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<h2 class="post-title"><a
href="http://www.aokifilm.com/2012/08/21/statement-allegations-richard-aoki-fbi-informant-mike-cheng-ben-wang/">Statement
Regarding Allegations that Richard Aoki Was An FBI Informant by Mike
Cheng & Ben Wang</a></h2>
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August 21, 2012<br>
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<p>A recent article (published at CIROnline.org) and book (entitled <em>Subversives:
The FBI’s War on Student Radicals, and Reagan’s Rise To Power</em>),
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.</p>
<p>Rosenfeld’s conclusion that Richard was an FBI informant is based on
the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>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.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>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 (<em>assigned</em>) for…Aoki.” The FBI files released by
Rosenfeld do not reveal any documentation that Aoki actually provided
information to the FBI.</li>
<li>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.</li>
</ul>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Mike Cheng & Ben Wang</p>
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Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.freedomarchives.org">www.freedomarchives.org</a>
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