Archbishop of Nigeria: Occupy Wall Street is “a Positive Sign".

The State Department reported that John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Nigeria, described Occupy Wall Street as “a positive sign because it means the criticism of the global economic system long voiced by Africa and other third world peoples is finally ‘coming home to roost’ in The West” 

    State Department Cable on Archbishop of Nigeria and OWS     

State Department Monitored Occupy Toronto, Expected That it Would Have “Little Resonance With Canadians.”

Newly released and declassified records show that the United States State Department was monitoring media reactions to the Occupy Wall Street protests as well as the protests themselves. 

An October 14, 2011 cable from to American Consulate to the SecState WASHDC as well as to the National Security Council and the Department of Treasury reveals that the consulate was monitoring Occupy Toronto which the consulate called “a spin-off of the anti-corporate protests happening on New York’s Wall Street.”

In the cable, the Consulate provides background on the broader Occupy Wall Street movement and the nascent Occupy Toronto effort.  While praising Occupy Toronto for “coordinating itself well through the use of social media,” the consulate ultimately believed it “doubtful that Occupy Toronto can maintain the same momentum that Occupy Wall Street has shown so far” because of  the “significant differences in the economic situations between the U.S. and Canada.” 

    State Department Monitoring Occupy Toronto     

Hillary Clinton: Occupy Wall Street Demonstrations “Have Been For Most Part Peaceful.”

In response to Belorussian complaints to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Hillary Clinton issued, through the US Mission to the OSCE, the statement below regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement and government handling of it. It’s an interesting read as Secretary Clinton (and the bevy of person who actually wrote) take pride in what Occupy Wall Street means saying:

We note that these demonstrations have shown in practice our respect for the universal right of the people to join together peacefully in order to voice their common concerns in exercise of their freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly, consistent with the rights guaranteed them by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

 After describing the protests as being “for the most part peaceful,” the statements pivots   nd attacks the Belorussians saying:

In reaffirming our respect for the freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly, we note the stark contrast between the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, which have reaffirmed the right to political expression, and the regrettable situation in Belarus, in which political prisoners have been imprisoned and mistreated because of their beliefs.”

The statement concludes with call on Belarus to “release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, to include the full rehabilitation of their civil rights,” while pledging to “hold accountable those Belorussian officials responsible for repressive actions”.

    State Department Cable: Hillary Clinton Describes OWS As Mostly Peaceful     

Hillary Clinton’s Statement to the OSCE Regarding Arrests of Natasha Lennard and Other Journalists During Occupy Wall Street Protests

On October 1, 2011, Natasha Lennard, then a freelancer for the New York Times, was arrested covering the Occupy Wall Street protests. Her arrest was just one of many arrests of journalists that have occurred since Occupy Wall Street started. 

These arrests sparked a widespread outcry about the sanctity of journalists. Among the parties that expressed their concern was Europe’s last remaining autocracy Belarus. Belarus took the matter to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. This prompted Hillary Clinton to issue the statement  below:

    State Department Statement to OSCE RE: OWS Media Arrests     

FBI, Department of Justice Lie About Having WikiLeaks Records

In late 2011, a FOIA request was submitted to the FBI for all its records on WikiLeaks. The FBI responded that it had no records. Not believing the FBI’s response, a FOIA appeal was submitted to the Department of Justice Office of Information Policy which upheld the FBI’s search and its findings. 

Still disbelieving the FBI/DOJ responses, a FOIA request was submitted to the Department of Justice Office of Information Policy for its records regarding the aforementioned appeal. The DOJ OIP responded and reveals that not only does the FBI have WikiLeaks records, but the FBI/DOJ lied about having records. WikiLeaks’ records are tucked away in other files, thus are considered for cross-references and not responsive because the request was for “all records” and didn’t use the magic words “cross-references.”

    OIP WikiLeaks Records