Newly Released Files Reveal FBI Spied on PA Peace Group Because of Antiwar Views

Newly released files show the FBI has been monitoring and possibly infiltrating a Pittsburgh peace group because of its opposition to the war in Iraq.

On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union released a series of once secret FBI files that show the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted a secret investigation into the activities of the Thomas Merton Center beginning as early as November 2002, and continuing up until at least last March.

According to the ACLU these documents are the first to show conclusively that the rationale for FBI targeting is the group's opposition to the war.

One memo describes the Merton Center as a "left-wing organization advocating, among many political causes, pacifism." It notes that the center hands out leaflets on a daily basis opposing the war in Iraq.

The FBI files also notes that one of the peace activists monitored handling out fliers "appeared to be of Middle Easter descent."

Another file on the peace center is titled "International Terrorism Matters" and it includes information on a series of anti-war rallies taking place in Pittsburgh and around the country.

The documents raise new questions about the extent of the government's domestic surveillance operations. On Monday Democratic Senator Russell Feingold introduced a resolution to censure President Bush for illegally ordering the National Security Agency to conduct warrantless domestic surveillance.

The White House has insisted the NSA surveillance is targeted solely at members of Al Qaeda and affiliates. But civil liberties groups fears that the government is also spying on political activists and critics of the government.

In December, NBC News revealed the existence of a secret Pentagon database to track intelligence gathered inside the United States including information on anti-war protests and rallies particularly actions targeting military recruiting.

Here in New York, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed Freedom of Information requests on Tuesday on behalf of itself and fourteen of New York's most prominent political and religious groups to determine whether the FBI is spying on them as well.

In a minute we will be joined by Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. But first we go to Pittsburgh to speak with Tim Vining, the former head of the Thomas Merton Center. He is personally named in the FBI spy files on the group.

* Tim Vining, former executive director of the Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh.
* Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

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NYCLU Seeks FBI Files On NY Political Groups And Activists
March 14, 2006 -- In light of recent revelations that the FBI and local law enforcement are spying on people engaged in peaceful political and religious activity, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed Freedom of Information requests today on behalf of itself and fourteen of New York's most prominent political and religious groups to determine whether the FBI is spying on them as well.

"New York has been the center of anti-war activity and is the home of scores of vocal Muslim groups," said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU. "Given what we now know about the government spying on political and religious groups around the country, we have every reason to believe that such abuses of power are being committed in New York."

Read More
http://www.nyclu.org/fbi_spy_files_pr_031406.html