Occupy Wall Street Movement - Was Obama's NSA domestic spying program used?

[NoodleyAppendage]

The most pertinent question that all of us (and those lawmakers who actually care about the Constitution) should be asking is:

"Were Prism or the domestic phone surveillance programs used to distrupt, monitor or otherwise hinder the Occupy Wall Street protest movement or any other domestic political movement since the inception of the monitoring programs?"

If so, then these NSA domestic spying programs would likely be unconstitutional on numerous points, the rights to assembly and free speech being two notable ones.

J

[Marr]

1. There is no doubt in my mind.

But I've seen no proof, and I'm not going to hold my breath for this government to *ever* look out for the rights of people who are inconvenient for Wall Street or corporate America.

[NoodleyAppendage]

3. I seem to remember that some intel was going on to disrupt.

What I (we) don't know is if the NSA was enlisted to use these programs during the Occupy Movement. I'm scared to say that I suspect they were. If you have the tools like this, it is way too tempting not to use them...particularly when the status quo of the corporate state is at risk.

J

[Mojorabbit]

14. There is this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101788970
and this http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022246355

[Fumesucker]

2. Ahem

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022962979

[leveymg]

6. Thnx for linking that.

Tipping points reference stood out. The curve is definitely moving toward an inflection point.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There was DHS coordination during the raids

I have no doubt other means of the police state were used as well...

Mimeographs will have to come back.

[geek tragedy]

15. You have no doubt, and also no evidence. Fascinating. nt

[GoneFishin]

5. I am sure that it was used, but I also am unaware of proof as of yet.

[delrem]

7. Do Popes shit in the woods?

[Enthusiast]

9. Plus one! nt

[FarCenter]

8. Since non-citizens and non-residents were involved, the answer is yes.

There were also US citizens living abroad involved, so their international communications were intercepted.

Simple logic.

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. It would not surprise me in the least. The Obama administration are guilty of domestic terrorism

against Occupy, so why not (even more) illegal spying?

www.thefreedictionary.com/domestic+terrorism?
Noun, 1. domestic terrorism - terrorism practiced in your own country against your own people


Definitions of domestic terrorism

The statutory definition of domestic terrorism in the United States has changed many times over the years; also, it can be argued that acts of domestic terrorism have been occurring since long before any legal definition was set forth.

According to a memo produced by the FBI's Terrorist Research and Analytical Center in 1994, domestic terrorism was defined as "the unlawful use of force or violence, committed by a group(s) of two or more individuals, against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."[2]

Under current United States law, set forth in the USA PATRIOT Act, acts of domestic terrorism are those which: &quot A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended— (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and (C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States."[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_terrorism_in_the_United_States#Definitions_of_domestic_terrorism

[geek tragedy]

11. That is crazier than the craziest thing any Congressional Republican has said about Benghazi. nt

[okaawhatever]

18. Agreed. Long on supposition, short on facts. nt

[woo me with science]

12. +1000000 Stored surveillance information provides exactly the infrastructure

needed for pre-emptive silencing of groups like Occupy and the people who participate. And our government has *already* demonstrated their interest in targeting such dissent.

That is what should horrify every American citizen about this program.

It creates an entire infrastructure that could be used to preemptively target any citizen the government has a problem with, for any reason. They are creating a database on every single citizen's movements and activities. Those who don't see the danger in that are either rank apologists, or they have not thought through the possibilities.

Citizen 1,675,402 begins to look a little too angry or activist, or they pose a threat to a secret or a planned piece of legislation, and it will be no trouble at all to comb through their data and find some reason, somewhere, to call the local officers to check out some violation from 2013. To arrest, or have someone quietly detained or disappeared.

It provides the means for pre-emptive silencing of any opposition to the government, even before it has a chance to materialize.

We saw already what the government did to proactively target Occupy. This surveillance program savagely violates the fundamental trust Americans are supposed to have in their representative government. It is deeply disturbing, creepy as hell, and ALL Americans should be standing together now to stop it.


Please see this important post by TakeaLeftTurn:

"The Mass Surveillance program is to protect the government FROM the people."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022962685

and this one by WillyT:

All The Infrastructure A Tyrant Would Need, Courtesy Of Bush And Obama - TheAtlantic
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022973186

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Very well-said and observed. Thank you.

And I' was aware of the second link, but not the first, will check it out!

[NoodleyAppendage]

19. Minority Report

Phillip K. Dick was prescient.

[woo me with science]

13. [phone]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2975053

[geek tragedy]

16. There's no evidence of it, but many will assume that to be the case. nt