WHY DEFEND THE RED SQUADS?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-01208R000100150154-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 154
• Publication Date: January 2, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100150154-7
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
2 January 1981
'efe d the., Red
? 4:
uac as-:an en-
both e6usla:o-and. New York acted si- lightened approach . to balancing , the
multanousiy on. Tuesday to settle litiga- rights of political activists and the police
~, tion growing :out' of misdirected govern- responsibility for maintaining public or-
rnent=harassment of constitutionally pro- der and investigating crime."
tected acts '~: Agreed settlement of these lawsuits
In Chicagi Judge Susan;Getiendanner deserves.: a-..hearty welcome._:,,.The-old
gave preliminary approval to the settle "Red Squad" silliness added nothing to
ment__of_ class',action.suits.:.against the ;.the public: safety,'.-but'iinstead..diverted
FBI --and,th-e CIA..Though some individu--. police .:-resources'- into- ? activities^' with
al. plaintiffs are, unhappy with the terms, either negligible. or. negative effects:. Red
no serious objection is anticipated. to the': ' Squads antics were. an embarrassment
settlements'.' ,becoming final: .:.For-. their `:? both, to-law `enforcement and. to citizens
part, the:'CIA has;:affirmed. its. statutory harassed for fully protected acts'.::'
inhibition - against: domestic spying. and It is unfortunate , that one 'defendant
the'FBI dmitted it :made some.' b_ Judge Getzenaanner-has- elected
mistakesit`isresolvednotto.repea;:togo.to:trial:rather than join the CIA
~-an(PFBI.in-entering into an agreement
fn `New--York;.;the: Police Department" with-. the plaintiffs. That is the. City`
'hasagreed to a ; three-memberboard m ?t
Ctwo-..-police,. officials ''and . a- civilian : ,Chicago::Yet'the terms of an agreement
between
appointed. by.-.the -mayor] ,to oversee fu- worked= out ut on" ntif and acceptance were
ture investigative _- 'Iongago; and aceptan:.by
work' that' ,;might both sides'seemed likely. Someone in the
`threaten 1st. Amendment rights.. It also city,, administration," however, has
.agreed, to release old Red Squad files as least `tentatively_.decided to go to court. ,
has already: been done in Chicago., With-.:.
out a trial;.the New* York.. Police Depart- This will in the r'c un 'po ntlesl
meat and. the., plaintiffs therestruck an., :date;' will nvolve th'city in pointless
expense
agreement satisfactory to both;,, ? and embarrassment.
i
hr' Chicago,...as in New. York, the Red..,
? A Civil Liberties Union- officer in New.: Squad.is an unsavory -memory. The con-
Yorkr?says the-.settlement 'established :.duct::that the Byrne adrmunistration*pro-
the principle-that: the needs of legitimate poses to defend in court is not''its'press
law enforcement do. hot require interfer erit.conduct::?Mayor Byrne would do welt:1
ence with.-1st Amendment 'rights" Po- to'. line up -s ith the CIA, the FBI, and'J
.lice: Commissioner::' Robert -J-..McGuire New.. York. "City: in- accepting. an. a agreed E
says that the activities`,omplained'nf-in'..-settlement, rather than insisting on. de-;,
the. lawsuits.,ended no later,.than .1911,. fending: the indefensible.;:.:.:.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100150154-7