The Chicago Police Department sent an undercover officer to a meeting of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker-affiliated group whose mission is to "foster understanding and reconciliation, promote economic development and food security, educate the public on issues such as nuclear disarmament and the realities of military service." The infiltration came in 2002 as Chicago was preparing to host the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue, a meeting that had led to riots in other locations.
Yesterday, the city settled a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and the service committee, paying them $12,500. The city's law department continues to maintain that it was appropriate to send an undercover cop to a service committee meeting.
The Quakers make the government nervous because if this love your enemies non-violent thing catches on the Army might have staffing issues. These nice harmless folks have been persecuted here ever since the fled persecution in England.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a college freshman (1st year) and dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was offered extra credit in sociology in exchange for tutoring inner city kids on basic reading and math. I did that for about a year in a program sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee.
I had three motives really:
1 I wanted a top grade;
2 I was a sort of liberal hippie type and it looked like a good idea;
3 the girl running the program was major league hot.
I did some good I think, got an A, and after I met the love of my life lost interest in the girl. Yes she still is the love of my life.
Two years later, I am taking the (mandatory) draft board physical. I am presented with a list of organizations covering both sides of a legal size page. I am told to mark any I have or am a member of. I mark "former member" for the Friends and two civil rights organizations: NAACP and Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee.
Half way through the physical I am pulled aside and confronted with a fullly uniformed major. Remember this is a physical -- I am wearing undershorts and shoes without sox per the orders we were given. I am seriously (I suppose) asked if I am a Marxist? I say 'no.' Why then I am asked was I a member of these "subversive" organizations? I respond that NAACP is not subversive and the president is a member!
What about AFSC? Well I say, I was in a college program teaching poor kids to read.
I kid you not, that was 1967 or 68 I think. These idiots still do not get it.
Oh, I was told I might be barred from certain "desirable" spots in the army because of my "background." No matter, I failed the physical.
FWIW
jimB
Brill, MP.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear the Quakers are still considered to have an edge.
ReplyDelete