Hobson v. Wilson
...te demonstrators. In August, the BUF made a meeting wit the New Mobe to discuss Moore’s proposal (New Mobe par a one-dollar-per-demonstrator fee to the BUF). This became known as the “head tax.” This created a split in both the New Mobe and the BUF organizations. Later on the New Mobe received a letter signed by “Rev. Moore” stating that they had to contribute 25, 000 thousand dollars. In reality this letter was from the FBI but the New Mobe was unaware of that. The FBI had created a counterintelligence program known as the Cointelpro (aimed at investigating groups and individuals that the Bureau perceived as dangerous. They also ordered to thwart the efforts of these targets through disruption, interference, and harassment). Under this program they had two branches of cointelpro known as the New Left and the Black Nationalist. The New Left main purpose during this time was to “expose, disrupt, and otherwise neutralize” those in the anti-war movements. The Black Nationalist was formed in response to increasing militancy in the civil rights and block power movements after the riots in Detroit and Newark. As a response to the letter that the New Mobe received from “Reverend Moore” Hobson said he was not going to speak at the November demonstration if money was collected. The FBI took advantage of this and drafted a news release bringing more controversy between the two organizations and creating suspicion. It was titled “Members of the BUF Express Shock at Hobson Stand.” Meanwhile Rev. Moore was still waiting for a respond and did not know of the existence of the letters. The FBI later sent a leaflet to Rev. Moore, which supposedly was from the New Mobe, stating that instead of money they should “Give them Bananas.” Besides all the controversy the demonstration set forth still went on and was the biggest rally ever held in Washington. More than 300,000 demonstrators marched in Washington. The campaign to encourage black involvement did not succeed. The FBI still continued to wire tap phone calls, and create phony letters in their effort to try to divide the two organizations. Then on March 8, 1971 an FBI field office in Pennsylvania was burglarized. It wasn’t until four years later that the existence of the COINTELPRO actually came out to th...