Responding to the Murders of Abortion providers in Pensacola
by Refuse & Resist!
After the assasination of an abortion doctor and his escort in Pensacola, several leaders of the abortion rights movement ran to the White House and Justice Department for government protection for abortion clinics. Too often we make the mistake of forgetting that law enforcement agents (be they FBI, federal marshalls, or other agents assigned to political surveillance) work to gather information on the very people who turn to them for protection. In fact, the statement "Anything you say can and will be used against you" applies much more to us than to the rabid anti-abortion activists.
It is crucial that abortion rights activists recognize the significance of the following facts: Local police throughout the country have a long history of collusion with Operation Rescue and other Christian fascist organizations. Specifically relevant to the Pensacola murders, the government had detailed prior knowledge of Paul Hill and his public call to kill women's doctors. The feds had a clear opportunity to stop Hill before he killed, yet did nothing. This was no oversight -- had he theatened government officials, we would have been picked up instantly!
Historically, the staff and activists of every progressive social movement have been faced with the dilemma of unannounced visits by government agents who, without warrants, invite themselves in "just to ask a few questions." How should we respond? Should we tell them what they want to know, even though we don't trust them? Do we say as little as possible? Or do we say good-bye and close the door in their face?
In the past, those who have made the mistake of giving government agents information often found that their own organizations were later destroyed as a result of the information they shared. The hard truth is that at no time in history have the police and the FBI ever come to the aid of those struggling for justice. Anything you say will also be passed straight on to the Christian fascists who have direct links to law enforcement through local police-FBI networks, local police cells of the Klan, and Cops for Christ (yes, there is such an organization), and political ties with the radical right.
In particular, don't fall for the following traps:
"I have important information that could help prosecute the antis."
The government has paid informants, electronic surveillance, phone logs, mail intercepts, and covert searches, not to mention their close political association with the radical right. Prosecution of the antis depends, not on your information, but on political decisions made in Washington.
"I have nothing to hide; why shouldn't I talk to them?"
"The friendly FBI agent" is not about the liberation of women. He will want to know exactly what you know and how you know it. Do you have an infiltrator in the antis? Who is it? Which documents of the antis do you have? Which leaders of the antis have you identified? And what security arrangements have you made? Don't forget: the information you give them can and will be used against you and the women's rights movement.
"Perhaps I can learn what they are up to by talking to them."
Don't kid yourself. You are dealing with trained interrogators who are not about to tell you what they are actually doing. They will use a cover story designed to win your sympathy, and open you up to talking about your internal business.
"I can string them along."
Not likely. First, since you don't know what the agents are really after, you may unknowingly say something that is then used to "corroborate" other information. Second, to give false information to a federal agent is a federal crime. However, you do have the right not to talk at all -- this is one sure way to avoid trouble.
We even have to use caution in sharing information with those in our own movement who - no matter how sincere or well-intentioned - believe that talking to government agents may help. For more information on the Justice Department's long-running war on progressive movements, read The War at Home by Brian Glick, available from South End Press.
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