Documents on Black Lives Matter Protests
Tracking # |
15-490 |
Submitted | Nov. 29, 2014 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Joshua Eaton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
- Any and all records concerning surveillance of social media accounts related to the event "#IndictAmerica: Turn Up for Mike Brown" (https://www.facebook.com/events/792638324117882), which began in Dudley Square on Nov. 25, 2014 and then moved to several locations around Boston. The records I am requesting include (a) internal correspondence concerning surveillance of social media accounts related to the above-mentioned event and (b) screen shots or other electronic records of surveillance of social media accounts related to the above-mentioned event.
- Any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Black Lives Matter Boston, also knows as Black Lives Matter BOS (https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatterBOS). The records I am requesting include (a) internal correspondence concerning the above-mentioned group and (b) dossiers and intelligence reports on the above-mentioned group.
- Any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Youth Against Mass Incarceration (https://www.facebook.com/BostonYAMI). The records I am requesting include (a) internal correspondence concerning the above-mentioned group and (b) dossiers and intelligence reports on the above-mentioned group.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: Media Relations
December 1, 2014:
Joshua Eaton
Muckrock
Dear Mr. Eaton:
Pursuant to G. L. c. 66, § 10 (b), this correspondence is to confirm
receipt of your request for documents that are potentially in the
possession, custody or control of the Boston Police Department.
Specifically, you have requested:
- Any and all records concerning surveillance of social media accounts
related to the event "#IndictAmerica: Turn Up for Mike Brown" (
https://www.facebook.com/events/792638324117882), which began in Dudley
Square on Nov. 25, 2014 and then moved to several locations around Boston.
The records I am requesting include (a) internal correspondence concerning
surveillance of social media accounts related to the above-mentioned event
and (b) screen shots or other electronic records of surveillance of social
media accounts related to the above-mentioned event.
- Any and all separately maintained records and records that are
retrievable by an electronic search related to Black Lives Matter Boston,
also knows as Black Lives Matter BOS (
https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatterBOS). The records I am requesting
include (a) internal correspondence concerning the above-mentioned group
and (b) dossiers and intelligence reports on the above-mentioned group.
- Any and all separately maintained records and records that are
retrievable by an electronic search related to Youth Against Mass
Incarceration (https://www.facebook.com/BostonYAMI). The records I am
requesting include (a) internal correspondence concerning the
above-mentioned group and (b) dossiers and intelligence reports on the
above-mentioned group.
We will contact you as soon as possible with our findings, and will send
you a cost estimate for your requested materials if fulfilling the request
is expected to exceed $10.00, per 950 C.M.R. 32.06(1); 950 C.M.R. 32.03;
M.G.L. c 66 § 10(a).
Please be advised that we research each request in the order it was
received, and it may take longer than ten days to be fulfilled. If your
request requires a substantial amount of research, reviewing and redacting,
fulfilling the request will take a significant amount of time. Please plan
accordingly.
Thank you,
Office of Media Relations
Boston Police Department
617-343-3520
www.bpdnews.com
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Media Relations
Dear Mr. Eaton,
A search was performed and there are no records responsive to your request.
Thank you,
Office of Media Relations
Boston Police Department
*617-343-3520*
*www.bpdnews.com* <http://www.bpdnews.com/>
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Media Relations
Sir,
On March 24, 2015, we sent the response copied below:
On March 24, 2015:
Dear Mr. Eaton,
A search was performed and there are no records responsive to your request.
Thank you,
Office of Media Relations
Boston Police Department
*617-343-3520*
*www.bpdnews.com* <http://www.bpdnews.com/>
From: Joshua Eaton
Thank you for your reply. Just so that I'm clear, are you saying that the Boston Police Department has *no* records responsive to my request? Or do you have some records that you're choosing to withhold under an exemption?
Can I also ask what databases you performed a search on, and what search terms you used?
Thanks for all your help on this!
Best,
Joshua
From: Media Relations
Joshua,
The BPD has no records responsive to your request. If records are withheld
under an exemption we would provide you with the exemption and an
explanation.
Lt McCarthy
From: Joshua Eaton
Dear Lt. McCarthy,
Thank you for your response. Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law ("PRL"), M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following additional records:
- Any and all records — including, but not limited to, processing notes, case files, emails, memos, internal communications, and/or external communications — related to the Boston Police Department's search for documents in response to my Nov. 29, 2014 Public Records Law request, copied below.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived, as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. I am a professional journalist who regularly writes about privacy, surveillance, and human rights for outlets that include the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, Public Radio International, and Al Jazeera America. My ongoing relationship with these and other outlets ensures that any articles I write based on these documents will be published by a major mainstream media outlet and distributed for free to the public at large. I am requesting these documents as part of the news-gathering process and not for commercial usage.
In addition, the requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com and processed by a representative of the news media/press.
If it is helpful in determining my status as a representative of the news media/press, you can find a complete list of my publications at https://joshuaeaton.net/clips. My résumé is at https://joshuaeaton.net/resume.
Pursuant to applicable regulations and statute, I expect the determination of this request for documents within 10 calendar days of your receipt of this request. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i) and 28 C.F.R. § 16.5(d)(4).
I further expect this request to be filled in a format that is accessible — including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, but are not limited to, .pdf image files and physical documents.
If this request is denied, in whole or in part, please justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions to PRL. The Boston Police Department must also release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. I reserve the right to appeal any decision to withhold any information in whole or in part. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: MuckRock
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm writing to appeal the Boston Police Department's constructive denial of my request for records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10.
On June 6, 2015, I requested the following records from the Boston Police Department (BPD):
"Any and all records — including, but not limited to, processing notes, case files, emails, memos, internal communications, and/or external communications — related to the Boston Police Department's search for documents in response to my Nov. 29, 2014 Public Records Law request, copied below."
This request referenced a separate request I made to BPD on Nov. 29, 2014, for any and all records concerning surveillance of social media accounts related to the event #IndictAmerica: Turn Up for Mike Brown; any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Black Lives Matter Boston; and any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Youth Against Mass Incarceration.
To date, BPD has not acknowledged receipt of my June 6, 2015 request. I consider BPD's inaction a constructive denial of my request for records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, and I appeal this adverse determination in its entirety.
Please note that I am writing to appeal BPD's constructive denial of my June 6, 2015 request; I am *not* writing to appeal any action or inaction on my Nov. 28, 2014 request.
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: Joshua Eaton
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm writing to appeal the Boston Police Department's constructive denial of my request for records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10.
On June 6, 2015, I requested the following records from the Boston Police Department (BPD):
"Any and all records — including, but not limited to, processing notes, case files, emails, memos, internal communications, and/or external communications — related to the Boston Police Department's search for documents in response to my Nov. 29, 2014 Public Records Law request, copied below."
This request referenced a separate request I made to BPD on Nov. 29, 2014, for any and all records concerning surveillance of social media accounts related to the event #IndictAmerica: Turn Up for Mike Brown; any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Black Lives Matter Boston; and any and all separately maintained records and records that are retrievable by an electronic search related to Youth Against Mass Incarceration.
To date, BPD has not acknowledged receipt of my June 6, 2015 request. I consider BPD's inaction a constructive denial of my request for records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, and I appeal this adverse determination in its entirety.
Please note that I am writing to appeal BPD's constructive denial of my June 6, 2015 request; I am *not* writing to appeal any action or inaction on my Nov. 28, 2014 request.
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: Boston Police Department
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #15-490.
Thank you for your help.
From: Rastellini, Patricia (SEC)
This appeal is currently being worked on. Thank you.
From: Mike McCarthy
Josua,
Please see attached response regarding your appeal.
Lt McCarthy
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