Reports that the NYPD recorded inaccurate information on an activist and observed a left-wing protest and a human rights film festival all the way down in Louisiana in 2008 confirms that the department is willing to investigate groups that have nothing to do with criminal activity. –ARK

Ryan Devereaux at The Guardian:

A police report composed by an undercover officer at the time described [Jordan] Flaherty as “a main organizer” of the People’s Summit, a gathering of liberal groups opposed to US economic policies. The summit was held in New Orleans over the course of two days in April, 2008. According to the NYPD, Flaherty “held a discussion calling for the increase of the divestment campaign of Israel and mentioned two events related to Palestine.”

… “I knew I wasn’t one of the main organizers,” Flaherty told the Guardian. “I had to go back and look at the record – then I find out there was a film festival at the same time as the conference.”

Flaherty says he introduced a film at the festival. He noted that protests related to the Louisiana gathering did not involve arrests, indicating they were little threat to national or New York security.

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