After confirming that the inquiry was real (by calling the Secret Service main line in DC and confirming the agents name) we immediately spoke with a lawyer at the NYCLU who agreed to follow up with the Secret Service on our behalf. However, the Secret Service agent was unwilling to speak to our lawyer. Because we are unwilling to communicate with the Secret Service without our lawyer the agent only said that he would proceed with the investigation "through other means".

At this time we don't know why the Secret Service contacted us or what questions they had, because the agent refused to relay his questions to us through our lawyer. While receiving a phone call from an investigative agency like the Secret Service should always be taken seriously, we have no reason to believe this is part of any larger campaign or investigation on their part. CounterConvention.org is not involved in any illegal activities--the website is simply a tool designed to facilitate organizing work that groups around the city are taking on.

This letter is not being sent as an alarmist note, rather as one of information and caution. The Secret Service, FBI and NYPD will all be involved in policing activities around the Republican Convention and will be watching all public meetings, listservs and websites very closely. These agencies each have long histories of using intimidation to stifle legal protest and dissent.

Resources that you may find useful include:

National Lawyer Guild (NLG): Know Your Rights

Peoples Law Collective (PLC)

Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR)

New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)

If you have been contacted by law enforcement authorities regarding your organizing work and want the support of a lawyer, both the CCR and NYCLU offered us their support.

If you have questions about this incident, please contact us directly and do not post them publicly

Feel free to write to: info@counterconvention.org http://www.counterconvention.org