CCR Files Freedom of Information Act on Behalf of United for Peace and
Justice

December 16th, 2003 – Today CCR filed a Freedom of Information Act
request on behalf of the national antiwar coalition, United for Peace
and Justice (UFPJ), seeking information from the FBI about a recently
discovered FBI program to team up with local law enforcement agencies
to monitor and investigate antiwar activists. CCR sent the request to
each the 56 FBI field offices in the country, as well as FBI
headquarters in D.C.

The policy came to light when the New York Times reported on a leaked,
confidential memo that described the tactics and training attributed
to antiwar groups. That memo was then sent to local police agencies
prior to large antiwar demonstrations organized by UFPJ and
International Answer in San Francisco and Washington last month.

UFPJ national coordinator Leslie Cagan said she was not surprised by
the revelations but vowed that antiwar movement would not be deterred
in its work: "Given the ugly history of the FBI's surveillance and
interference in peace and justice movements, this latest effort to
squash dissent comes as no surprise. However this will not deter our
work or stop the growing antiwar moment. We will march and rally and
exercise our constitutionally protected rights to free speech and
assembly whenever and wherever we need to."

Although the FBI defended the memo as focused on "anarchists and
others [who use] violent tactics" Jeff Fogel, the Legal Director of
CCR, noted that the memo included analysis of many lawful First
Amendments activities. "Although purportedly about violence," Fogel
explained, "the memo actually instructs law enforcement agencies to
‘be alert to … possible indicators of protest activity' including use
of the internet to recruit members and raise money prior to
demonstrations, training on how to deal interact with police officers,
communication via cell phones during protests, videotaping of police
actions during protests, and other protected and lawful actions."

UFPJ is asking for records on any requests the FBI has made of local
law enforcement to monitor and investigate activists as well as
instructions regarding policing at demonstrations. The FOIA filing
also requests all information currently held by the FBI on UFPJ
itself, as well as any of its member organizations.

Polybus wrote:
>
> CCR Files Freedom of Information Act on Behalf of United for Peace and
> Justice

john fogarty is back with credence clearwater revival? wow! i didn't
know!

and they're petitioning the government for their files?

good for *them*, i say.

parismom