Seattle Activists Fear Another Informant In Their Midst
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, numerous student groups and anti-war organizations claim police have been spying on them. Surveillance of student groups and anti-war protesters is nothing new, but the instances of alleged unconstitutional surveillance keep piling up in an era of anti-terrorism police work. Domestic surveillance has been made more easy for authorities through the creation of fusion centers, allowing authorities to aggregate resources and compile anti-terrorism intelligence.
According to the Department of Homeland Security website, there are now 53 primary fusion centers and 25 recognized fusion centers across the U.S. In a recent case from Seattle, community members claim that a third-degree convicted sex offender named Robert Childs has attempted to infiltrate and spy on activist groups in Seattle, Wash. according to reports by Seattle weekly newspaper the Stranger.