revolutionary action movement (ram) - Michael Schwartz Library
revolutionary action movement (ram) - Michael Schwartz Library
revolutionary action movement (ram) - Michael Schwartz Library
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184<br />
"neutralize" him as an effective Civil Rights leader . The FBI's plot to<br />
destroy Dr . King, code named Operation Zorro, included the spending of<br />
$7 .5 million of government funds . 15 The FBI had Dr . King under extensive<br />
surveillance since the later 1950's through its prog<strong>ram</strong> called "Racial<br />
Matters ." In October of 1962, the FBI opened its investigation of the<br />
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Dr . King . By May,<br />
1962, the FBI had put Dr . King in Section A of its "Reserve Index," as a<br />
person to be rounded up and detained in the event of a "national emergency<br />
. 16<br />
The FBI tapped Dr . King's home telephone, SCLC telephones and the home<br />
and office phones of Dr . King's close advisors . The FBI wired and taped<br />
recorded Dr . King hotel and motel rooms on at least sixteen occasions in<br />
an attempt to obtain information about him and his advisors' private activities<br />
to use to "completely discredit" them . 17<br />
The FBI mailed Dr . King a tape recording made from its microphone<br />
coverage .<br />
According to the Chief of the FBI's Domestic Intelligence Division,<br />
the tape was intended to precipitate a separation between Dr . King<br />
and his wife in the belief that the separation would reduce Dr . King's<br />
stature . The tape recording was accompanied by a note which Dr . King and<br />
his advisors interpreted as a threat to release the tape recording unless<br />
Dr . King committed suicide . The FBI also made preparations to promote<br />
someone "to assume the<br />
role of leadership of the Negro people when King<br />
15,, More Revealed on Plot to Murder Dr . King ." Workers World , Vol . 20,<br />
No . 32, (August 11, 1978), p . 3 .<br />
16 Supplementary Detailed Staff Reports , p . 87 .<br />
17 Ibid ., p . 82 .