Katie Valentine
reports:
Tar sands activists in several states have been getting visits from the FBI, and no one knows yet exactly why.
Federal agents have been contacting activists who have participated in anti-Keystone XL and anti-tar sands protests, according to the Canadian Press. The visits have been happening to activists in Oregon, Washington state, and Idaho, and a lawyer working with the activists told the Canadian Press that he has advised them not to talk to the agents.
“It’s always the same line: ‘We’re not doing criminal investigations, you’re not accused of any crime. But we’re trying to learn more about the movement,'” he said.
Targets seem to be protesters who have blocked roads and delayed the shipment "megaloads" of tar sands equipment.
The FBI, of course, says it's not about politics. Because the bureau would never ever go after individuals or groups for that. Just like local cops would never ever to that.
This isn't the first time that eco-activists have said they've been approached by the FBI. Back in 2013, Seattle climate change activists said this happened to them:
While some activists immediately closed the door on the FBI, the agents attempted to show photos of others, asking them to identify people in the photographs. The FBI agents also attempted to question some of the activists about campaigns resisting development of tar sands in Alberta, Canada, and coal trains in the Pacific Northwest.
Those activists keeping their lips zipped are taking a wise approach. Given the FBI's history, it's hard not to view these "visits" as moves to intimidate political activists into backing off from their protests and trying to keep them from freely associating with other activists. Nothing is gained by talking to these agents.