Date: Wed 11 Nov 1992 18:23:55
>From: Moderators<tk0jut2@mvs.cso.niu.edu>
Subject: File 1--2600 Meeting Disrupted by Secret Service?
 
On Friday, November 6, the Washington, D.C. 2600 meeting took place at
--More--[Press space to continue, 'q' to quit.]the Pentagon City Mall, but was broken up by mall security police.
There is preliminary evidence that the disruption may have involved
the United States Secret Service. If the USSS was involved in using
private security forces to disrupt civilians, their action appears to
not only exceed its mandate, but to be blatantly illegal. The
followings posts describe the details, but the basic facts are these:
 
1. The Mall's private security police appeared to engage in a
well-organized and well-coordinated sweep of those participating in
the meeting. Although there are restrictions that may limit gatherings
on mall property, there was no apparent indication that the sweep was
prompted by such restrictions.
 
2.  The Mall's head of security, Al Johnson (703-415-3410) claimed
that the FBI and USSS "ramrodded" the operation. Although he has since
denied making the claim, his comments were recorded by Brock Meeks, a
reporter for CommDaily. Meeks subsequently called both the FBI and
Secret Service. The FBI denied any participation.  Meeks' report of
the USSS response suggests they were present at the time. We have read
a transcript of Al Johnson's response to Meeks, and Johnson explicitly
and unequivocally states that he considered it a USSS operation and
that as far as he's concerned, the mall police are "out of it," and he
--More--[Press space to continue, 'q' to quit.]referred Meeks to the USSS (See transcript in file #7).
 
3. Either Al Johnson is lying or Meeks fabricated the tape.  Meeks is
a highly respected journalist known for accuracy and credibility. His
integrity has never been questioned, and we find it incomprehensible
that he fabricated the tape. It seems more likely that Johnson either
glibly named external agencies to cover up the actions of security
forces or that he initially spoke the truth then realized (or was
told) that he should not indicate external involvement. The USSS's
response, which appears to make them complicit in, if not initiaters
of, the action, indicates, as John McMullen's final article reveals,
that they were fully aware of the incident.
 
4. Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) has filed a
Freedom of Information request with the USSS in an attempt to obtain
further information of USSS involvement.
 
If, in fact, the USSS was involved, it reflects an outrageous and
totally unacceptable abuse of authority and power.  If they were
involved, it indicates that they have learned little from the
Operation Sun Devil abuses and that it is time to curtail their power.
If they were involved, their actions represent a direct challenge to
--More--[Press space to continue, 'q' to quit.]Constitutional principles of freedom of speech and assembly.
 
If those attending the 2600 meeting violated mall policies against
assembly that limit the size and nature of public gatherings, it is
fully legitimate for mall security personnel to intervene.  However,
if the intervention was a premediated action in which the USSS
participated, then the forces designated to protect the Constitution
have over-stepped their bounds and threaten once again to subvert the
principles they are sworn to protect.
 
This is not simply a cyberspace issue. If the USSS was involved, it
raises the issue of the relationship between government police actions
and the Constitutional freedoms that ostensibly protect us against
unwarranted control of basic rights.  It is an issue that should be of
concern to everyone.  Slippery slopes are highly dangerous terrain.
 
The following posts provide additional details. The Newsbytes pieces
are reproduced here with permission.
 
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