Spied on by government, Florida group demands congressional inquiry

[Synnical]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pspy21dec21,0,6121564.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

Spied on by government, S. Florida activist group demands congressional inquiry

Pentagon scrutiny may lead to lawsuit

By Mike Clary
Staff Writer
Posted December 21 2005

A Palm Beach County group known to have been spied on under a secret Pentagon program has launched a campaign to seek a congressional investigation of what members allege are blatant infringements of civil liberties.

Attorneys for the Truth Project Inc., formed last year to counter military recruitment in high schools, say they also are exploring a lawsuit that could put the Lake Worth-based group at the center of a wider effort to reveal a pattern of Bush administration surveillance of anti-war and activist organizations in South Florida and elsewhere.

The group plans a news conference at 5 p.m. today in front of the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach, where members intend to discuss their legal strategy.

"We expect this to be a springboard for litigation with a national impact," attorney Rob Ross said.

Also:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2005/12/21/1221govspy.html

Spying target plans to sue

By Kevin Deutsch

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Lawyers for a Lake Worth activist group targeted under a Pentagon spying program plan to file a suit in federal court to combat surveillance against its members.

The Truth Project, whose inaugural 2004 meeting was listed as a "threat" in a classified database of information compiled under a secret Pentagon program, plans to take legal actions that could launch them into the center of nationwide efforts by activist groups to combat recently revealed domestic spying programs.

"The Truth Project believes that we have been defamed by agents of the federal executive branch by being designated a credible threat to military recruiters and recruiting facilities," said Truth Project member Marie Zwicker. "We believe that this has done irreparable damage to the legal, political and educational activities of (the group)."

Before any suits are filed, the group hopes to request and compile government records that show the extent of the surveillance, said Rob Ross, attorney for the Truth Project.

[aquart]

1. Go, Truth!

[beingthere]

2. This is Nixon stuff, with a vengeance. n/t

[jeff30997]

3. The Pentagon can't handle the truth.

Sue the bastards!

[stepnw1f]

4. Right Wing Paranoia Leads to This

Just like Nixon too. They really are power hungry paranoid selfish assholes.

[Synnical]

5. Dec 15 - Defense Department calls South Florida peace groups `threats'

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cspy15dec15,0,86463.story?track=mostemailedlink

Defense Department calls South Florida peace groups `threats'

Anti-war activists under watch

By Robert Nolin and Sean Gardiner
Staff Writers
Posted December 15 2005

South Florida's anti-war activists are few in number. Many are retirees, veterans or students. They carry puppets, wave placards or hand out pamphlets to potential military recruits.

But these activities have been labeled a "threat" by the Defense Department. Local peace-mongers, like many around the country, have come under surveillance by the Pentagon.

"I'm disabled, I'm 59 and if I'm a credible threat to the government of the United States, then either the government is terribly paranoid or terribly weak," said Rich Hersh of Boca Raton, whose group, the Truth Project, has come under federal scrutiny.

<snip>

Del Papa said his group, which for two years has organized monthly, then weekly, protests outside the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, has attracted government agents to meetings in private homes. Though the agents were disguised as anarchists, Del Papa said their footwear gave them away: Nike or Reebok running shoes, which to anarchists represent corporate greed.

"No anarchist is going to wear Nikes or Reeboks to a protest," Del Papa said.

Great infiltration tactics by the Feds, eh?

:rofl:

[ShockediSay]

8. Anyone who challenges this administration's dubious

actions, is a threat. Me, I'm waiting for the FBI to pound down my door for this kind of post.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm

[Synnical]

10. Wow

Again, First and Fourth Amendments at risk due to this Administration.

From the link -

Dr. Williams said he had been planning to offer a course on terrorism next semester, but is reconsidering, because it might put his students at risk.

[Athame]

11. Puts the actions of "anarchists" at certain other protests in a new light

Doesn't it? :tinfoilhat:

I have long suspected that the rock throwing and cars set afire at the WTO and CAAFTA protests were agents provocateurs. We just forgot to check their shoes!

[Synnical]

15. You are correct

And the RW used this propaganda tactic back in Seattle in 1999. The Battle in Seattle, remember that? The RW said the protesters could not possibly be REAL anarchists because they wore Nike and Reebok's.

Paraphrasing, "Just look at those college white kids wearing Nike's and Reebok's - they're just rich kids with nothing better to do. I don't see any black people there!" Thus, or so they believe, minorities don't mind the oppression caused by the WTO worldwide.

This is not meant to dismiss, nor minimize the real protesters in Seattle that year. They defiantly woke me up!

[Lindsay]

6. I am SO glad to see them

fighting back. The government bullshit of labeling anybody who doesn't toe the right-wing line as threats has got to stop.

[VegasWolf]

7. Bush can't handle the truth. nt

[Peace Patriot]

9. That's the spirit! FIGHT BACK! Kudos to the Truth Project!

Let us all think of this together, this Winter Solstice evening. May the darkness end! May the light of truth shine on our beleaguered country!

[Just Me]

12. This could very well grow into a massive class action!!!

Although, little to no damages would be collected, the publicity, alone, would be worth pursuing litigation because that would have to shake up those still in denial.

[Synnical]

13. Follow-Up: Protesters rally against government surveillance

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cppeace22dec22,0,5872079.story?coll=sfla-news-broward

Protesters rally against government surveillance

By Mike Clary
Staff Writer
Posted December 22 2005

Representatives of a dozen or more South Florida anti-war and environmental groups gathered in front of the federal courthouse in West Palm Beach on Wednesday to demand an end to secret surveillance by the U.S. government that one speaker said represented an attempt "to deliberately undermine the legitimate political activities" of advocacy organizations by linking them to terrorism.

"The Truth Project Inc. believes that we have been defamed by agents of the federal executive branch by being designated a `credible threat' to military recruiters and recruiting facilities," Marie Zwicker, a board member of the Lake Worth group, said while reading from a prepared statement.

<snip>

Rob Ross, an attorney representing the Truth Project, said he is working with the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York to explore filing a lawsuit on the group's behalf.

Also on hand at the hourlong rally was Jonathan Katz, legislative director for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Wexler has joined several Democrats and some Republicans in pressing for hearings into the Bush administration's surveillance activities.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Carolab]

16. And while they are at it they need to find the reason for this.

Not only the extent of it.

[lovuian]

17. the first out of many... I'm waiting for Michael Moore

its going to be amazing how many they are... these people are the farthest thing from Osama Bin Laudin!!!