"Land of the Free," er...

[ennifer_jay]

FBI considered Occupy movement potential threat, documents say
By Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley, CNN
updated 5:34 AM EST, Thu December 27, 2012

New York (CNN) -- The FBI extensively monitored the Occupy Wall Street movement around the United States, using counterterrorism agents and other resources, according to recently released FBI internal

Comments

[metanoiame]

It seems to me that the issue is that is (or should be) generally illegal to investigate and monitor groups who are only assembling to protest. Doing so makes it less easy to exercise your basic political rights.

The same logic applies to search warrants. Sure, the police should be able to search your house if you've committed or are planning on committing a serious crime. But they shouldn't be able to kick down your door to look for evidence just because you love in a bad neighborhood.

Some of the reports & opinion pieces coming of this information have been overblown, but it doesn't take a huge leap to see how it's screwed up that the federal government is heavily monitoring any even potentially radical protest groups.

[ennifer_jay]

This is exactly my critique of the FBI. They've infiltrated groups like the Black Panther Party, Young Lords, etc. "Freedom of speech" my ass.

[alexvdl]

You object to them infiltrating groups that carry around loaded shotguns, chant about killing cops, and were known for their militant violence, as well as being linked to drug, protection, and prostitution rackets?

[blackjedii]

Eh - it is a possibility of people within OWS being violent or a violent group working within OWS for their own ends so that doesn't bother me. however if the government whether state or federal didn't do a crap about the visible police brutality... that is a problem.

But I have given up on that movement entirely when I saw that they were encouraging people not to vote and instead making plans for "when the time came" and democracy broke down or something. WAY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM GUYS. :/

[thevelvetsun]

however if the government whether state or federal didn't do a crap about the visible police brutality... that is a problem.

The police brutality was coordinated at a national level. The opposite of stopping it.

[chasingtides]

A whole pile of this.

[mzflux]

I recommend checking out Occupy Voting Booths on Facebook. An excellent pro-voting, pro-occupy page.

[soliano]

This is what the FBI does. They look behind the scenes to see what is going on and how it may be twisted to other uses.

[__nocturna]

I would have been concerned if the FBI didn't look at the movement as a potential threat.

[mzflux]

You mean a potential threat to corrupt industries and the wealthiest of the wealthy.

Don't worry they'll be fine.

[cellared]

seriously

these comments are so depressing

[redstar826]

hmmm. some of the occupy folks I've crossed paths with have been rather, ummm, interesting. But, they seemed pretty harmless.