Monthly Archives: December 2004

ICLU Files Freedom of Information Act Against FBI

Posted on December 3, 2004 by bfialindathieman

ICLU Files Freedom of Information Act Against FBI

Iowa Civil Liberties Union

ACLU Launches Nationwide Effort to Expose Illegal FBI Spying on Political and Religious Groups

In Iowa, ICLU seeks disclosure of surveillance records of both federal and state law enforcement

DES MOINES – Citing evidence that the FBI and local police are illegally spying on political, environmental and faith-based groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates today filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests around the country to uncover who is being investigated and why.

“The FBI is wasting its time and our tax dollars spying on groups that criticize the government, like the Quakers in Colorado or Catholic Peace Ministries in Iowa,” said ACLU Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson. “Do Americans really want to return to the days when peaceful critics become the subject of government investigations?”

Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, which is among the state affiliates participating in the effort, said that the ICLU is involved because of what the U.S. Attorney's office did to Des Moines peace activists in February of this year.

“Ten months ago, citizens subpoenaed by the government courageously stood in the public square in an effort to convey to the world that they would not be intimidated,” Stone said.  “In the face of their resistance, the U.S. Attorney backed down. The ICLU's filing today of FOIA, privacy act, and open records requests on behalf of our clients represents the next step in our struggle to defend the right of free speech against government intimidation,” he added.

The requests were filed by the national ACLU as well as its affiliates in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Oregon.  The national ACLU FOIA names the central FBI agency as well as bureaus in New York, Washington, D.C., California, Michigan, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Additional ACLU affiliates are expected to file another round of FOIA requests in early 2005.  
Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Iowa in the News, Main Page, National News | Comments Off on ICLU Files Freedom of Information Act Against FBI

The Blog for Iowa Blog Team Expands

Posted on December 3, 2004 by bfialindathieman

The Blog for Iowa Blog Team Expands Blog for Iowa is pleased to announce that John Drury, former mayor of Swaledale and former Democratic candidate for Iowa Senate in North Iowa, will be writing a weekly column on Iowa issues … Continue reading →

Posted in Introducing DFIA, Main Page | Comments Off on The Blog for Iowa Blog Team Expands

On World AIDS Day, The Crisis Continues…

Posted on December 1, 2004 by bfialindathieman

On World AIDS Day, The Crisis Continues… American Progress According to reports released this week in conjunction with World AIDS Day, the number of people living with HIV globally has reached “an estimated 39.4 million people,” up 3 million from … Continue reading →

Posted in GOP, Health Care & Medicare, Main Page, National News | Comments Off on On World AIDS Day, The Crisis Continues…