Dear Friend,

Right now, the FBI is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. It's asking Congress to renew its sweeping spying powers under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act.

Since 2001, a critical section of the PATRIOT Act has allowed the government to collect an astonishing amount of sensitive data about the daily lives of people who live in the United States. And now, Congress is debating whether or not to reauthorize it and cement the Trump administration’s ability to spy on people without a warrant. We can’t let this happen.

This request comes months after leaks revealed that, in addition to targeting Black activists under the fictitious “Black-Identity Extremist” label, the FBI also covered up a program called “Iron Fist,” created to spy on civil-rights protesters and infiltrate their ranks.

Congress can’t reauthorize any spying power until the FBI is held accountable for its targeting of Black and Brown activists. Will you tweet at leaders in the House Judiciary Committee to tell them to #ProtectBlackDissent during today’s hearing? (All you have to do is click any of the tweets below).

• .@RepRichmond and @RepKarenBass, Trump’s FBI poses a unique threat to our most vulnerable communities. Congress should not renew the FBI's #surveillance powers until they dismantle their discriminatory programs. We need your leadership to #ProtectBlackDissent. #HouseJudiciary

• .@RepJerryNadler and @RepJayapal we need your leadership to hold the FBI accountable for their unlawful spying on Black and brown activists like #BIE and #IronFist. Your voices are crucial in this fight. #ProtectBlackDissent #HouseJudiciary

• .@RepCohen and @JacksonLeeTX18 as important voices on the #HouseJudiciary we need your leadership to #ProtectBlackDissent and hold the FBI accountable for their unlawful and discriminatory #surveillance practices like #BIE and #IronFist.

More recently, documents leaked to Yahoo News reveal the FBI has also been targeting people protesting President Donald Trump’s border policies. Again, in these reports, the Bureau labels peaceful protesters “extremists” and potential security threats without providing evidence to support these dangerous accusations.

The fact that the FBI wants Congress to reauthorize its sweeping surveillance authority, even as numerous internal leaks reveal the Bureau’s unlawful spying on peaceful protesters — particularly protesters who are people of color — is ridiculous. Congress must refuse to renew any surveillance authorities until the FBI submits to proper oversight and transparency.

Please take a minute to tweet at leaders in the House Judiciary Committee to tell them that the FBI’s unlawful surveillance of activists of color must stop. (All you have to do is click any of the tweets above.)

Thanks for all that you do—

Lucia, Sandy, Tim and the rest of the Free Press Action team
freepress.net