by Rachael Alaimo-Monson
Daily Lobo
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the FBI has been given the enormous responsibility of protecting the nation from future terrorist attacks.
Focus on homeland security has escalated, leading to increasing incidents of racial profiling that have added fuel to the controversy surrounding Americans' personal freedoms.
On Oct. 15, the FBI released an internal memo identifying tactics used by protesters during demonstrations. The document was intended for official use only and was not to be released to the media or the general public, according to the FBI's Web site.
The memo was also sent to police agencies around the country, including the Albuquerque Police Department, according to Det. Jeff Arbogast.
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UNMPD officials said they too have seen the memo.
"The bulletin was sent out to all law enforcement agencies across the country and is the 89th bulletin to have been released since Sept. 11," said FBI spokesman Bill Ewell. "It provides agencies with a current update of the threat of terrorism."
The New York Times exposed the memo to the public when it published it in its entirety on Nov. 23. The article cited the memo "as evidence that the FBI has begun to target anti-war protesters."
The memo cites traditional demonstration tactics such as marches and banners and goes on to outline "extremist tactics" such as the formation of human chains or shields.
Some UNM activists said they are concerned that the memo was an excuse to keep tabs on anti-war protesters.
Erin Barringer, president of UNM's chapter of the ACLU, an organization dedicated to protecting first amendment rights, questioned the motives behind the memo.
"The memo goes to prove that the FBI has been monitoring protesters," she said. "It really demonstrates that they are targeting innocent Americans who are exercising their first amendment rights, and that's wrong. It's actually pretty ridiculous."
The FBI was quick to respond to the immense pressure it received from the national community about the memo. The agency went so far as to post the memo for public view on its Web site, along with an official statement.
"The FBI is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans, including those who oppose current policies of the government," according to the statement. "In order to do so, we must make law enforcement aware of the tactics of those who wish to impinge on those rights by violently disrupting otherwise peaceful marches and assemblies."
UNM Campus Green Party President Trey Smith, who said he has been involved in many peaceful protests turned bad, is not surprised by the heightened awareness concerning protesters actions.
"I think the events of 9/11 have become an excuse for authorities to use excessive force," he said. "If you aren't rallying behind the cause at hand, you are called unpatriotic."
