State Police Deny Labeling Michigan Groups as Terrorists
First Amendment Center
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=15724
By the Associated Press
Thu, Sep 1, 2005
DETROIT -- The Michigan State Police issued a statement yesterday denying that it had labeled members of two Michigan activist groups as terrorists.
The state police said that a 2002 FBI report, released to the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan on Aug. 29, was taken out of context by the group.
The report originally was prepared by a counterintelligence agent at the Detroit FBI office for a 2002 Domestic Terrorism Symposium hosted by the Michigan State Police.
The state police said that the information it shared with the FBI was to make the agency aware of planned protests within the state because of possible public safety concerns. The groups about which such information was reported were BAMN — The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary — and Direct Action, an anti-war group.
The ACLU said the state police report summarized information on possible "terrorist activities" and the groups mentioned were considered potential terrorists.
The report referred to a six-day civil rights conference that BAMN held in Ann Arbor, but it acknowledged that the group's demonstrations were peaceful.
In addition to Direct Action, the East Lansing Animal Rights Movement is also listed in the FBI report for taking part in a Lansing protest that targeted the FBI. Others cited include the Michigan Militia and the Aryan World Church.
The state police said the information obtained about the groups came from public sources such as the Internet and news reports, not surveillance or other covert means.
The state police said it did not maintain files on people or groups unless a crime had been committed or there had been a conspiracy to commit a crime.
The report was obtained by the ACLU of Michigan in response to a Freedom of Information lawsuit on behalf of nine organizations and individuals in Michigan. ACLU affiliates in 15 other states have filed similar requests.
Kary L. Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, said yesterday she was pleased that the state police had affirmed their desire to protect free speech by peaceful individuals.
But Moss said she was disappointed that police had denied an ACLU Freedom of Information Act request asking for information about state police surveillance of activist groups. She said the ACLU was considering filing a lawsuit to get the information.
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