Posted on 08/18/2004 9:10:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - FBI interviews and surveillance of at least a dozen political activists in Kansas and Missouri prior to the Democratic National Convention amounted to intimidation, contends the American Civil Liberties Union.
The FBI and activists said agents carried out the interviews while investigating potential attacks on news vehicles at the Democratic convention in Boston. Spokesmen for the bureau said the interviews are routine when authorities receive credible information involving potential violence, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
But the ACLU, which is representing three activists, contends the FBI was trying to intimidate political protesters under the cloak of counterterrorism.
"The overt nature of the surveillance was very intimidating and, I think, done with the intent of frightening them," said Denise Lieberman, legal director of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri.
Three activists from Missouri received subpoenas to appear before a grand jury for an investigation into domestic terrorism the day they planned to travel to Boston, ending their plans to protest, Lieberman said.
Also, four FBI cars followed the men for five days, she said.
Pete Krusing, a spokesman for the St. Louis bureau of the FBI, denied the interviews were aimed at discouraging protest.
"It's not just because they're a protester or they may be a protester," he said. "There has to be some indication that they have knowledge or they may have knowledge about some activity."
U.S. Attorney Jim Martin said he couldn't confirm there was a grand jury investigation or comment on a specific case.
In Kansas City, Nate Hoffman and Jeff Kinder, both 21 and students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said they were approached by FBI agents July 23.
Kinder said they asked him if he intended to do anything violent at the conventions and whether he heard of anyone planning violence. He said he didn't know anything - and still doesn't.
"Everybody I know is trying to build a mass movement, and you can't build a mass movement in America by blowing stuff up," he said.
Hoffman met agents in a Kansas City coffee house but refused to answer their questions without a lawyer. "They told me that in their experience that when somebody didn't want to talk to them that meant they probably had something to hide," he said.
The agents gave him a business card. Hoffman never called.
"You always hear that when you become politically active, you're put on some list. But it doesn't become real until you get a visit from the FBI," Hoffman said.
Jeff Lanza, a spokesman for the FBI in Kansas City, said he couldn't comment on whether agents had talked to Hoffman and Kinder but said the bureau had interviewed about a dozen people in the Kansas City area and Lawrence, Kan.
"Ultimately, we were looking for the people who wanted to carry (the attacks) out, but to do that, you have to talk to people who might have knowledge of the plan," Lanza said. He added that the bureau is no longer conducting interviews locally.
I heard on the radio that the FBI expects violence and that some websites have asked activists to bring molotov cocktails.
Every mass movement (Revolution) is created by blowing up stuff...the ruling class.
I hope they are able to arrest these idiots and keep them there until the convention is over .. before they hurt themselves or someone else .. or allow the terrorists to take advantage of us.
Did you hear Bloomy is offering the protestors special deals on hotel rooms and restaurants .. if they'll just be nice. Bloomy is just a big appeaser .. what an idiot.
I've, seen, posted and heard similar reports.
Will it be a Chicago '68 replay? I don't think so.. Bloomberg is no Daley.
There are elements within these groups of protesters that need to be under close watch... actually they need to be kept in a caged area like Boston had set up.
What will be attempted is to provoke massive police reactions and then portray the protesters as the patriots being denied their right to 'protest peacefully'.
As usual, tht ACLU, amongst other orgs, stands ready to assist those arrested as they exercise their "rights" to be nasty and insulting in public.
Special discounts for violent commie revolutionaries.
Rush was talking about it this morning on his show.
Bloomie was a dim until he decided to run for mayor. I can't understand why no one brings that up very much.
These protestors are really anarchists, communists, and have no right to incite violence or vandalisms. Protests have taken on a dangerous theme. Former Mayor Koch said he had full faith in his 40,000 police, and that ANY police officers who sympathize with these protesters should resign imediately, and their comrades should turn them in.
To me .. being an R or a D can only help you if you live by the policies of that R or D. Bloomberg's actions speak louder than the D. His appeasement of the protesters tells me he's really a D.
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