For more than 30 years, a secret arm of the Detroit Police Department was tracking citizens to “root out” and “expose” subversives. Their targets were political activists, Vietnam War opponents, black nationalists, labor unionists, civil liberties advocates and many others engaged in social, cultural and other “dissident” activities.
The concentration was local, but the reach was global.
Any person or organization that suspects they were spied upon during the years 1937 to 1974 should request an application for their file. All requests are confidential and there is no cost to obtain the file information.
“The release of the files is a proper end to the official lawlessness that symbolized McCarthyism, the Cold War era and government’s unwarranted fears of peaceful assembly to protest and dissent. Such unconstitutional secret police surveillances threaten the core of our freedom.” —Professor Edward J. Littlejohn, Wayne State University Law School. Trustee, Detroit Red Squad Program
Send for your file application
Upon receipt of your request, an application will be mailed to you. Please indicate whether for an INDIVIDUAL or ORGANIZATION file.
The search for retrievable information may take several weeks. You will be notified of the status of your request, and the material will be sent when ready for distribution.
Please send me an application form so that I may seek any information gathered by the Detroit Police Red Squad.
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Individual,
Organization
MAIL TO: Red Squad Notification and Distribution Compliance Program, 800 Palms Building, Detroit, MI 48201
Or call 313—961-7010, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm E.D.T.
Inquiries must be made before September 10, 1991, when the court order authorizing the program is scheduled to expire.