Do we see a pattern here?

Interrogating the Protesters

or several weeks, starting before the Democratic convention, F.B.I. officers have been questioning potential political demonstrators, and their friends and families, about their plans to protest at the two national conventions. These heavy-handed inquiries are intimidating, and they threaten to chill freedom of expression. They also appear to be a spectacularly poor use of limited law-enforcement resources. The F.B.I. should redirect its efforts to focus more directly on real threats. NY Times full article

FBI, N.Y. police track activists. NEW YORK -- The men who showed up at John Young's door were courteous and professional. Also intimidating. They were, after all, from the FBI.

With the Republican National Convention less than two weeks away, federal agents and city police are keeping tabs on activists and others they believe might try to cause trouble. They are making unannounced visits to people's homes, conducting interviews, and monitoring websites and meetings.