[Ppnews] Statement Regarding Allegations that Richard Aoki Was An FBI Informant by Mike Cheng & Ben Wang

[Political Prisoner News]

    Statement Regarding Allegations that Richard Aoki Was An FBI
    Informant by Mike Cheng & Ben Wang
    <http://www.aokifilm.com/2012/08/21/statement-allegations-richard-aoki-fbi-informant-mike-cheng-ben-wang/>

http://www.aokifilm.com/2012/08/21/statement-allegations-richard-aoki-fbi-informant-mike-cheng-ben-wang/ 
<http://www.aokifilm.com/category/news/>

August 21, 2012
<http://www.aokifilm.com/2012/08/21/statement-allegations-richard-aoki-fbi-informant-mike-cheng-ben-wang//#comments> 


A recent article (published at CIROnline.org) and book (entitled 
/Subversives: The FBI's War on Student Radicals, and Reagan's Rise To 
Power/), both authored by Seth Rosenfeld, contain a serious allegation 
that Richard Aoki acted as an FBI informant throughout his involvement 
in several revolutionary movements for social justice.  If these 
allegations are proven to be true, we do not condone these actions in 
any shape or form.  However, as the discourse and investigation of these 
claims commence, we feel it is important to remind people that the 
burden of proof must fall on those that make the accusation.  "No 
investigation, no right to judge" is a common Movement saying that bears 
repeating in these circumstances.  Accusing anyone of being an informant 
is extremely inflammatory and any allegations must be taken seriously 
and thoroughly investigated for evidence.   For those familiar with the 
history of COINTELPRO and tactics employed by the FBI falsely hanging 
snitchjackets on prominent contributors to the Movement to create 
internal dissent and conflict, the burden of proof must lie with the 
individual or group making the claim.  After reviewing Rosenfeld's 
article, video, and book, there is no solid evidence presented that 
Richard was as an FBI informant.

Rosenfeld's conclusion that Richard was an FBI informant is based on the 
following:

    * He claims Richard made "suggestive statements" during an interview
      he granted Rosenfeld in 2007.  However, the audio Rosenfeld has
      provided of the interview reveals that Richard clearly denied any
      allegation that he was an FBI informant.
    * An interview with former FBI agent Burney Threadgill in which he
      claims he recruited and trained Richard to be an informant. 
      Threadgill passed away in 2005 and does not appear to have offered
      any additional proof beyond his own word, which contradicts Richard's.
    * An FBI document that connects Richard with a supplementary T
      symbol (SF T-2). This document does not explain what this
      designation meant except for the unclear statement, "the limited
      purpose of describing his connections with the organization and
      characterizing him." Furthermore, all names under the Informants
      column on the page with the SF T-2 designation have been
      redacted.  In fact, all names on this page have been redacted
      except for Richard's, which calls for further information and
      clarification as to the actual identity of SF T-2.  Since the
      identify of SF T-2 is unknown, it is possible that the SF T-2
      informant was assigned to inform on Richard, explaining why
      Richard's name is listed on this document and why SF T-2 was
      "designated (/assigned/) for...Aoki."  The FBI files released by
      Rosenfeld do not reveal any documentation that Aoki actually
      provided information to the FBI.
    * The testimony of former FBI agent M. Wesley Swearingen that
      Richard fits the profile of an informant.  While Swearingen has
      been consistently outspoken and critical of the FBI's counter
      surveillance tactics, he admits he does not have any actual
      connection to Richard.

Armed with no proof, it is unacceptable for Rosenfeld to discredit 
Richard's integrity based on the unsubstantiated word of a deceased FBI 
agent and a document with redacted and vague information.  Many 
individuals and media outlets have immediately accepted the claims of an 
author who is aggressively promoting his book without properly examining 
the evidence for themselves.  Instead of automatically trusting 
questionable government sources and Rosenfeld's sensationalist 
journalism, we must scrutinize what Rosenfeld states as fact.  We urge 
Richard's former comrades, friends, associates, the 600 plus mourners 
who packed Wheeler Auditorium to attend his memorial service, and anyone 
concerned with government infiltration of social justice movements to 
get involved.  We must conduct our own research and publicly share our 
findings to determine the truth of the matter.  Characterized by many as 
a man of great principle, consistency, and integrity, Richard wouldn't 
have it any other way.

Mike Cheng & Ben Wang

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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