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The FBI has a 270-page dossier after spying on the late Aretha Franklin for 40 years.
According to documents obtained by Rolling Stone from the group, the Queen of Souls – who died of cancer at the age of 76 in August 2018 – was reportedly the target of surveillance, harassed by fake calls and her inner circle infiltrated by spies .
The heavily edited and lengthy document is filled with phrases such as “black extremists,” “pro-communist,” “hate America,” “radical,” “racial violence,” and “radical black power,” according to the outlet. “And full of doubts about the singer, her work, and the activists and entertainers she spends time with.
The FBI, which regularly tracks the “Respect” singer’s address and phone number, appears to be particularly interested in her civil rights work and connections to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Angela Davis.
Among the documents obtained by the publication — some of which were newly declassified — was a 1968 report on Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral plans, which it described as a “racial condition.”
It further states: “Sammy Davis Jr., Aretha Franklin…there are people in this group who support radical notions of black power…[performance at MLK memorial by these prominent entertainers] Will provide an emotional spark that could spark racial unrest in the region. “
The agency failed to link the “Thinking” hit producer to the Black Liberation Army and other so-called “radical” groups, a document details Aretha’s recording contract with Atlantic Records “just in case” she The business deal may be with the Black Panther Party.
In addition to the surveillance report, the file contains letters and reports of death threats against Aretha, although information about suspects in many incidents – including a man who threatened to kill her and her family, and a separate Blackmail Attempt – Edited.
Aretha’s son Kecalf Franklin isn’t sure if the singer knew she was being watched, but believes it took so many years to track her mother after the bureau failed to link his mother to extremists of any kind Every move” is a “waste of time” activity.
He said: “I’m not sure my mother knew she was being targeted by the FBI and was being followed. I knew she had absolutely nothing to hide…
“It did give me a certain sense of knowing that the FBI was targeting her and wanted to know what she was doing.
“But at the same time knowing my mother and the way she runs her business, I know she has nothing to hide so they don’t find anything and waste their time. As you can see…they find nothing.”
Some documents suggest the FBI may have additional material, and Rolling Stone has asked them for any and all additional records.
The FBI has yet to comment on the report.
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