Government Surveillance of Peaceful Protestors
from: Matt Howes, National Internet Organizer, ACLU

A confidential FBI memo confirms that the federal government is targeting innocent Americans engaged in nothing more than lawful protest and dissent. In the memo the FBI advocates spying on peaceful protesters and indicates that protesters who engage in civil disobedience or other disruptive acts should be treated like potential terrorists. It confirms that the government has monitored the actions of peaceful protestors and wants intelligence about protestors to be reported to the nearest FBI field office or terrorism task force.

The ACLU believes that peaceful protestors should not be treated as potential terrorists nor spied upon by federal government agents. Not only is this a misuse of public funds that could be used to find real terrorists, it chills free speech activities and inhibits the public debate on important issues. The ACLU wants to let Attorney General Ashcroft know that they oppose government surveillance of peaceful protests.

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