Newly Unveiled Photos of MLK Jr. Show Depth of NYPD's Surveillance
Photographs taken on December 17, 1964, just a week after Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize award, reveal the extent to which New York City's Police Department was monitoring the civil rights leader.
The images, recently discovered in the New York City Municipal Archives, show King and his entourage outside City Hall, greeted by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr., who praised King as a "great American." However, a closer examination of the photographs reveals that none of the individuals depicted betray any knowledge that they are being photographed.
The lack of recognition among those shown in the images suggests that they may not have realized they were under surveillance by police. But their placement in the Bureau of Special Services and Investigations' (BSS) "Red Squad" files, which contain intelligence records on civil rights activists, makes it clear that the NYPD harbored a far less flattering impression of King.
The BSS was the NYPD's former political intelligence unit, responsible for monitoring and sabotaging activism. The agency issued surveillance reports on King as early as 1958, with memos following in the early 1960s. Rank-and-file organizers supporting King were also monitored by police agencies in other cities.
In December 1964, just days after the photographs were taken, BOSS (Branch of the Socialist Workers Party) dispatched an undercover spy to infiltrate activist circles. The spy encouraged three activists connected with a small Black Liberation Front collective to join him in an outlandish plot to bomb the Statue of Liberty. One of the men was ultimately arrested and convicted on felony charges.
These surveillance tactics are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a broader pattern of police spying on civil rights activists during the 1960s. The actions of local law enforcement agencies continue to this day, with protesters against ICE and Israel's war on Gaza facing continued monitoring by law enforcement.
The consequences of such investigations are real, and can have serious repercussions for those targeted. In order to defend democracy, it is essential that press freedom remains a priority. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world, understanding the challenge we face in defending democracy against attacks from powerful interests.
As words like "terrorist" and "extremist" are used to delegitimize activists, it is crucial that we recognize the real-life consequences of such language. The actions of local law enforcement agencies, often guided by federal authorities, can have devastating effects on those targeted.
In an era where authoritarianism seems to be on the rise, it is more important than ever to defend press freedom and hold elected officials accountable for their words and actions. By standing together against these threats, we can ensure that democracy remains strong and resilient in the face of adversity.
Photographs taken on December 17, 1964, just a week after Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize award, reveal the extent to which New York City's Police Department was monitoring the civil rights leader.
The images, recently discovered in the New York City Municipal Archives, show King and his entourage outside City Hall, greeted by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr., who praised King as a "great American." However, a closer examination of the photographs reveals that none of the individuals depicted betray any knowledge that they are being photographed.
The lack of recognition among those shown in the images suggests that they may not have realized they were under surveillance by police. But their placement in the Bureau of Special Services and Investigations' (BSS) "Red Squad" files, which contain intelligence records on civil rights activists, makes it clear that the NYPD harbored a far less flattering impression of King.
The BSS was the NYPD's former political intelligence unit, responsible for monitoring and sabotaging activism. The agency issued surveillance reports on King as early as 1958, with memos following in the early 1960s. Rank-and-file organizers supporting King were also monitored by police agencies in other cities.
In December 1964, just days after the photographs were taken, BOSS (Branch of the Socialist Workers Party) dispatched an undercover spy to infiltrate activist circles. The spy encouraged three activists connected with a small Black Liberation Front collective to join him in an outlandish plot to bomb the Statue of Liberty. One of the men was ultimately arrested and convicted on felony charges.
These surveillance tactics are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a broader pattern of police spying on civil rights activists during the 1960s. The actions of local law enforcement agencies continue to this day, with protesters against ICE and Israel's war on Gaza facing continued monitoring by law enforcement.
The consequences of such investigations are real, and can have serious repercussions for those targeted. In order to defend democracy, it is essential that press freedom remains a priority. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world, understanding the challenge we face in defending democracy against attacks from powerful interests.
As words like "terrorist" and "extremist" are used to delegitimize activists, it is crucial that we recognize the real-life consequences of such language. The actions of local law enforcement agencies, often guided by federal authorities, can have devastating effects on those targeted.
In an era where authoritarianism seems to be on the rise, it is more important than ever to defend press freedom and hold elected officials accountable for their words and actions. By standing together against these threats, we can ensure that democracy remains strong and resilient in the face of adversity.
and not just him either, it's all these other civil rights ppl who were getting watched too...like what even is the point of a "great american" if they're just gonna spy on you?? 
i'm still trying to wrap my head around how this stuff went down back in the day, but like, we can't let that history repeat itself right? 
these days it's not even just cops watching activists, it's ICE and israel and all these other powerful interests too...and they're always trying to delegitimize ppl who are speaking out against injustice. newsflash: being an "extremist" or a "terrorist" doesn't mean you're wrong, it means you're saying something the powers that be don't want u 2 hear 
so yeah, let's all just take a deep breath and remember that press freedom is still super important right now 
NYPD's surveillance on MLK Jr was super creepy... 
I mean, just imagine being surrounded by cops without even knowing it 
. They were basically watching his every move, which is some messed up stuff. 
The fact that they had a "Red Squad" to monitor activists and issue reports on them shows that the police department wasn't just random, but actually had an agenda 
. It's crazy how these tactics can affect people's lives, especially when it comes to things like protest and activism. We gotta stand up for press freedom and make sure that our rights are protected 
Can't believe the NYPD was monitoring MLK Jr like he was some kinda threat 
. It's wild that a mayor was praising him in public but the cops were secretly watching his every move 
. And what really gets me is that this wasn't an isolated incident, it's part of a larger pattern of police spying on activists 
. We need to be super vigilant about press freedom and make sure law enforcement isn't abusing their power 
meanwhile he's over there promoting peace and love 
and they're secretly watching him like a hawk 
what's next, are they gonna put up a billboard of Nelson Mandela with a red "X" marked through his face 
just kidding, sorta. seriously though, this is a dark part of history that we shouldn't be forgetting. the fact that they were able to get away with this kinda surveillance for so long is wild 
and it's crazy to think about how many other activists and leaders have been targeted by law enforcement in similar ways 
The fact that the NYPD was monitoring MLK Jr. without anyone realizing it is a super disturbing reminder that even the most peaceful movements can be infiltrated by those who seek to undermine them. The BSS's "Red Squad" files are like a black ops operation, where innocent people were being spied on and sabotaged just because of their activism. It's like, what was the end goal here? To silence King's message of love and equality? 
The fact that MLK Jr's team didn't even know they were being photographed by police is mind-blowing!