Despite police violence against peaceful protestors in Ferguson, Mo., in the days after Michael Brown Jr.’s death, the FBI is warning law enforcement agencies across the country that the decision on whether to indict Darren Wilson “will likely” lead to violence.
The FBI bulletin, released Friday, is based on “observed criminal and violent activity” in the weeks after Brown’s death, not intelligence or threats, a law enforcement official told CBS News. Ironically, most protests and demonstrations have been peaceful in the 102 days since Wilson shot and killed the 18-year-old.
The bulletin, however, warns of attacks against law enforcement:
“The announcement of the grand jury’s decision … will likely be exploited by some individuals to justify threats and attacks against law enforcement and critical infrastructure,” the FBI says in an intelligence bulletin issued in recent days. “This also poses a threat to those civilians engaged in lawful or otherwise constitutionally protected activities.”
It continues:
The bulletin “stresses the importance of remaining aware of the protections afforded to all U.S. persons exercising their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.”
Within hours of the FBI issuing its bulletin, some police departments across the country issued their own internal memos urging officers to review procedures and protocols for responding to mass demonstrations.
Still, the bulletin’s conclusions were blunt: “The FBI assesses those infiltrating and exploiting otherwise legitimate public demonstrations with the intent to incite and engage in violence could be armed with bladed weapons or firearms, equipped with tactical gear/gas masks, or bulletproof vests to mitigate law enforcement measures.”
Interestingly enough, residents point out those individuals, being described as wearing tactical gear, were and remain to be the police.
The bulletin also cites a message posted online by a black separatist group offering a $5,000 bounty for the location” of Wilson as a reason for the warning. They did not, however, address recent verbal and online threats from the Klu Klux Klan to resort to violence against protestors.
On Monday afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon declared a State of Emergency and activated the National Guard although a indictment decision has not yet been reached.
“My hope and expectation is that peace will prevail,” Nixon said. “But we have a responsibility — I have a responsibility — to plan for any contingencies that might arise.”
There is no set date for the grand jury announcement. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
