Nice to see some light being shown upon our police state at work. Particularly considering claims that this was happening were either ignored or derided as conspiracy fantasies of ‘leftists’.

But potential troublemakers were hardly the only ones to end up in the files. In hundreds of reports stamped “N.Y.P.D. Secret,” the Intelligence Division chronicled the views and plans of people who had no apparent intention of breaking the law, the records show.

These included members of street theater companies, church groups and antiwar organizations, as well as environmentalists and people opposed to the death penalty, globalization and other government policies. Three New York City elected officials were cited in the reports.

In at least some cases, intelligence on what appeared to be lawful activity was shared with police departments in other cities. A police report on an organization of artists called Bands Against Bush noted that the group was planning concerts on Oct. 11, 2003, in New York, Washington, Seattle, San Francisco and Boston. Between musical sets, the report said, there would be political speeches and videos.

“Activists are showing a well-organized network made up of anti-Bush sentiment; the mixing of music and political rhetoric indicates sophisticated organizing skills with a specific agenda,” said the report, dated Oct. 9, 2003. “Police departments in above listed areas have been contacted regarding this event.”

Back in the USSA.

This cuts to the very core of American values and principles, how whole swaths of people are pursued, tracked and spied on for no other reason than their public disagreements with state policy. Then political elements use state organs to keep track of, and to control the activities of these people, not for criminal activity, but for political activity. The Banana Republicans of the American GOP show their true colors, once again. Red, white and black

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