we the people -- or if Homeland Security et al is Just Fishing ? . . . . . . . . .

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