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In a period of growing fascism, one of the benchmarks of activist resistance must be non-collaboration with the state and all its agencies. As the FBI has amped up its attacks over the past couple of years against Muslims, Black Panthers eco-justice activists and animal rights organizers, they are eager to redefine all acts of resistance as terrorism and to get those who once might have supported militant resistance to repudiate it in the name of non-violence. Apparently, some people were seduced by the FBI assurance that “With 100 years of history of course mistakes were made. Lessons learned from mistakes like COINTELPRO have led to reforms and oversight of the agency.” This assertion strains credibility if one looks at the FBI’s recent track record.

Five former Black Panthers were jailed in 2005 for not cooperating with the same agents that tortured them in New Orleans in 1973.

The Green Scare rounded up dozens of animal rights and eco-justice activists several of whom were set up by the FBI. The threat of many years of imprisonment has shaken the principles of many young activists who agree to turn on their friends and cooperate for life with FBI investigators. Members of the Black community in Florida were set up by an FBI agent provocateur.

Blacks and/or Muslims are prosecuted and imprisoned as terrorists in Buffalo and Portland, Oregon. Middle East scholars are convicted for “aiding terrorists” because they support the
Palestinian resistance against Israeli genocide and colonialism.

Other professors are denied entry to the u.s. and their jobs have been threatened because they challenge the notion that it is irrational to hate the u.s. P

eople are pulled off planes or denied entry into the u.s. because of their names, others are deported, communities flooded with agents whose purpose is to intimidate and frighten people into cooperation. Animal enterprise terrorism becomes a new club against people whose impact on business and animal research is effective – long prison terms are meted out.


So what would possess activists to help teach a class to the FBI at Quantico in this atmosphere? Have they been oblivious to their recent activities or is there something more self-serving going on here?
We wonder when given the opportunity whether they questioned the FBI about the current CIA practices of dehumanizing the enemy through extraordinary rendition, torture and denial of basic human rights protected by international law. Is it comforting to any of us that were able to sit down and have a “human” conversation with these FBI agents on a one-to-one level?

Or is it, in fact, deeply disturbing?


Many victims of COINTELPRO still languish in u.s. prisons like Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Herman Bell, Oscar Lopez-Rivera and Marilyn Buck. How long and how many lives will it take for people to realize that whatever you say to the FBI can be used against you and your friends? Are these activists somehow above the fray?


Let us not forget that today’s agency has never been held accountable for the hundreds of victims of the FBI’s wrath – the Fred Hamptons and Ana Mae Aquashes of the world or to Filiberto Ojeda Rios who was assassinated by the “reformed” FBI just a year ago in Puerto Rico?


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What Follows is an exchange made public in July by Dr. Jerry Vlasak who chose to reject the FBI’s offer of participating at the Quantico class and which is posted on the web:
<http://animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/AgainstALF/NAALPO-FBI.htm>

Activists speak at FBI class in Quantico