MB Civic

from Kevin Gosztola at Firedoglake ..

A published report by the ACLU states, “The documents provide the public with its first glimpse into the political surveillance practices of the Boston Police Department. They show that police officers assigned to the Boston Regional Intelligence Center create and retain “intelligence reports” detailing purely non-criminal political acts — such as handing out flyers and attending anti-war rallies — by well-known peace groups, including Veterans for Peace, Stop the Wars Coalition and CodePink.” The video surveillance footage shows police have been monitoring activists who come to protests to speak their mind. “Intelligence reports” obtained contain details on cooperation between “surveillance officers from the BRIC, local and state police and the FBI.” Nonviolent actions of peace groups and activists are listed under, “Criminal Act,” and labeled as “Extremist” or “Civil Disturbance” or “HomeSec—Domestic.” As the “intelligence reports” indicate, at one point, the late people’s historian, Howard Zinn, was one whom law enforcement was monitoring closely

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