Critical Mass Bike Rides Face Police Crackdown

We host a roundtable discussion on covert police surveillance of demonstrations in New York City. Newly released video tape shows what the New York Times describes as "the robust presence of disguised officers" since the Republican National Convention in August 2004. We speak with the New York Police Department, I-Witness video, and The New York Times.

Last Thursday, The New York Times published an article revealing that it had obtained videotapes showing the New York Police Department conducting surveillance by planting undercover officers to secretly infiltrate and monitor anti-war protests, bike rallies, and even a vigil for a dead cyclist. The footage the Times obtained showed officers holding protest signs, carrying flowers with mourners, riding their bicycles – and videotaping people at events.

The Times says that the footage shows at least ten undercover operatives taking part in seven public gatherings since the Republican National Convention in August 2004. In an editorial published the day after the story ran, The Times wrote, "it is a sad day when a police force generally known for its professionalism is caught using underhanded tactics to spy on and even distort political protests and mass rallies."

This is the latest in a series of revelations about domestic spying that have come to light in the past few weeks. Last week NBC News revealed that the Pentagon has been monitoring peaceful anti-war protesters and the New York Times exposed how President Bush ordered the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans without court-approved warrants. Also, newly released documents show that counterterrorism agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been monitoring domestic organizations active in causes as diverse as peace, the environment, animal cruelty and poverty relief.

* Jim Dwyer, New York Times Metro reporter, author of the expose on covert police surveillance published December 22nd.
* Paul J. Browne, New York City Police Department's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.
* Eileen Clancy, forensic video analyst and member of I-Witness video, a project that assembled hundreds of videotapes shot during the RNC.
* Norman Siegel, longtime civil rights attorney. He is former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/12/27/1444202