</s>File #: 682-116395 Serial Scope: 601 THRELL 1ST NR 605 607, 1STNR 607 609 THREE 616 618 THRLL 620 NW 88608 Docid: 32899640 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail a series of FBI counterintelligence operations targeting various leftist and extremist groups in the United States during the 1960s-1970s. These operations involved anonymous communications, misinformation campaigns, and surveillance aimed at disrupting activities of organizations such as the Communist Party, USA (CPUSA), Black Panther Party (BPP), Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and others. Specific actions included distributing fake postcards, letters, and fabricated informant reports to discredit members or leaders of these groups. Examples include:  
- In 1964, the FBI sent a fraudulent report implicating William Albertson, a CPUSA member, as an FBI informant, leading to his expulsion from the party.  
- In 1969, anonymous calls and letters were used to dissuade Bobby Seale (BPP leader) from attending planned speeches in Oregon, resulting in financial losses for the BPP.  
- The FBI targeted Klan members through postcards criticizing their secrecy and alleged misuse of funds, causing internal disruption within the KKK.  
- In 1968, the FBI coordinated with media to expose Communist Party ties to groups like the Freedomways Association, aiming to undermine Martin Luther King Jr.'s perceived connections to leftist networks.  

Key People  
- William Albertson (CPUSA member expelled after a fabricated FBI report)  
- Bobby Seale (BPP leader targeted by anonymous threats)  
- Walter Tullow (Pittsburgh Peace and Freedom Center leader accused of KCPUSA ties)  
- Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of FBI discrediting efforts via media)  

Key Locations  
- New York City (NCASF rally, CPUSA activities)  
- Pittsburgh (Peace and Freedom Center targeted by FBI letters)  
- Oregon (BPP speech cancellations due to threats)  
- Alabama (Klan-related operations and surveillance)  
- Florida (Klan meetings and media exposure efforts)  

Key Events  
- 1964: Fraudulent FBI report leading to CPUSA member expulsion.  
- 1969: Anonymous calls deterring BPP leader Bobby Seale from Oregon speeches.  
- 1968: FBI collaboration with media to expose Communist Party ties to Freedomways Association.  
- 1970: Klan-related postcard campaigns and newspaper exposure of KKK activities.  

Key Organizations  
- Communist Party, USA (CPUSA)  
- Black Panther Party (BPP)  
- Ku Klux Klan (KKK)  
- United Klans of America (UKA)  
- Freedomways Association (targeted by FBI)

Summary  
The documents detail extensive FBI counterintelligence operations targeting radical groups such as the Black Panther Party (BPP), US, Incorporated, and the Nation of Islam (NOI) under COINTELPRO during the 1960s-1970s. These efforts included surveillance, infiltration, disruption tactics, and legal challenges to undermine militant organizations perceived as threats to national security. FBI agents discussed methods such as electronic monitoring, informants, and anonymous dissemination of materials to discredit BPP members. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities (SSC) investigated these operations, focusing on procedural oversight, access to sensitive FBI records, and the legality of counterintelligence actions. Key cases involved alleged criminal activities by BPP members, conflicts between groups like the BPP and US, Incorporated, and FBI interactions with civil rights organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The documents also reference broader intelligence policies, including surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Huston Plan, and the "Keith Decision" court ruling that curtailed FBI electronic surveillance.  

Key People  
- **Robert S. Baker**: Former FBI Special Agent interviewed about monitoring radical groups, including BPP and US, Incorporated.  
- **Robert E. Gebhardt**: Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles FBI Division, discussed COINTELPRO operations against the BPP.  
- **Lawrence F. Wirick & Earl M. Petersen**: FBI agents detailing criminal activities of BPP members and disruption tactics.  
- **Ron Karenga**: Leader of US, Incorporated, referenced in conflicts with the BPP.  
- **Kenneth Lee Demon**: Former BPP leader accused of credit card fraud.  
- **Frank Church**: Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities (SSC).  
- **Edward H. Levi**: Attorney General overseeing DOJ-FBI coordination and document access protocols.  
- **K. William O'Connor**: Special Counsel for Intelligence Coordination, facilitated SSC-FBI interactions.  

Key Locations  
- **San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco**: Centers for FBI monitoring of radical groups and COINTELPRO operations.  
- **Oakland, California**: Headquarters of the Black Panther Party.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Site of Senate Select Committee meetings and DOJ-FBI administrative discussions.  
- **Gordon, Nebraska**: Location of FBI investigations related to Pine Ridge Reservation activities.  
- **Omaha, Nebraska**: Source of news articles referencing Senate committee inquiries.  

Key Events  
- **COINTELPRO Operations**: FBI efforts to disrupt BPP, US, Incorporated, and NOI through surveillance, informants, and discrediting tactics.  
- **"Keith Decision" Ruling**: Court order halting electronic surveillance of the BPP in 1975.  
- **Surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Mentioned as part of broader FBI intelligence activities.  
- **Huston Plan Documents**: Referenced in discussions about historical intelligence operations.  
- **Senate Select Committee Investigations**: Focus on FBI procedures, document access, and oversight mechanisms.  
- **FBI-DOJ Coordination**: Protocols for handling sensitive materials, redaction processes, and dispute resolution between agencies.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting COINTELPRO operations against radical groups.  
- **Black Panther Party (BPP)**: Target of FBI surveillance and disruption efforts, described as engaging in criminal activities and violent rhetoric.  
- **US, Incorporated**: Afro-American cultural organization led by Ron Karenga, monitored for conflicts with the BPP.  
- **Nation of Islam (NOI)**: Investigated alongside the BPP under COINTELPRO for alleged violent incidents.  
- **Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities (SSC)**: Conducted oversight investigations into FBI intelligence operations and document access procedures.  
- **Department of Justice (DOJ)**: Coordinated with the SSC to establish protocols for handling sensitive FBI materials.  
- **Office of Legal Counsel (OLC)**: Provided feedback on procedural adjustments for document release and security safeguards.

JFK Declassified Files

124-10179-10217_multirif.pdf

Document Summary

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