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 Spy in the Ointment 09/14/00 - by Gwen Shaffer - City Paper Political activists are demanding that law enforcement officials reveal specifics about infiltration and surveillance tactics they used in the months leading up to the Republican National Convention. During the week of the convention — held July 31 to Aug. 4 in Philadelphia — nearly 400 demonstrators were arrested. A police affidavit finally unsealed Sept. 7 reveals that city and state police officers took photos of political activists and infiltrated their meetings. The tactics were used to learn of "direct actions" and protests being planned during the RNC, according to the affidavit. When allegations of spying were initially voiced in June and July, Police Commissioner John Timoney vehemently denied them. His department later admitted snapping pictures of certain activists. And some protesters believe police continue to monitor their activities even now, more than a month after the convention ended. "The police are still taking photos," alleges Cheri Honkala, director of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU). Police relied, in part, on a right-wing think tank for their information about activists. The conservative Maldon Institute told state police that the Communist party was masterminding and funding the RNC protesters, according to state police affidavits. It is these "pinko" allegations that police used to rationalize a raid on a West Philadelphia warehouse that ended with 75 arrests. Puppet makers were using the space to create props and a float, to be used during demonstrations. The Sept. 13 certified letter sent to police is signed by about a dozen organizations that participated in protests during the Republican convention — including the R2K Legal Defense Committee Unity 2000, KWRU, ACT-UP Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Direct Action Group, the Independent Media Center, and the Ruckus Society, among others. "This visual and suspected electronic surveillance and infiltration is illegal and unconstitutional," the groups charge. They go on to demand to know of all the times police conducted such operations. Under a policy directive established by former Mayor Wilson Goode in September 1987, the Philadelphia Police Department must get special permission from the city before infiltrating any group. However, Pennsylvania police are not bound by this same standard. "We feel Americans should have the right to demonstrate," Honkala says. "This spying stuff has got to stop. It is a waste of tax money — it is not criminal to organize." In the letter, activists say they expect Philadelphia and Pennsylvania police to respond to their request within 48 hours. "We only know what was in the affidavits," Honkala says. "God knows what else is out there." She is concerned that the police will attempt to overturn any negative publicity they receive as a result of information in the affidavits. "We know they will try to make us look like paranoid freaks," Honkala says. "They may also try to cover it up and pretend like it never happened." Ironically, the protesters' letter comes a day before Philadelphia City Councilman Rick Mariano introduced a resolution thanking Timoney for the stellar conduct exhibited by him and his officers during the convention. |
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