WaPo Reports on ACLU Disclosure Of FBI Monitoring "Left-Leaning Groups"

[kpete]

FBI Took Photos of Antiwar Activists in 2002

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Page A05

An FBI agent in Pittsburgh photographed members of an antiwar activist group in 2002, according to documents released yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the disclosure marks the latest incident in which the FBI has monitored left-leaning groups.

An FBI report from November 2002 indicates that an agent photographed members of the Thomas Merton Center as they handed out leaflets opposing the impending war in Iraq. The report called the group a "left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism."

The same memo notes that one of the leaflet distributors "appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent" but that no other participants appeared to be from the Middle East.

"All we were doing was handing out leaflets, which is a perfectly legal way to spend an afternoon," said Tim Vining, the center's former executive director, who said he participated in the Nov. 24, 2002, protest monitored by the FBI. "All we want to do is exercise our First Amendment rights . . . Is handing out fliers now considered a terrorist activity?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/14/AR2006031401520.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. "Appeared to be of Middle Eastern Descent"...

When are they going to start putting up the "How to recognize an Arab so you can turn him/her in" Nazi type posters...I wonder. :(

[jamesinca]

2. yes it is

we have the Patriot Act, and we have bunch of DINO's that won't help out Sen. Feingold or Rep Conyers. We have Sam Alito and George Bush, of course handing out leaflets that don't support their agenda is wrong.

[Blue_Tires]

3. how much longer before they try to put the wheels in motion

to shut DU down?