Why Does Our Government Still Spy On, Arrest and Persecute Dissidents?

By Emily Spence, Consortium News
Posted on June 30, 2009, Printed on June 30, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/141003/

Recently, an American Civil Liberties Union report pointed out, "Anti-terrorism training materials currently being used by the Department of Defense (DoD) teach its personnel that free expression in the form of public protests should be regarded as ‘low level terrorism’.”

Although DoD officials removed the offensive section at the urging of ACLU members, the DoD stance is still troubling since a longstanding practice to designate peaceful, law-abiding activists as dangerous and treasonable still exists in many government departments and agencies.