COINTELPRO - New Left Chicago & Springfield Divisions

COINTELPRO – New Left Chicago Division, a memorandum from the Federal Bureau of Investigation dated thirty December, nineteen seventy, and related field reports, released through The Black Vault’s online archive. The document offers a rare glimpse into the bureau’s internal assessment of the Worker Student Alliance, the Progressive Labor Party, and the Weatherman organization during a period of intense campus activism. The file was made public under a Freedom of Information Act request filed by a private researcher, released on the archive’s website in early twenty twenty‑two. The declassification authority is listed as the bureau’s Office of the General Counsel, and the material is reproduced as the best copies available from the original files. The document opens with a cover sheet marked “Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts” and identifies the subject as COINTELPRO New Left Chicago Division. It notes that the copies included are the best reproductions available and that any blurred or difficult‑to‑read portions result from the condition of the original records. The first memorandum, addressed to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is dated thirty December, nineteen seventy and signed by the Special Agent in Charge, Chicago. It reads: “Potential Counterintelligence Action. As the bureau has been advised under the substantive caption, a factional split is developing in the Worker Student Alliance, which calls itself SDS. This is expected to come to a head during the national convention being held in Chicago at the present time. As this split develops it may well provide an excellent opportunity for counterintelligence action to further fragment the campus movement. Chicago is alert to this possibility and will make appropriate recommendations to exploit this split. It has been reported that the Worker Student Alliance plans to move its national office to Chicago. To date no information has been developed to indicate that they have secured office space. Should they attempt to secure space, recommendations will be made, such as advising reliable sources at Illinois Bell Telephone Company of the poor credit rating of this group, anonymous mailings to property owners in the area, etc., in an effort to disrupt their efforts to establish a headquarters in Chicago.” A second memorandum, dated twenty two January, nineteen seventy‑one, reports on a fugitive investigation targeting members of the Weatherman group. It notes that numerous contacts have been made among all elements in the Chicago area, emphasizing the dangerousness of the extremists and indicating that the pressure of the investigation has made it difficult for them to organize major disruptive actions. The file also contains a field report dated twenty two January, nineteen seventy‑one, summarizing observations at the Worker Student Alliance national convention held twelve twenty‑seven to twelve thirty, nineteen seventy. The report states: “Progressive Labor Party members held key positions at the convention, such as chairman, and controlled who was allowed on the floor to debate issues. When a view contrary to the Progressive Labor Party line was expressed, members would shout the speaker down. The anti‑Progressive Labor Party faction was a disorganized small group unable to effectively project its ideology over the harassment of Progressive Labor Party members. The source reported a five‑dollar fee for admission to the convention and numerous collections made by various individuals and groups. Funds for travel and lodging were not applicable for Chicago attendees as the convention was held in Chicago and attendees were able to reside at their usual abode. Several delegates complained that the convention activities were poorly organized and managed, leaving the Progressive Labor Party vulnerable to an attack from dissident groups due to an inability to provide leadership of the masses. The group was effective only in controlling its own members, spending too much time arguing among themselves instead of establishing policy, leaving the Worker Student Alliance poorly prepared to function as a national organization during the ensuing year.” The document concludes with a brief note on tangible results, indicating that three members of the Weatherman organization had been apprehended, surrendered to local authorities, and were restricted from further activity by terms of bond. The Black Vault’s