FBI targeting US activist activities as 'domestic terrorism'

According to new documents released on Dec. 20 by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the FBI is using counterterrorism resources to monitor and infiltrate domestic political organizations that criticize business interests and government policies, despite a lack of evidence that the groups are engaging in or supporting violent action. The ACLU said that the documents released on Greenpeace, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) show the FBI expanding the definition of "domestic terrorism" to include citizens and groups that participate in lawful protests or civil disobedience. "The FBI should use its resources to investigate credible threats to national security instead of spending time tracking Americans who criticize government policy, or monitoring groups that have not broken the law," said Ann Beeson, Associate Legal Director of the ACLU. "Labeling law-abiding groups and their members 'domestic terrorists' is not only irresponsible, it has a chilling effect on the vibrant tradition of political dissent in this country." Among the documents were more than 100 pages of FBI files on PETA. Multiple documents indicate ongoing surveillance of PETA-related meetings and activities, including a "Vegan Community Project" event at the University of Indiana during which the group distributed vegetarian starter kits to students and faculty; an animal rights conference in Washington, DC, that was open to the public; and a planned protest of Cindy Crawford's decision to become a llama fur spokesperson. One file released by the FBI in response to a request for ADC's records included a contact list for students and peace activists who participated in a 2002 conference at Stanford University, which focused on ending US sanctions against Iraq. "Americans shouldn't have to fear that by protesting the treatment of animals or participating in non-violent civil disobedience, they will be branded as 'eco-terrorists' in FBI records," said Ben Wizner, an ACLU staff attorney. The ACLU said that some of the documents suggest infiltration by undercover "sources" at animal rights meetings and conferences. One highly redacted "Domestic Terrorism Operations Unit" document suggests that the FBI is using PETA's interns for surveillance, while others describe attempts to locate and interview "several former disgruntled PETA employees." Similarly, one cryptic e-mail kept in a Greenpeace file describes a source who "offers a unique opportunity to gain intelligence on activists who show a clear predisposition to violate the law." At times, the documents show aggressive attempts by the FBI to link PETA, Greenpeace and other mainstream organizations to activists associated with the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) or Earth Liberation Front (ELF), said the ACLU. PETA, in particular, is repeatedly and falsely singled out as a "front" for militant organizations although in at least one document the FBI appears to acknowledge that it has no evidence to back up such assertions. "These documents show the erosion of freedom of association and speech that Americans have taken for granted and which set us apart from oppressive countries," said Jeff Kerr, General Counsel for PETA. The documents released by the ACLU also include FBI observances on supposed Communist leanings of the Catholic Workers Group (CWG). In an e-mail to the counterterrorism unit, an unidentified official wrote, "the Catholic Workers advocated peace with a Christian and semi-communistic ideology." In another document, an agent writes, "Based on the author's interpretation of comments made by various CWG protestors, CWG also advocates a communist distribution of resources." Yukon school group found on US threat list Separately it was discovered this week that a group of Yukon, Canada high school students who attended a peace demonstration in Alaska last year have been labeled a threat by US Homeland Security. The students and their teachers from Vanier Catholic Secondary School in Whitehorse were singled out when they crossed the border on their way to Fort Greely to protest missile proliferation. A document leaked from the US defense department shows the Whitehorse school group is among a list of more than 1,500 anti-war groups considered a risk to US national security. They have been lumped in with other organizations such as the Florida Quakers and student unions from major US universities. Teacher Mark Connell says he was surprised the Grade 11 and 12 students were included on the list. "I think it just indicates the level of paranoia that's at work and that's a current concern," he said. "I think if I was an American concerned with my security, if all of the resources were being put in to monitor a high school group coming from Whitehorse to learn about an issue and to voice my opinion, then I would be concerned about that as well." Although the group was labeled a threat at the time of the protest, Connell said they have now been downgraded to what is called the "not credible" category of compromising US security.