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te . " terse a nee anemone * a sos - sa Se mamiod aad Pama cat wo ernamtens Pmamenens item pe ee ee nae 1 he ee ee ‘ . . oe : . . ’ os , 7 . , “hae . : °. . cael oe Office of the A ttorney sy Exnera So | Has fington, BE ) Lane teeetemnacaan eae rT ‘September ! 14; 1967. _@ c "MEMORANDUM 7 FOR THE DIRECTOR, FEDERAL : BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION as mo ho, a : Se Although the bulk of criminal offenses occurring in the course of recent riots have been local rather thon fodeval in nature. the question. as to whevtner there was an organization which (2) had made advanced pians for, and (d ) was active during any ef the riots . in the summer or 1967 is one that cannot always be ° readily resolved by local authorities. In view of the seriousness or the riot activity across the country ™, i a - it is most important that you use the maximum available _" " pesources, investigative end intelligence, to collect mo - and report all facts bearing upon the question as to . whether there has been or is a scheme or conspiracy bi ; any group of whatever size, effectiveness or PORES BAN TOR; . _to plen, promote or aggravate riot activity _ In this connection the roll owing federal statutes “could be apolicabls devending, of course, woon the Pacoual situation that develops :- : : vo nat ble 18, USC, “Section °2383, which proscribes , the inciting or engaging in any rebellion or _dinsurrection against tae authority of the — ‘United States. ° a o ‘Pitle 18, USC, Section 2384, which proscribes conspiring to overthrow or to destroy by force Fo _the Government of thé United States or ‘SO > ; ‘oppose by force the authority thereof or oy : | -force to prevent, hinder or. delay the execubion ; .of any law of the United States. - _ A ASOTS Doeld:329895350 Page 30
wee - . - ~~ Pe pt ee ie se emer emere neta ete ee aimee te ete ees . ec ~ se so Y ne « Pry » "eats ay ’ a *e . . oe . v7 o Fadl * ad Title 18, USC, Section “D385 5, ‘which proscribes, - ‘inter aula, advocacy of ovrarthrowing the Government of the United Jtates or the Govern- ment of any state, territcry, District or , possession thereof, or the Government of any | political ‘suodivision therein by’ force or violence. ; a Activities Aefecting Armed 4 Forces, 18 1 USC 2388 po Selective Service, 50 USC (App.}) 462 Travel and Interstate Trans sportation, 18 USC 1952 (Arson) 18 USC 631-33 (Explosive) " z on se < 7 a 4 Assault and Killing of Federal Officers and Employees, 18 USC Tl, 1i4 and 2231 Lo Destruction ‘Of Government Property 18 use 1361 et al. Federal Firearms Act, 15 USC 901- 909° Crimes on Federal Reservations, 18 USC 13, 81 et ale LL appreciate that the Bureau has constantly been ‘alert to this prodlem and ‘is currently submitting intelli- gence reoorts to us about riots and about, the activity of certain groups and individuals before, during and after @ riot. Indeed, the President hes said both publicly end privately that the FBI is conducting extensive and comprenen~ sive investigations of these matters. ‘There persists, however, a widespread belief that there is more organized activity in the riots than we . ‘presently know ebout.> We must recognize, I believe, that this is a relatively ‘new area of investigation and intelli- gence reporting for the FBI and the Department of Justi ce, We have not heretofore had to deal with the possibility of an organized pattern of violence, constituting a a violation of federal law, by a group of persons who make . -. . the urban ghetto their base.of operation and whose . - activities may not have been” regularly monitored by existing intellige nee sources.-: In these circums tankes, we must be certain chat every attempt is being-made to get all information bearing upon these problems; to take every | step possible * "HW 55073 Docld:32989530 Page 31' , toe, 7 ‘ . :
to determine wgether the rioting is pre-planned or ‘-organized: and, if so, to determine the identity of ... the people and interests. involved; and to deter this ae activity by prompt and vigorous ‘legal action. ‘ . ‘As a part of the broad investigation which must ° necessarily be conducted, it is requested that all . ; available information be reported and analyzed regard- -. ° =~ing each sniper caugnt in any riot or extremist activity and regarding those arrested during the course _ of a riot or significant racial disturbances who were ‘. not.residents of the general area. ‘Moreover, sources or informants in black nationalist organizations, SNC and other less publicized groups should be developed and expanded to determine the size and purpose of these groups and their relationship to other groups, and also to determine the + whereabouts of persons. who-might-be————~ — wide Fo hariet tenes ~ +4 cn suvolved in instigating rice S acoivity in violation cf pedérar Lai. FUCHe?, We Heed. to anvestigace fully STiecattons of conspiratorial activity thatcome to our attention from outside sources such as those reported vk in Life Magazine for July 28, 067 -- . see rd dings Naty, BS ae We ae _— he ye et nh Se ef i 2 *. a nd those regarding the Detroit riot which we re furnished . o the Department by Walter Sheridan of tne National roadcasting Company (summary of latter as attached). 7 . * . . . 4 “ Oot. te RAMSEY CLARK po tT  -° Attorney General U . cee Npeemenmes cme pee ° oo. . uw 55073 /Doc’ a: ne oo, , DocId: 32989530 Page 32 . _-