Political spying by the Police

Police and federal agents nationally have escalated their efforts to collect information on dissenting individuals and organizations. On May 30, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced new guidelines which removed even minimal restrictions on the FBI which had required a showing of some criminal activity in order to conduct political surveillance and monitoring. The new watchword is to go after critics of the government before any laws are broken. Restrictions barring NYPD surveillance of political activists and religious organizations (The Handschu Agreement) are completely removed as of February 2003.

The new guidelines for allowing greater monitoring of political dissidents is rooted in the needs of the government's "war on the world", presently focused on Iraq. They are designed to repress opposition as law enforcement did during the 1960s when they targeted civil rights activists and anti-Vietnam war protesters, and later against the women's, environmental, and Central American solidarity movements. Their activities aimed (often with unfortunate success) to disrupt organizations, promote divisions, even foment acts of violence that resulted in the death of political dissidents. (See War At Home, by Brian Glick, South End Press, 1989).

NYPD INTEL Interviews and Friendly Cops

Demonstrators arrested at recent anti-war protests have reported being questioned by the arresting officer about their identity. They are interviewed by a second officer from the NYPD Criminal Intelligence Section (INTEL), which is led by NYPD Deputy Commissioner David Cohen, who spent 35 years with the Central Intelligence Agency. The INTEL officer uses a "Demonstration Debriefing Form" to ask an arrested demonstrator for information such as "Organization Name", "Organization Position", and "Prior Demonstration History". You do not have to answer, and should not answer, these questions.

There is also reason to believe that the long delays to release of people merely charged with Disorderly Conduct, and the NYPD refusal to allow lawyers to interview arrestees and advise them of their rights, has been part of INTEL's strategy to pressure arrestees to cooperate and provide political information in exchange for an expedited release. Anti-war arrestees have also reported that police officers in the jail appear to be friendly, even sympathetic, to the protests. And ask protesters questions such as:

What do you think of the President?
What do you think of the leaders of today protest?
Do you vote?

Be wary of the "friendly cop" who is "only doing his job" but is "really perplexed by what's going on in the world and respects our decision to demonstrate" (quotes from a jailed anti-war protester).

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED AND QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE

The fundamental lesson to remember if you are arrested is: DON'T TALK and ASK FOR A LAWYER. (The only exception to DON'T TALK! is that it is OK to give only your true name, address, date of birth, fingerprints, and photo for purposes of release from jail).

You can never tell how a seemingly harmless bit of information might be used to hurt you or someone else. You have the right to say that you want to talk to a lawyer even if you do not already have one.

The police are allowed to lie to you when they question you. However, lying to a federal agent is a crime. Simply state: "I am going to remain silent; I want to speak to a lawyer".


Refuse & Resist!
For specific legal information, contact your lawyer or your local National Lawyers Guild or check on line at www.nlg.org

Chicago NLG: 312-913-0039

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