US Rights Groups Sue FBI For Report Listing Black Activists As Threats

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) Two US rights groups sued the FBI and Justice Department for records related to a report listing certain Black activists as threats to police officers, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a press release.

"On March 21, 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union and Center for Media Justice filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking records about FBI targeting of Black activists," the release said on Thursday. "The lawsuit enforces the ACLU and CMJ's right to information about a 2017 FBI Intelligence Assessment that asserts, without evidence, that a group of so-called 'Black Identity Extremists' poses a threat of domestic terrorism."

The FBI's assessment report was distributed to law enforcement agencies across the United States, raising concern of US government surveillance of Black people and Black-led organizations on the basis of anti-Black stereotypes and First Amendment protected activities, the release said.

The release said the FBI has refused to disclose critical information despite the Freedom of Information Act the rights groups filed. Moreover, the release adds that the FBI has refused to search its entire categories of records linked to the subject.

The rights groups are also concerned there is no indication the FBI has removed its "Black Identity Extremist" threat label despite calls from US lawmakers to do so, the release said.