liberalhistorian

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Sat Jan-28-06 12:22 PM
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Check out this response to illegal domestic spying: Hold a "spy-in"

Although I moved from NE OH to Rapid City, SD, last summer, I still receive items of interest from friends back in OH. I was just sent this news release via email regarding a "spy-in" that will be held at the federal building in Cleveland by the Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition, in response to its discovery that one of their meetings was infiltrated and spied on by the DOD. I had not heard that idea before, and I think it's a wonderful one that has the potential to be powerful and effective. Maybe we should all start thinking of planning one in our own area!

Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition (NOAC)
Phone: 216-736-4716 Website: www.noacinfo.org Email: noacinfo@aol.com

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Clevelanders to Conduct "Spy-In" to Bring Attention to Illegal Domestic Spying

In response to the news that the Pentagon has illegally spied on the Northeastern Ohio Anti-War Coalition (NOAC), Clevelanders will gather outside the Federal Building at 1240 East Ninth Street on Monday, January 30 at 7:30 AM to conduct a spoof "spy-in" on the U.S. government. Participants will dress in Hollywood-inspired spy outfits and pretend to spy on the Federal Building with cameras, binoculars and other gear often associated with espionage activities.

A partial database from the Department of Defense (DOD) obtained in December from last year listed a November, 2004 NOAC planning meeting as an "incident" that the DOD spied on. The meeting focued on plans to send Clevelanders by bus to protest at the Presidential Inauguration in DC and to develop discuss military counter-recruitment activities. The NOAC meeting was one of 43 such incidents contained in a 400-page long document, only eight pages of which were publicly released.

This satirical event, sponsored by NOAC, is intended to highlight the illegality and ludicrousness of the U.S. military spying on various peace and social justice organizations across America that have no history of violence and have made no threats to anyone.

"We're also using this spy-in to inspire Americans to ask their government some vital questions about our democracy", says Sarah Morton, one of the event's coordinators. "For instance, why can't we sit in on the Bush Administration's energy policy planning meeting or listen to their discussions about domestic and foreign policy? After all, they are paid with our tax dollars and are ultimately accountable to us."

"Just as importantly, why aren't the feds investigating their own?", says Tom Pieragastini, co-coordinator of the spy-in. "Instead of spying on peace groups, why aren't they investigating those who lied about going into Iraq, those who are illegally spying on U.S. citizens, or those taking illegal campaign "contributions" from lobbyists? If they want to promote democracy at home and abroad, they should be looking into all the overpriced war contracts, the disappearing millions of tax dollars, and the undone work to repair and rebuild Iraq-not infiltrating domestic groups that are trying to bring about peace and social justice."

In the belief that humor is a powerful form of non-cooperation, NOAC organizers hope this event will help bring about federal accountability as well as some comic relief.

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me, and one that will take courage to implement in the current political climate. We should consider conducting "spy-ins" in our own areas.

Check out this response to illegal domestic spying: Hold a "spy-in"

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