Posted in Surveillance, Terrorism Watch Lists on Oct 27th, 2009
UK police gathered personal information on thousands of activists who simply attend protests or political meetings, and created national databases.
Posted in Surveillance on Oct 7th, 2009
Two activists have been arrested for using Twitter to communicate during the G20 protests, another step in the continued, escalating attack on First Amendment rights in the name of combating “extremism” and “terrorism.”
Elliot Madison is a social worker and anarchist who was arrested in Pittsburgh on Sept. 24 and “charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, [...]
Posted in Activists Arrested, Legal Issues, Surveillance on Feb 25th, 2009
FBI federal complaint on Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act arrests.When I first reported on the arrest of four animal rights activists in California under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, few details were available. The only information was the FBI press release (which mainstream media outlets have regurgitated nearly verbatim as news articles). I now have a [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Legal Issues, Police Harassment & Abuse, Surveillance, Terrorism Watch Lists on Feb 23rd, 2009
“If activists have nothing to hide, why are they wearing masks?”
I’ve heard that question over and over again. It usually comes in the form of a soundbite from someone affiliated with a corporation, industry or government agency that is attempting to smear lawful activists as “terrorists.”
Their reasoning goes something like this: If you [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Legal Issues, Opposition, Surveillance on Feb 3rd, 2009
Marie MasonBefore Marie Mason ever set foot in the courtroom, before the ink on her indictment had even dried, the government was smearing her as a “terrorist.”
At a press conference announcing her arrest, an FBI agent said “domestic terrorism is a top priority of the FBI.” A police chief called the 1999 Earth Liberation [...]
Posted in Surveillance, Terrorism Definitions, Terrorism Watch Lists on Oct 8th, 2008
This is what fighting “terrorism” in this country has become.
Timothy McVeigh is responsible for the Oklahoma City Bombing, the deadliest act of terrorism in this country prior to 9/11, killing 168 people, but a Homeland Security official says he’s not a terrorist. Neither is Eric Rudolph, who killed two people and injured hundreds others in [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Opposition, Surveillance on Sep 16th, 2008
After the recent bombings in California–which the press, industry groups and FBI recklessly rushed to attribute to animal rights activists—I reported that the Humane Society of the United States donated money to the “eco-terrorist” witch hunt. That didn’t sit well with many people, even those who oppose direct action. Now, HSUS’ Wayne Pacelle has come [...]
Posted in Legal Issues, Surveillance on Sep 15th, 2008
Check out this handy dandy guide to policing the protests of “eco-terrorists” and “domestic extremists” that activists in the UK obtained.
From the UK Indymedia:
Sometime during a busy day of policing the Camp For Climate Action, near Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent, an officer dropped a so-called ‘Pocket Legislation Guide on Policing Protest’. The document, [...]
Posted in Activism & Activists' Response, Opposition, Surveillance, Terrorism Rhetoric on Aug 25th, 2008
State Department PowerPoint on Animal Rights ActivismA PowerPoint presentation, leaked from a division of the State Department, reveals that the government is briefing corporations about animal rights activists and offering “countermeasures” to protect corporate profits.
For years, the government has relentlessly pushed to label animal rights and environmental activists as “eco-terrorists” and domestic terrorists. The FBI [...]
Posted in Legal Issues, Surveillance on Aug 4th, 2008
Two activists who handed out vegan pamphlets outside of a HoneyBaked Ham store– and were harassed, spied on, and arrested for it– can proceed with a lawsuit against the cops, a federal appeals court recently ruled.
Caitlin Childs and Christopher Freeman were leafletting in an Atlanta suburb in 2003. Here’s much more from the ACLU, including [...]
The War on Terrorism has come home. Corporations and politicians are labeling activists "eco-terrorists" and national security threats. Think red-baiting, with a green twist. Here you'll find original reporting and analysis of the Green Scare, and history repeating itself.