Identifier

FBI_00148

Title

Citizen Letter to Hoover Regarding Fascist Influence in Race Riots

Creator

Ornitz, Sallie

Description

Letter sent from a citizen regarding what they believed was fascist influence in the race riots that had occurred in Detroit and Los Angeles. They believe this “terror” was happening against Black and Mexican communities to sabotage the war efforts. The letter writer believed that the FBI should take action and investigate the matter fully. . It is important to note, although this is listed alongside COINTELPRO files, this surveillance took place prior to formal initiation of COINTELPRO in 1956. The type of surveillance here is a precursor to the further expansion of mass surveillance activities throughout COINTELPRO.

Source

100-HQ-135-Serial143, 25 June 1943, Federal Bureau of Investigation Records, "Foreign Inspired Agitation Among American Negroes", Detroit FBI Files - Black Freedom.

Theme

Criminalization and Resistance, Community and Resistance

Type

Government Records

Level 1 Tag

Surveillance

Government Correspondence

"Race

Racism

Racialization"

COINTELPRO

Resistance

Detroit

Level 2 Tag

Racial Unrest

Profiling

Informants

Infiltration

Abuse by Government

Race & Ethnic Identity

COINTELPRO - Foreign Inspired Agitation Among American Negroes

Racial Inequality

Fascism

Level 3 Tag

Federal Bureau of Investigation

J. Edgar Hoover

Date

1943-06-25

Location

Washington, D.C., New York, NY

Rights

Public Domain acquired through Freedom of Information Act