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Banks Helped FBI to Crush Occupy: New Doc Trove

Naomi Wolf: Cops, banks merged into a 'monstrous whole'

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 29, 2012 5:32 PM CST

(Newser) – Those violent clampdowns on Occupy protesters weren't just planned by US authorities—they were carefully coordinated with the big banks themselves, writes Naomi Wolf at the Guardian. At times the FBI, police, and the Department of Homeland Security even merged with banks into a "monstrous whole" called The Domestic Security Alliance Council. Drawing on newly released FBI documents, Wolf argues that authorities were "working for and with banks to target, arrest, and politically disable peaceful American citizens." Among the findings:

  • FBI officials conferred with banks to share information on Occupy Wall Street protesters gathered by private security firms.
  • The FBI shared plans to crush Occupy events with organizations targeted by the protesters.
  • Threats to assassinate OWS leaders are still redacted despite standard FBI practice of informing political leaders who are under a threat of violence.

A request by The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund prompted the release of the documents—"a groundbreaking scoop that should once more shame major US media outlets (why are nonprofits now some of the only entities in America left breaking major civil liberties news?)," writes Wolf. Click for her full piece or the fully searchable documents.

Occupy Wall Street protestor Chris Philips screams as he is arrested near Zuccotti Park, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, in New York.
Occupy Wall Street protestor Chris Philips screams as he is arrested near Zuccotti Park, Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, in New York.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
An Occupy Wall Street protester is arrested by police Sunday Jan. 1, 2012 in New York. Protesters clashed with police as they marched through lower Manhattan.
An Occupy Wall Street protester is arrested by police Sunday Jan. 1, 2012 in New York. Protesters clashed with police as they marched through lower Manhattan.   (AP Photo/Stephanie Keith)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 89 comments
Observer
Dec 31, 2012 10:04 AM CST
Pigs in action. The FBI is the tool of the Establishment working AGAINST the citizens it is sworn to protect. Start identifying, shaming and prosecuting the secret police. This is OUR country not the Gestapo's.
HarryBeaver
Dec 30, 2012 4:50 PM CST
Fascism
right2dave
Dec 30, 2012 4:45 PM CST
More liberal crap. The OWS movement NEVER was much.
 

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