Chicago cops conducted unauthorized spying on protesters | Chicago Sun-Times

17.11.15

Chicago cops conducted unauthorized spying on protesters | Chicago Sun-Times: The department previously has acknowledged spying on protesters including African-American and left-wing activists speaking out against police tactics in the wake of the Ferguson killing. Officials said the investigations were legally authorized, followed department safeguards designed to protect First Amendment rights and were carried out under the watchful eyes of department lawyers.

But that wasn’t always the case, the newly obtained records show.

A police intelligence-gathering unit tracked demonstrators and exchanged information about them with federal officials for nearly three months before getting the required approval from the department’s general counsel, according to the records, which the police released in response to a series of requests made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.