Know Your Dossier: FBI Files and FOIA Requests

Know Your Dossier: FBI Files and FOIA Requests
Saturday, February 8, 2014, 2-4pm
The Commons, 388 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
(A/C/G to Hoyt- Schermerhorn; B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Ave)

The specter of the surveillance state looms over every aspect of radical organizing and community building. For most of us, Edward Snowden's revelations only confirmed what we suspected all along; the state has access to almost everything we create electronically, and they have the capacity and will to retain it indefinitely. Yet all surveillance is not created equal, and it's useful to remember that while we may never know the full extent of the information collected from us, FOIA, FOIL, and sunshine laws do entitle the public to see the investigative files collected on us.

Join Radical Reference and Mutant Legal for a night of information sharing and collective information seeking about the state of state surveillance and how to obtain your FBI files. Paper, envelopes, and snacks will be available by donation!

QUESTION: WILPF U.S. Section Executive Director during the 1960s and 1970s

question / pregunta: 

I would like to find out the name of the Executive Director of WILPF U.S. Section during the late 1960s and early 1970s when the national office was located in Philadelphia. If available, I would also like a brief biography.

Radical Reference Conference Call 8/25/13

On August 25th, 2013, we had a conference call to discuss the future of Radical Reference. 8 members participated in the call.

These are the action items created during the meeting:
Action item: Jessica will draft language for sending out on the list and putting on the website (re: suspending reference question answering on the site)
Action item: Asking James or another website-savvy person about disabling or altering the submission form.
Action item: Looking for someone to put together the website-focused call, ideally with folks with tech experience and an interest in working on the website
Action item: Send out a call for FB and Twitter updaters.

QUESTION: Introverts vs. Extroverts

question / pregunta: 

How can introverts and extroverts use their strengths and weaknesses to create synergy in the workplace?

QUESTION: Sanctuary/Religious activism in Dallas, TX

question / pregunta: 

I am currently researching Quaker culture in Dallas, TX. I discovered that in 1983 the Dallas Quaker Meeting House agreed to provide sanctuary to Central American Immigrants in need. I am wondering if there is any record of an immigrant taking sanctuary through the meeting house, or any conflict with local law enforcement regarding a claim of sanctuary.

QUESTION: Boycott the Palm, homelessness in NYC

question / pregunta: 

Greetings Radical Reference!
Folks in Denver are organizing against the Urban Camping Ban, a 2012 ordinance that criminalizes homeless people. In part, this involves boycotting the Palm restaurant in downtown Denver (the Palm supports the Urban Camping Ban). Organizers there have reached out to folks in NYC and elsewhere in the US to organize a national day of action. People in NYC are planning to be involved, but wish to do so in a way that will also highlight the myriad ways homeless people are also criminalized in this city.

To do the best job possible, some of us in NYC are looking for resources on the following:
-How does one organize an effective economic boycotts (esp of restaurants/companies)
-In what specific ways are homeless people criminalized in NYC?
-All about the Palm restaurant (a national high-end restaurant chain with head office at 837 Second Avenue, NY) - how it is run, its affiliations, economic information, etc. --Also any links the Palm has to structures of power which criminalize homeless here in NYC.

Thanks so much for any help!

QUESTION: Socially-Motivated Photo-Illustrated Children's Books (50's. 60's, 70's, 80's)

question / pregunta: 

I am searching for analyses of socially-motivated, politically-informed photo-illustrated children's books of mid to late 20th century. The genre appears to have peaked in the 1970's and then collapsed. I am writing a speculative article regarding this and would like to be, well, less speculative.
Many Thanks.

QUESTION: Labor by Prisoners in Oklahoma

question / pregunta: 

Are prisoners under supervision of Oklahoma DoC required to do work? There is a company using prisoner workers that does yearbook scanning "for free" for libraries, then sells the scans to commercial genealogy/class reunion vendors - would it be accurate to describe the prison labor used for this as "forced labor" or is that too strong a term? What literature can be found that looks at the merits of providing training to the incarcerated versus the downward impact this cheap labor pool has on low end wages outside of prison?

QUESTION: Campaign contributions for county and city elections in Georgia

question / pregunta: 

I'm trying to find information on campaign contributions for my city and county in Georgia. Specifically, Bryan County and Richmond Hill (the city). I've found where I can see contributions for state-level elections, but not down at the local level. Any help on this would be appreciated

QUESTION: prostitution

question / pregunta: 

what are your rights if you are charged with prostitution?

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