COINTELPRO: A Dark Chapter in U.S. History

COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) was a covert operation run by the FBI from 1956 to 1971. Its goal? To surveil, infiltrate, discredit, and disrupt domestic political organizations and activists.

What started as a program targeting the Communist Party quickly expanded to include civil rights organizations, Black liberation movements (like the Black Panther Party), feminist groups, Native American activists, and anti-war protesters. The FBI used highly unethical—and often illegal—tactics, such as:

Wiretapping and surveillance Planting false evidence Spreading disinformation Forging documents Inciting violence within groups One of the program's key objectives was to discredit and neutralize leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and others who advocated for justice and equality.

COINTELPRO came to light in 1971 when a group of activists broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, and leaked classified documents to the press. The exposure caused public outrage, led to congressional hearings, and forced reforms to limit such abuses of power by the FBI.

COINTELPRO remains a stark reminder of how government agencies can weaponize their authority to suppress dissent and target marginalized communities.

Have you heard of this program before? What are your thoughts on its legacy today?