When Boston Police Spy on Free Speech, Democracy Suffers [View all]

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/12360-when-boston-police-spy-on-free-speech-democracy-suffers


When Boston Police Spy on Free Speech, Democracy Suffers
Saturday, 27 October 2012 10:28
By Nancy Murray, Boston.com | Op-Ed

Psst! Check out this super-secret Boston Police "intelligence report":

"Local activists have been trying to get 'celebrity guest speakers' (Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon) for the March 24th demonstration, but at this time it appears that they have been unable to book any of these speakers for their event."

But some well-known speakers will be there. According to this intelligence report," compiled by the Boston police under the heading "Criminal Act--Groups-Extremists," among them will be Cindy Sheehan and a "BU professor emeritus/activist" whose name is redacted--it was the late Howard Zinn.

These excerpts come from one of several documents and videotapes obtained through a lawsuit brought against the Boston Police Department by the ACLU of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. We are making these criminal "intelligence" reports public today, along with a report analyzing its significance--and a video of some of the peace activists who have been targeted.


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http://www.aclum.org/policing_dissent/documents