4/6/2005: Evidence that local law enforcement is continuing to infiltrate Fresno peace groups was presented at a press conference at California State University Fresno on April 6, 2005. Ruth Obel-Jorgensen, president of the campus Peace & Civil Liberties Coalition said that the campus police chief admitted that undercover agents were at a November, 2004 presentation by promient animal rights lecturer Gary Yourofsky. In addition to the undercover agents attending events sponsored by the Campus Peace and Civil Liberties group, it was also revealed that Peace Fresno is again being monitored by local law enforcement.
The original infiltration of Peace Fresno was one of the first concrete examples showing that the US government used the Patriot Act to infiltrate community groups who were not suspected of criminal activity. This incident was what many observers believe prompted Attorney General Bill Lockyer to issue the directive to all California law enforcement offices to follow the State Constitution, which prevents them from infiltrating groups that are not under investigation for criminal activity.
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