AARM – Activists Against Racism Movement

A Report To The Community

By: Howard J Eagle

October 22, 2009 – I thought the community would be interested in knowing that on Monday afternoon, October 19, 2009 — I joined the list of U.S. citizens who have received uninvited, unexplainable and unwelcomed visits to their homes by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

When the door bell rang, I opened the door, and before agent Rick Rooney from the Buffalo,NY Office (cell phone:716-481-9998 and desk phone: 716-551-3925) could flip his wallet open — to show me his official identification (the way they do on t.v.) — I said “FBI, right?” I had been expecting them — because less than an hour earlier — I had received a phone call from someone at an address where I haven’t lived for over ten (10) years, informing me that “the FBI is looking for you.” My half-joking response was — “they are not looking for me as hard as I am looking for them.” Since they had left their names at my former address, my plan was to go to the State Street Federal Building and ask for them by name, but as I stated previously, before I could do so, the door bell rang.

When I opened the door and saw two clean-cut, white men dressed in white shirts and ties (with concealed side-arms) — I figured who else could this possibly be — except the FBI. Agent Rooney was accompanied by Agent Leonard Opanashuk from the Rochester, NY Office (phone: 546-2220, ext. 127). Oh, with regard to the concealed side-arms, at one point, agent Opanashuk’s jacket slipped open, and I was able to get a peek. It appeared that his weapon was hanging from a shoulder holster (like on t.v.). In hind sight, I had wondered if he intentionally displayed the weapon as some sort of intimidation tactic, but that’s probably not the case. I was probably just paranoid. If it is the case, it didn’t work. I also didn’t think about the fact (until later) that as we (me and the FBI Agents) stood in the doorway to my dining room, chit-chatting (as a backdrop) — a nicely-framed painting of Malcolm X (one of Malcolm’s most radical images), hung on the dining room wall. I wondered later, what they thought of the painting. Also, as I continued to reflect on the situation — I was reminded of information in Malcolm’s autobiography, in which he discussed being visited by the FBI numerous times. I just smiled to myself, and said wow — I’m in good company.

Before Agent Rooney even opened his mouth, I knew that their uninvited, unexplainable and unwelcomed visit was connected to the fact that three days earlier, on October 16, 2009 (along with six other members and/or supporters of Activists Against Racism Movement, AARM) I had, as explained in the news article below, delivered a Petition to the plush, Penfield, NY neighborhood and home of Federal Prosecuting Attorney Douglas E. Gregory. There is no other possible reason why the FBI would just drop by my home unexpectedly. Agent Rooney said they “felt bad” about just dropping by, but he explained that they were concerned about Gregory, and that they wanted to make sure that his safety was not in jeopardy — because of him doing his job. So, I asked, “exactly what are you saying or implying”? His response was that our organization has the right to protest, but going to Gregory’s home “might be stepping over the line.” Then, he went on to say that he can’t tell us not to go there, but he explained that he was concerned because our visit intimidated Gregory’s wife and children, and that he didn’t think they should be drawn into this. After assuring him of the fact that AARM members and supporters have no desire or intent to intimidate women, children or anyone else — I informed the Agents that we are more concerned about the women, children and others who live on Garson, Parsells, Webster Avenues, etc… being intimidated by the FBI, RPD, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and New York State Police — swooping down on their communities — like storm troopers. Of course the latter comment drew dead silence.

Agent Opanashuk asserted that one concern is the possibility that others will see Gregory’s address and home publicized on websites, and might want to do harm to him. My response to him was and is that, first, Mr. Gregory’s address is public information, which he acknowledged, and secondly AARM obviously will not take responsibility for any actions taken by persons who are not affiliated with our organization.

My wife (whom I had been smart enough to call into the room — before I even opened the door — to witness the conversation, and who had been just standing there listening, up to this point) asked a couple of very critical questions. She wanted to know whether or not the Agents had visited any other participating-activist(s) home(s). Their answer was “no.” Then, of course, the next logical question was — how did you pick Howard? Their response to the latter question was libelous and illogical. They claimed that they looked at AARM’s website, and apparently clicked on the “About Us” section — and, according to them, my photo was the first one that popped up. Go do the website-experiment for yourself, and see what happens: About Us.

At this point I gave the Agents my cell number (752-1426), as if — if they had really wanted to — the FBI couldn’t have gotten my cell number, home number, and any other number that might be assigned to me, but my point was, and I told them as much, if they ever need to contact me in the future — call first (before coming to my home). The sanctity of my home is as precious to me — as Douglas Gregory’s is to him, or Agents Rooney and Opanashuk’s are to them.

The bottom line is that the FBI came calling, but should not again (at least not prior to phoning), and the Struggle continues…