COINTELPRO Topics

COINTELPRO is an acronym for the FBI’s Counter Intelligence Program, which was used in the 1960s to monitor, manipulate and disrupt social movements in the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Black Panthers and the American Indian Movement were among the program’s targets. Democracy Now! has extensively covered COINTELPRO and its aftermath, as well as similar tactics still used today against anti-war and animal rights activists.

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"Me and My Shadow": A History of the FBI's Covert Operations and COINTELPRO

Today on Democracy Now! we are going to return to the era of the FBI’s domestic so-called 'counter-intelligence' program, or COINTELPRO.
Jun 06, 2002 | Story
"Me and My Shadow": A History of the FBI's Covert Operations and COINTELPRO

The House and Senate intelligence committees on Tuesday began their investigation into whether the FBI and CIA overlooked signals that warned of September 11th.
Jun 05, 2002 | Story
Does 'Arab National' Plus 'Flight School' Necessarily Equal 'Threat'? As Ashcroft Slashes COINTELPRO Restrictions On Domestic Spying, a Debate On Racial Profiling, Civil Liberties and National Securit

FBI director Robert Mueller III expressed regret on Wednesday about the FBI headquarters’ handling of a memo from its Phoenix office about a large number of Arabs seeking training at a U.S. flight school.
May 30, 2002 | Story
From COINTELPRO to the Shadow Government: As Fred Hampton Jr. Is Released From 9 Years Ofprison, a Look Back at the Assassination of Fred Hampton

In a moment we are going to hear from Fred Hampton Jr., who was recently released from prison in Illinois where heserved 9 years on charges of "aggravated arson" following the nationwide protests in 1992 after the acquittal of theLA police officers who beat Rodney King. Fred Hampton Jr. is the son of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton who wasassassinated on December 4, 1969 in a COINTELPRO operation in Chicago. We begin this part of the...
Mar 05, 2002 | Story
A History of "Intelligence" and Security Culture From Ward Churchill, co-Author of "The COINTELPRO Papers"

With great fanfare, the Bush administration has pledged to fortify the nation’s "anti-terrorism" protections by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new computer systems to keep tabs on foreign students and visitors. The nation’s approximately 600,000 foreign students have come under particular scrutiny since the September 11 attacks.
Feb 28, 2002 | Story
COINTELPRO Returns? The Bush Administration Asks Congress to Expand the FBI's Surveillancepowers, Loosening Restrictions Put in Place After the FBI Targeted the Black Panther Party, Theamerican Indian

The Bush administration is asking Congress for a second major expansion of federal surveillance powers that wouldallow for the "disruption" of what the attorney general calls suspected terrorist groups. The proposal would loosenone of the most fundamental restrictions on the conduct of the FBI that were imposed in the 1970s after the death ofJ. Edgar Hoover and the disclosures that the FBI had run a widespread domestic surveillance program,...
Dec 03, 2001 | Story
Gimme Some Truth: The FBI Files of John Lennon

Democracy Now! has done extensive coverage of COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence program, particularly in terms ofAfrican Americans and the breaking up of the Black Panthers and its sympathizers throughout the 1970s. But today we’re goingto take a different look at the FBI. We’re looking at what happens when culture, music and politics come together. This isthe story of John Lennon and the FBI.
Aug 14, 2001 | Story
Cointel Pro 25 Years Later: New York Settles with Former Black Panther who was Wrongly Imprisoned (Part 2)

On the 19th of May, 1971, two New York City police officers were wounded in a burst of machine gunfire while standing guard outside the home of the Manhattan district attorney, Frank Hogan. Two years later, after two hung juries, a Black Panther leader, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, was convicted of the crime by a jury that deliberated for less than one hour. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. Nineteen years later, a court found that he had been convicted...
Dec 08, 2000 | Story
COINTELPRO 25 Years Later: New York City Settles with Former Black Panther Who Was Wrongly Imprisoned

On the 19th of May, 1971, two New York City police officers were wounded in a burst of machine gunfire while standing guard outside the home of the Manhattan district attorney, Frank Hogan. Two years later, after three trials, a leader of the Black Panthers, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, was convicted of the crime by a jury that deliberated for less than one hour. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. [includes rush transcript]
Dec 07, 2000 | Story
Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo ji-Jaga Pratt

On the 10th of June, 1997, amid loud cheers from his family and supporters, former Black Panther Geronimo ji-Jaga Pratt walked out of a Santa Monica, California, courtroom after a judge released him on $25,000 bail — just 12 days after reversing his 1972 murder conviction. [includes rush transcript]
Oct 05, 2000 | Story

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COINTELPRO Topics

"Me and My Shadow": A History of the FBI's Covert Operations and COINTELPRO

"Me and My Shadow": A History of the FBI's Covert Operations and COINTELPRO

Does 'Arab National' Plus 'Flight School' Necessarily Equal 'Threat'? As Ashcroft Slashes COINTELPRO Restrictions On Domestic Spying, a Debate On Racial Profiling, Civil Liberties and National Securit

From COINTELPRO to the Shadow Government: As Fred Hampton Jr. Is Released From 9 Years Ofprison, a Look Back at the Assassination of Fred Hampton

A History of "Intelligence" and Security Culture From Ward Churchill, co-Author of "The COINTELPRO Papers"

COINTELPRO Returns? The Bush Administration Asks Congress to Expand the FBI's Surveillancepowers, Loosening Restrictions Put in Place After the FBI Targeted the Black Panther Party, Theamerican Indian

Gimme Some Truth: The FBI Files of John Lennon

Cointel Pro 25 Years Later: New York Settles with Former Black Panther who was Wrongly Imprisoned (Part 2)

COINTELPRO 25 Years Later: New York City Settles with Former Black Panther Who Was Wrongly Imprisoned

Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo ji-Jaga Pratt

Show for May 23, 2013

Killing Americans: Jeremy Scahill on Obama Admin’s...

Ríos Montt Genocide Verdict Annulled, But Activists...

Mexican Priest Alejandro Solalinde on Central, South...

Obama Admin Admission of U.S. Drone Strikes Suggests Accidental Killings

Obama to Unveil New Guidelines for Drone Strikes

U.S. to Resume Transfers of Guantánamo Prisoners

Oklahoma Tornado Damage Could Reach $2 Billion

FBI: Slain Orlando Suspect Admitted to Triple Murder with Boston Marathon Bomber

British Soldier Hacked to Death in London Attack

U.S. Threatens Assad with Increased Aid to Rebels

Chicago Approves Largest School Closure in U.S. History

West Point Sergeant Accused of Videotaping Female Cadets in Shower

IRS Division Head Pleads 5th in Congressional Appearance

Questioning Death Penalty, Colorado Governor Grants Reprieve to Prisoner Set for Execution

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COINTELPRO Topics

Show for May 23, 2013

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weekdays 8-9 am eastern

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