Abstract

The Return of the Red Squads
Donner, Frank | October 12, 1985 issue

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Police repression in the United States follows a unique cyclical pattern. First, a wave of alleged subversion gives rise to abuses. When the fear recedes people are confronted with evidence that the practices violate the fundamental norms by which people have agreed to live as a people. And so steps are taken to stop them and prevent their repetition. But memory fades, and the old practices are renewed. The cycle now ending began in the 1960's. In response to the wave of protest, intelligence units, or Red squads, stepped up their activities. By the early 1970's the backlash had set in. The cooling of political passions as the Vietnam War wound down left the police without a threat to exploit.

See Also:

POLICE -- Complaints against; POLICE -- United States; INTELLIGENCE officers; POLICE misconduct; VIETNAM War, 1961-1975; UNITED States
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