[Ppnews] Hoover personally ordered FBI to initiate COINTELPRO against Omaha Two

[Political Prisoner News]

Original Content at 
http://www.opednews.com/articles/J-Edgar-Hoover-personally-by-Michael-Richardson-090123-327.html

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January 23, 2009

J. Edgar Hoover personally ordered FBI to 
initiate COINTELPRO dirty tricks against Black Panthers in 'Omaha Two' case

By Michael Richardson


Confidential memorandums from the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation's secret and illegal Operation 
COINTELPRO against domestic political 
organizations and activists in the 60's and 70's 
reveal dirty deeds by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

The archives of Political Research Associates 
offer up long-held secrets of FBI misdeeds from 
one of the nation's largest collections of 
COINTELPRO documents.  Hoover had targeted the 
Black Panthers for the full fury of his 
clandestine war on political activists he 
disliked.  Directives were sent out nationwide 
with orders to "disrupt" the group and each field 
FBI office was to develop proposals targeting 
local Panther chapters and leaders.

In Omaha, Nebraska, the chief FBI targets were 
Edward Poindexter and Mondo we Langa (formerly 
David Rice) who were leaders of the National 
Committee to Combat Fascism, also known as the 
Nebraska Committee to Combat Fascism.

Omaha was not on the initial list of 23 FBI field 
offices ordered to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, 
discredit or otherwise neutralize" the Black 
Panthers in a COINTELPRO directive of August 25, 
1967.  Marching orders for Omaha FBI agents came 
on March 4, 1968 in the form of a memo from 
George C. Moore, head of the Racial Intelligence 
Division, to William Cornelius Sullivan, head of 
the Domestic Intelligence Division.

"In view of the tremendous increase in black 
nationalist activity, and the approach of summer, 
this program [COINTELPRO] should be expanded."

The Omaha SAC (Special-Agent-in-Charge) responded 
to Hoover in a confidential memo dated April 3, 
1968.  The heavily redacted document discusses 
one "militant Black Nationalist" but concludes 
there is no organized activity in Omaha.  "There 
are no organizations or individuals in the Omaha 
Division presently considered of potential danger 
as to be considered for Counterintelligence action."

"Omaha has no suggestions to offer at the present 
time regarding the over all Counterintelligence 
Program or administration of this program.  It is 
felt, however, that this program can be very 
beneficial to the Bureau in helping to prevent 
the coalition of militant Black Nationalist 
Groups and violence on their part."

On May 31, 1968 the Omaha SAC reaffirmed, "There 
continue to be no organizations or individuals in 
the division currently considered of potential 
danger as to be considered for 
counterintelligence actions."  Making quarterly 
reports, the message was again repeated to Hoover 
by the Omaha SAC that there was no activity to disrupt.

On September 6, 1968, the Omaha office finally 
had something to tell Hoover.  "It is anticipated 
that in the near future [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] 
might be targets of counter intelligence action 
as well as the organizations of which they are 
leaders.  The Black Panther group in Omaha has 
vaguely discussed in general terms creating 
violence, however, it has taken no positive action in this regard to date."

An October 6, 1968 COINTELPRO memo from the Omaha 
SAC to Hoover expressed concern about the 
"revolutionary and criminal nature" of the Black 
Panthers and proposed a plan to contact "Leaders 
of the Negro community".  The memo went on to 
describe actions of the local police.

"It should be noted that the Omaha Police 
department has instigated an harassment campaign 
against the BPP [Black Panther Party] members by 
stopping vehicles registered to these individuals 
at every opportunity.  This activity has become 
of great concern to those members involved.  In 
addition, this campaign has resulted in 
identification of additional persons associated 
with the BPP movement and its leadership."

Hoover replied on October 23, 1968.  "Proposals 
for counterintelligence measures against the 
Black Panther Party
have merit and are worthy of 
more detailed consideration."

"The utilization of your sources and informants 
to spread gossip in the ghetto area concerning 
BPP leaders and members must be done on a 
selective basis so as to preclude tracing the 
origin of the gossip to the FBI.  This is an 
effective but risky maneuver and you must insure 
that your informants are not compromised.  Prior 
to undertaking such maneuvers, you must identify 
your informants you intend to use in this program 
and the rumors they will spread."

"Although these recommendations have merit, they 
are so broad and nonspecific that authority is 
not being granted at this time to implement 
them.  Omaha is being instructed to submit 
specific recommendations after which an 
independent decision can be made at the Bureau as 
to whether or not they should be authorized."

By December 2, 1968 there were developments Omaha 
could share with Hoover.  "[REDACTED] of the 
Black Panther Party in Omaha, was interviewed on 
11/27/68 by Special Agents of the Omaha Office in 
connection with an Antiriot Laws matter."

"In view of the present status of the BPP in the 
Omaha Division, it is not felt that intelligent 
recommendations can be made at this time 
regarding counterintelligence measures aimed at 
crippling the BPP.  This matter will continue to 
be closely followed by Omaha."

By now, the Omaha FBI office was ordered to make 
status updates every two weeks to headquarters 
and continued filing reports without proposing 
any new COINTELPRO actions.  The Omaha SAC 
reported to Hoover on January 8, 1969 that the 
Panthers had not been meeting regularly at the 
party headquarters located at 3120 North 24th 
Street.  Further, "None of the known members of 
the BPP in Omaha Office are considered to have a propensity for violence."

Finally, after months of no COINTELPRO proposals, 
Hoover sent a brusque note to the Omaha 
office.  "Omaha advises in its letter of 1-13-69 
that no recommendations concerning captioned 
program will be submitted until such time as more 
information is received concerning the activities 
of the Black Panther Party in Omaha and Des 
Moines.  Omaha is being instructed to continue 
submitting the biweekly letter under captioned program."

The regular reports from the Omaha FBI to Hoover 
continued.  On March 10, 1969, the Omaha SAC was 
able to report "a former lieutenant in the Omaha 
chapter of the BPP considered this chapter to be almost out of existence."

In the April 21, 1969 report to Hoover the Omaha 
SAC noted that "there have been recent 
indications that this group is attempting to 
reorganize."  A warning was also given that in 
Iowa "the Des Moines mayor and some other civic 
officials look upon this organization as merely 
another underprivileged minority group worthy of community assistance."

The May 19, 1969 memo to Hoover contained some 
alarming news, the Panthers were organizing in 
the high schools.  "This matter will continue to receive close attention."

"The BPP in Omaha, as noted in referenced letter, 
recently sponsored the organization of Black 
Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) 
at Technical High School, Omaha
.At a BPP rally 
held 5/18/69 in an Omaha public park BPP and 
BANTU officials called on the Negro community to 
observe 5/19/69 as a holiday. [Omaha was 
birthplace of Malcolm X]  Approximately 60 
percent of the Negro student body at Tech High 
School complied with this request and were absent from school on that date."

On June 2, 1969, the Omaha SAC added BANTU to the 
list of COINTELPRO targets.  "This matter will 
continue to receive close attention and 
suggestions for counterintelligence activity 
against the Black Panther Party, BANTU and the 
leadership of these organizations at a future date."

July and August 1969 memos addressed the lack of 
meetings, small membership and eviction from 
party headquarters for non-payment of rent.  The 
Omaha SAC noted it looked like the local party 
chapter was being reorganized and linked with Des 
Moines and Kansas City chapters.

The September 22, 1969 memo to Hoover gave 
details on the reorganization of the Black 
Panthers.  "In late August, 1969, an organization 
known as United Front Against Fascism (UFAF) was 
formed in Omaha and this organization has been 
described as a replacement for the BPP.  The 
activities of this group are being closely followed."

No activity was reported to Hoover in the fall of 
1969.  In December, there was a 
development.  "The United Front Against Fascism 
(UFAF), the successor to the BPP in Omaha, 
Nebraska, is composed of approximately 8 to 12 
members and its only activity to date has been 
the sale of "The Black Panther," the BPP 
newspaper, and the publication of a UFAF newsletter."

Hoover had enough of the inaction from the Omaha 
FBI office.  On December 10, 1969, Hoover sent 
orders for Omaha to do something against the Panthers.

"While the activities appear to be limited in the 
Omaha area, it does not necessarily follow that 
effective counterintelligence measures cannot be 
taken.  As long as there are BPP activities, you 
should be giving consideration to that type of 
counterintelligence measure which would best 
disrupt existing activities.  It would appear 
some type of counterintelligence aimed at the 
disruption of the publication and distribution of 
their literature is in order.  It is also assumed 
that of the eight to twelve members, one or two 
must certainly be in a position of 
leadership.  You should give consideration to 
counterintelligence measures directed against 
these leaders in an effort to weaken or destroy 
their positions  Bureau has noted that you have 
not submitted any concrete counterintelligence 
proposals in recent months.  Evaluate your 
approach to this program and insure that it is 
given the imaginative attention necessary to 
produce effective results.  Handle promptly and 
submit your proposals for approval."

The Omaha FBI office stepped up efforts against 
Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa.  The campaign 
against the two Panther leaders came to a head in 
August 1970 when they were charged with the 
murder on an Omaha police officer.  Hoover 
ordered a lab report withheld on a tape recording 
of a 911 call that lured officer Larry Minard to 
his August 17, 1970 death.  Both men were 
convicted of murder without the jury knowing they 
were targets of the FBI clandestine 
operation.  Nor did the jury know about the 
withheld evidence ordered by Hoover.

Ed Poindexter and Mondo we Langa were sentenced 
to life imprisonment and are confined at the 
maximum-security Nebraska State Penitentiary 
where they continue to proclaim their 
innocence.  Poindexter has a new trial request 
pending before the Nebraska Supreme Court over 
the withheld evidence.  No date for a decision has been announced.

***

Permission granted to reprint




Authors Bio: Michael Richardson is a freelance 
writer based in Boston. Richardson writes about 
politics, law, nutrition, ethics, and music. 
Richardson is also a political consultant.




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