FBI Intel bulletin 89 - Roadmap to repressing dissent (2003 edition)

This document is five years old, but it does provide the roadmap for the criminalization of dissent - in particular the part about how demonstrators may use the Internet to expose police brutality is quite interesting. (additionally the concept of 'law enforcement circles' as a restricted clique of privileged intelligence is also interesting.)

Please post all further evidence and documents to TC Indymedia which might be relevant to building a further understanding of how the police policy was carried out, and what the federal role in all this was.
URL: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/linkscopy/FBIbulletin89.pdf

LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE

FBI INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN no. 89
October 15, 2003
________________________________

THREAT LEVEL: YELLOW (ELEVATED)

THE FBI INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN, DISSEMINATED ON A WEEKLY BASIS,
PROVIDES LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH CURRENT, RELEVANT TERRORISM
INFORMATION DEVELOPED FROM COUNTERTERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS
AND ANALYSIS. THE INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN DOES NOT CONTAIN THREAT
WARNING INFORMATION.

HANDLING NOTICE: Recipients are reminded that the Intelligence Bulletin is
designated "Law Enforcement Sensitive" and should not be disseminated beyond law
enforcement circles.

ITEM: TACTICS USED DURING PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

On October 25, 2003, mass marches and rallies against the occupation in Iraq are scheduled to
occur in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, California. While the FBI possesses no
information indicating that violent or terrorist activities are being planned as part of these
protests, the possibility exists that elements of the activist community may attempt to engage in
violent, destructive, or disruptive acts. Most protests are peaceful events; however, a number of
demonstrations, including the biannual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings,
are more likely to be violent and disruptive and to require enhanced law enforcement security.
Several effective and innovative strategies are commonly used by protestors prior to, during, and
after demonstrations. The following tactics have been observed by U.S. and foreign law
enforcement agencies while responding to criminal activities conducted during protests and
demonstrations.

Protestors often use the internet to recruit, raise funds, and coordinate their activities prior to
demonstrations. Activists may also make use of training camps to rehearse tactics and counter-
strategies for dealing with the police and to resolve any logistical issues.

If a demonstration is going to take place in a secure facility, activists may seek to gain access to
the site using false documentation. Surveillance of sites prior to demonstrations can allow
activists to identify locations of command posts and law enforcement personnel in order to plan
effective countermeasures.

Traditional demonstration tactics by which protestors draw attention to their causes include
marches, banners, and forms of passive resistance such as sit-ins. Extremist elements may
engage in more aggressive tactics that can include vandalism, physical harassment of delegates,
trespassing, the formation of human chains or shields, makeshift barricades, devices used against
mounted police units, and the use of weaponsBsuch as projectiles and homemade bombs. Even
the more peaceful techniques can create a climate of disorder, block access to a site, draw large
numbers of police officers to a specific location in order to weaken security at other locations,
obstruct traffic, and possibly intimidate people from attending the events being protested.

During the course of a demonstration, activists often communicate with one another using cell
phones or radios to coordinate activities or to update colleagues about ongoing events. Other
types of media equipment (video cameras, photographic equipment, audio tape recorders,
microphones, and computer and radio equipment) may be used for documenting potential cases
of police brutality and for distribution of information over the internet.

Extremists may be prepared to defend themselves against law enforcement officials during the
course of a demonstration. Masks (gas masks, goggles, scarves, scuba masks, filter masks, and
sunglasses) can serve to minimize the effects of tear gas and pepper spray as well as obscure
one's identity. Extremists may also employ shields (trash can lids, sheets of plexiglass, truck tire
inner tubes, etc.) and body protection equipment (layered clothing, hard hats and helmets,
sporting equipment, life jackets, etc.) to protect themselves during marches. Activists may also
use intimidation techniques such as videotaping and the swarming of police officers to hinder the
arrest of other demonstrators.

After demonstrations, activists are usually reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement officials.
They seldom carry any identification papers and often refuse to divulge any information about
themselves or other protestors. Post-demonstration activities can include fundraising in support
of the legal defense of accused protestors and demonstrations of solidarity calling for the release
of the accused.

Law enforcement agencies should be alert to these possible indicators of protest activity and
report any potentially illegal acts to the nearest FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE: LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

Information contained in the FBI Intelligence Bulletin is Law Enforcement Sensitive and
intended for official use only. No portion of this Bulletin should be released to the media, the
general public or over non-secure Internet servers. Release of Law Enforcement Sensitive
material could adversely affect or jeopardize investigative activities.

Departments are requested to contact the nearest FBI field office or resident agency in their area
should additional information be developed related to the above matter. Questions regarding the
content of these Bulletins should also be directed to the nearest FBI field office or resident
agency. Specific comments or suggestions about the format or content can be provided to
lesc@leo.gov.