Bella Abzug was one of those political dissenters the CIA refers to as international terrorists. As part of the CIA’s secret surveillance of peace activists, they had records on Congresswoman Abzug’s activities with the Women’s Strike for Peace in 1967. She did her part to try to stop the CIA trampling on civil liberties. She said she began wearing hats as a young lawyer because everywhere she turned up for a professional meeting, someone always asked her to serve the coffee.
Bella died sixteen years ago today. And I expect she's turning in her grave.
In mid-1970s, feminist and peace movement activist Congresswoman Bella Abzug tore through the intel world, fearlessly taking on the CIA and the NSA for surveilling Americans. So I’ve been reading some of her hearings, and it turns out that the dynamics of the intelligence world (in this case the CIA) and its relationship with Congress and the public haven’t changed at all. Today, journalist Jason Leopold is nicknamed a ‘FOIA terrorist’ by a ‘certain government agency’ because he files so many requests so effectively, and sues when they deny him the things to which he is entitled.
Matt Stoller
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