ACLU Accuses Harvard of Ties to the FBI

The ACLU has questioned Harvard's police about why an undercover officer was photographing a political rally last month and has accused the school of maintaining a political intelligence unit that reports to the federal government, the Harvard Crimson reports.

In a statement, Harvard officials deny any relationship of the kind, but they also admit that they do film events when the "potential for violence, property damage, vandalism, HUPD arrest, or other circumstances require it."

The demonstration in question—held in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip—attracted the attention of the ACLU after two attendees were arrested, one of whom allegedly tried to photograph a plainclothes officer who was himself photographing the event. Since then, the ACLU has questioned the intent behind the school's picture-taking and has filed a Freedom of Information Act request inquiring about the school's intelligence relationship with the FBI, specifically with the joint terrorism task forces.