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On November 22, 2000, Portland's City Council passed an ordinance formalizing
the Portland Joint Terrorism Task Force (PJTTF). The PJTTF combines the Portland Police
Bureau's 8-member Criminal Intelligence Unit with the FBI and members of several other law
enforcement agencies, allowing them to investigate so-called "domestic terrorism." The FBI
described such acts as using violence or intimidation against businesses as possible "terrorist"
activity. In fact, the original ordinance, heard at Council, specified the PJTTF targets to include
"left wing and right wing movements...the Earth Liberation Front [and the] Animal Liberation
Front." |
On this week's Flying Focus Video Bus, a labor organizer, an environmentalist, a history teacher,
and a civil rights activist weigh in on the PJTTF, speaking about the FBI's past history of spying on
law-abiding citizens for expressing their political ideas. They each talk about the effects of police
spying on activism, suggesting the PJTTF will keep some people away from peaceful protests and
may end up encouraging more "terrorism." Their comments are juxtaposed with testimony
from the police and the FBI at the November, 2000 Council hearing.
"Is Portland's 'Joint Terrorism Task Force' Necessary?", a 1/2-hour
program, will air on the Flying Focus Video Bus at the following times on
Cable Access in Portland:
Tuesday, February 15 (late night Monday February 14), 12:30 AM, Channel 22 Comcast
Wednesday, February 16 11:00 pm Channel 23 Comcast
Friday, February 18 9:30 pm Channel 11 Cable Access Network (Citywide)
Copies are available for an $11 donation (plus $4 postage) from Flying
Focus.
[Original
note: The ordinance is slated to expire on September 30, 2001. City
Council will be having a public hearing to consider renewing the Task
Force on Wednesday, September 26 at 10 AM at City Hall.]
For more information contact Portland Copwatch at 503-236-3065 or
copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org.
Peace,
Dan Handelman
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