San Francisco police have also been conducting undercover surveillance of anti-war activists without proper authorization by the chief of police.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday that plainclothes police videotaped the protests on October 26th, January 18th and February 16th. (One of the officers wore a pin of Che Guevara in his hat.)

The city’s Office of Civilian Complaints and Police Commission have both called for a full investigation and the destruction of the videotapes.

But acting Deputy Police Chief James Dudley and other officers claim the tapes are needed for criminal investigations.

• Mark Schlossberg, attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in San Francisco.

Related links:

• American Civil Liberties Union in San Francisco
• SFPD spied on peace marches Watchdog agency says cops’ videotaping was unauthorized–San Francisco Chronicle