FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) came into being with the first task force in 1980. In November 2003 the number of task forces stood at 66, having nearly doubled since the events of September 11, 2001, "including one in each of the FBI's 56 main field offices and 10 in smaller offices. More than 2,300 personnel work on these task forces nationwide." The JTTFs are "staffed with FBI agents as well as detectives from local law enforcement agencies who are assigned to work full-time with the FBI." 

National Joint Terrorism Task Force (National JTTF)
"In 2002, the FBI created a National Joint Terrorism Task Force at its command center in Washington, D.C. Nearly 30 agencies are represented, spanning the fields of intelligence, public safety, and federal, state, and local law enforcement. The National JTTF collects terrorism information and intelligence and funnels it to the 66 JTTFs, various terrorism units within the FBI, and partner agencies. Agency representatives also help the FBI with terrorism investigations." 

2004 National Conventions

 * "Specter of a police state. FBI 'anti-terror' task force targets Bush administration opponents," WSWS, August 18, 2004.
 * Jamie Chapman, "Civil rights advocates denounce FBI harassment of protesters," WSWS, August 20, 2004.

California

 * "FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Spies on 'Food Not Bombs'," San Francisco Indymedia, June 2, 2005.

Colorado

 * "The Denver Police Spy Files," American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, undated.
 * Alicia Caldwell, "FBI spying allegations supported by records," Denver Post (ccmep.org), December 3, 2004.
 * Karen Abbott, "ACLU accuses FBI of spying. Police say they're complying with law, battling terrorism," Rocky Mountain News (ccmep.org), December 3, 2004.
 * "New documents confirm that FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force wastes resources and threatens First Amendment rights by targeting peaceful protest activity as 'domestic terrorism'," ACLU of Colorado, December 8, 2005.

Michigan

 * "FBI Document Labels Michigan Affirmative Action and Peace Groups as Terrorists," ACLU, August 29, 2005; FOIA document.

New York

 * Robert A. Martin, "The Joint Terrorism Task Force: a concept that works - FBI-New York City Police Department," The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (FindArticles), March 1999.

North Carolina

 * "FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Harrasses Raleigh Activists," Chapel Hill (NC) Indymedia, November 17, 2004.

Oregon

 * Charles Amsellem, "FBI, Terrorism, and Activism," Indymedia, September 1, 2002: "The Portland Joint Terrorism Task Force Is Harrassing Activists."
 * Desiree Hellegers and Laurie Mercier, "Red Squads Redux: Portland Activists Mobilize Against the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force," CounterPunch, October 31, 2002.
 * William McCall, "City debates withdrawal from FBI's joint terrorism task force," Register Guard (Liberty Post), January 28, 2005.
 * "Portland, Oregon to End Role in FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force," ACLU, April 22, 2005.
 * "ACLU Applauds Portland City Council Ending Role in FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force," ACLU Oregon, April 28, 2005.

Pennsylvania

 * "Home of Philadelphia Activists Raided by FBI," Open Subscriber.com, October 29, 2004: "The warrant was served by Special Agent Jeremy Ashcroft of Illinois Terrorism Task Force and was directed towards SHAC-USA and at the Prominent Philadelphia area animal rights organization 'Hugs For Puppies'."

Rhode Island

 * "Documents Obtained by National ACLU Expose FBI and Police Spying on Individuals and Political Groups; Rhode Island Affiliate Files Request to Uncover More Spy Files," ACLU, May 18, 2005.

Articles & Commentary

 * "FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). FAQ: COINTELPRO Redux," Bill of Rights Defense Committee, undated.
 * "Counterterrorism," Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), undated.
 * Michelle Goldberg, "Outlawing dissent. Spying on peace meetings, cracking down on protesters, keeping secret files on innocent people -- how Bush's war on terror has become a war on freedom," Salon (also posted by Information Clearing House), February 11, 2004.
 * "FBI Spy Files: FOIA regarding Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)," ACLU, December 1, 2004. (pdf download).
 * "ADC Joins Nationwide Effort to Expose Possible Illegal FBI JTTF Spying on Political and Religious Groups," ADC.org, December 2, 2004.
 * Tim Wheeler, "Why is gov’t spying on us?" San Francisco Indymedia, December 10, 2004.
 * Brenda Norrell, "AIM joins nationwide ACLU effort to expose FBI spy files," Indian Country Today, January 4, 2005. re Denver and Chicago.
 * "ADC Joins ACLU in Lawsuit Asking for Information Release on Possible FBI JTTF Spying on Political and Religious Groups," ADC.org, May 18, 2005.
 * "FBI Documents Reveal Further Spying on Peace, Civil Rights Groups," OMB Watch, September 6, 2005.
 * Arianna Huffington, "It's Dirty Tricks All Over Again," Los Angeles Times (Common Dreams), December 15, 2005.

SourceWatch Resources

 * civil liberties
 * Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA)
 * data mining
 * George W. Bush's domestic spying
 * homeland defense
 * homeland security
 * internet surveillance
 * Patriot Act I
 * personal surveillance
 * treating dissent as treason
 * watchlist