Newly released CIA documents reveal surveillance of Latino activists who supported Martin Luther King Jr., opposed the Vietnam War, and criticized police brutality. The files, first reported by Axios on Monday, span 1968 to 1983 and are now available on the CIA’s website.
The documents were disclosed following a request by Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jimmy Gomez. They shed light on the CIA’s Operation Chaos, a domestic espionage program that targeted U.S. citizens and dissenting voices during the Vietnam War and civil rights era.
Activists like Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales and labor leader Cesar Chavez were labeled as threats and closely monitored. The files also detail surveillance of Mexican American students at universities during that time.
Historians and rights advocates have long criticized U.S. surveillance programs for their invasive and abusive practices, particularly during pivotal periods like the civil rights movement and the years following 9/11. The newly released documents add to the evidence of government overreach during a contentious era of social and political activism.
This disclosure highlights the enduring concerns about the balance between national security and civil liberties, as well as the targeting of marginalized communities advocating for justice and equality.
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