F.B.I. Counterterrorism Agents Monitored Occupy Movement, Records Show
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and COLIN MOYNIHAN
Published: December 24, 2012
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/nyregion/occupy-movement-was-investigated-by-fbi-counterterrorism-agents-records-show.html>
Occupy protests targeted by FBI counterterror units
By Barry Grey
27 December 2012
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/12/27/poli-d27.html
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http://www.justiceonline.org/commentary/fbi-files-ows.html
FBI Documents Reveal Secret Nationwide Occupy Monitoring
DECEMBER 22, 2012
FBI documents just obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
(PCJF) pursuant to the PCJF's Freedom of Information Act demands
reveal that from its inception, the FBI treated the Occupy movement
as a potential criminal and terrorist threat even though the agency
acknowledges in documents that organizers explicitly called for
peaceful protest and did "not condone the use of violence" at occupy
protests.
The PCJF has obtained heavily redacted documents showing that FBI
offices and agents around the country were in high gear conducting
surveillance against the movement even as early as August 2011, a
month prior to the establishment of the OWS encampment in Zuccotti
Park and other Occupy actions around the country.
"This production, which we believe is just the tip of the iceberg, is
a window into the nationwide scope of the FBI's surveillance,
monitoring, and reporting on peaceful protestors organizing with the
Occupy movement," stated Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Executive Director
of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF). "These documents
show that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are
treating protests against the corporate and banking structure of
America as potential criminal and terrorist activity. These
documents also show these federal agencies functioning as a de facto
intelligence arm of Wall Street and Corporate America."
"The documents are heavily redacted, and it is clear from the
production that the FBI is withholding far more material. We are
filing an appeal challenging this response and demanding full
disclosure to the public of the records of this operation," stated
Heather Benno, staff attorney with the PCJF.
* As early as August 19, 2011, the FBI in New York was meeting with
the New York Stock Exchange to discuss the Occupy Wall Street
protests that wouldn't start for another month. By September, prior
to the start of the OWS, the FBI was notifying businesses that they
might be the focus of an OWS protest.
* The FBI's Indianapolis division released a "Potential Criminal
Activity Alert" on September 15, 2011, even though they acknowledged
that no specific protest date had been scheduled in Indiana. The
documents show that the Indianapolis division of the FBI was
coordinating with "All Indiana State and Local Law Enforcement
Agencies," as well as the "Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center," the
FBI "Directorate of Intelligence" and other national FBI coordinating
mechanisms.
* Documents show the spying abuses of the FBI's "Campus Liaison
Program" in which the FBI in Albany and the Syracuse Joint Terrorism
Task Force disseminated information to "sixteen (16) different campus
police officials," and then "six (6) additional campus police
officials." Campus officials were in contact with the FBI for
information on OWS. A representative of the State University of New
York at Oswego contacted the FBI for information on the OWS protests
and reported to the FBI on the SUNY-Oswego Occupy encampment made up
of students and professors.
* Documents released show coordination between the FBI, Department of
Homeland Security and corporate America. They include a report by the
Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC), described by the federal
government as "a strategic partnership between the FBI, the
Department of Homeland Security and the private sector," discussing
the OWS protests at the West Coast ports to "raise awareness
concerning this type of criminal activity." The DSAC report shows the
nature of secret collaboration between American intelligence agencies
and their corporate clients - the document contains a "handling
notice" that the information is "meant for use primarily within the
corporate security community. Such messages shall not be released in
either written or oral form to the media, the general public or other
personnel" (The DSAC document was also obtained by the Northern
California ACLU which has sought local FBI surveillance files.)
* Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) reported to the DSAC
on the relationship between OWS and organized labor for the port
actions. The NCIS describes itself as "an elite worldwide federal
law enforcement organization" whose "mission is to investigate and
defeat criminal, terrorist, and foreign intelligence threats to the
United States Navy and Marine Corps ashore, afloat and in
cyberspace." The NCIS also assists with the transport of Guantanamo
prisoners.
* DSAC issued several tips to its corporate clients on "civil unrest"
which it defines as ranging from "small, organized rallies to
large-scale demonstrations and rioting." It advised to dress
conservatively, avoid political discussions and "avoid all large
gatherings related to civil issues. Even seemingly peaceful rallies
can spur violent activity or be met with resistance by security
forces. Bystanders may be arrested or harmed by security forces using
water cannons, tear gas or other measures to control crowds."
* The FBI in Anchorage reported from a Joint Terrorism Task Force
meeting of November 3, 2011, about Occupy activities in Anchorage.
* A port Facility Security Officer in Anchorage coordinated with the
FBI to attend the meeting of protestors and gain intelligence on the
planning of the port actions. He was advised to request the presence
of an Anchorage Police Department official to also attend the event.
The FBI Special Agent told the undercover private operative that he
would notify the Joint Terrorism Task Force and that he would provide
a point of contact at the Anchorage Police Department.
* The Jacksonville, Florida FBI prepared a Domestic Terrorism
briefing on the "spread of the Occupy Wall Street Movement" in
October 2011. The intelligence meeting discussed Occupy venues
identifying "Daytona, Gainesville and Ocala Resident Agency
territories as portions where some of the highest unemployment rates
in Florida continue to exist."
* The Tampa, Florida FBI "Domestic Terrorism" liaison participated
with the Tampa Police Department's monthly intelligence meeting in
which Occupy Lakeland, Occupy Polk County and Occupy St. Petersburg
were discussed. They reported on an individual "leading the Occupy
Tampa" and plans for travel to Gainesville for a protest planning
meeting, as well as on Veterans for Peace plans to protest at MacDill
Air Force Base.
* The Federal Reserve in Richmond appears to have had personnel
surveilling OWS planning. They were in contact with the FBI in
Richmond to "pass on information regarding the movement known as
occupy Wall Street." There were repeated communications "to pass on
updates of the events and decisions made during the small rallies and
the following information received from the Capital Police
Intelligence Unit through JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force)."
* The Virginia FBI was collecting intelligence on the OWS movement
for dissemination to the Virginia Fusion Center and other
Intelligence divisions.
* The Milwaukee division of the FBI was coordinating with the
Ashwaubenon Public Safety division in Green Bay Wisconsin regarding
Occupy.
* The Memphis FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force met to discuss
"domestic terrorism" threats, including, "Aryan Nations, Occupy Wall
Street, and Anonymous."
* The Birmingham, AL division of the FBI sent communications to
HAZMAT teams regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement.
* The Jackson, Mississippi division of the FBI attended a meeting of
the Bank Security Group in Biloxi, MS with multiple private banks and
the Biloxi Police Department, in which they discussed an announced
protest for "National Bad Bank Sit-In-Day" on December 7, 2011.
* The Denver, CO FBI and its Bank Fraud Working Group met and were
briefed on Occupy Wall Street in November 2011. Members of the
Working Group include private financial institutions and local area
law enforcement.
* Jackson, MS Joint Terrorism Task Force issued a "Counterterrorism
Preparedness" alert. This heavily redacted document includes the
description, "To documentthe Occupy Wall Street Movement."
You can read the FBI - OWS documents below where we have uploaded
them in searchable format for public viewing.
The PCJF filed Freedom of Information Act demands with multiple
federal law enforcement agencies in the fall of 2011 as the Occupy
crackdown began. The FBI initially attempted to limit its search to
only one limited record keeping index. Recognizing this as a common
tactic used by the FBI to conduct an inadequate search, the PCJF
pressed forward demanding searches be performed of the FBI
headquarters as well as FBI field offices nationwide.
The PCJF will continue to push for public disclosure of the
government's spy files and will release documents as they are
obtained.
Click here to see the FBI documents obtained by the PCJF.
http://www.justiceonline.org/commentary/fbi-files-ows.html#documents
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