Spring Break
Student probed by FBI
Student's looks prompt questions
KRISTEN COULTER
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
After the four rejections, he proceeded to take pictures of the outside of each plant.
While Diffly was taking pictures of one plant from a bridge, two Hall County police cars arrived.
Diffly said the officers told him they received a call claiming that a man who looked Middle Eastern was taking pictures of the plant. Diffly is white with a beard and dark hair.
He said he let the officers investigate his papers and ask him questions. The officers asked why he had a long beard.
Diffly said he told them he grew out a beard in opposition to his very conservative grandfather.
The police officers let Diffly go but notified the FBI.
Filson would not speak to the specifics of how he was alerted to the case, but he said there are numerous databases that are used by the FBI.
He said this case went through a system and reached his desk Wednesday. He called Diffly that day and set up the meeting for Thursday.
The meeting lasted about 20 minutes.
Filson asked Hayes and Diffly about the project and spoke briefly about Diffly's life.
Filson told Diffly that this is America and he should do what he wants, but when someone looks different in a post-Sept. 11, 2001 world, police may be called.
The differences between the student and the agent were apparent.
Diffly came to the meeting wearing gauges in his ears, his dreadlocks and beard and an oversized T-shirt and shorts. The shirt had a machine gun on the front. Filson wore his hair cropped short, a Polo shirt and khaki shorts.
Reflecting on Filson's words, Diffly said, "At least I could change my appearance. But if I were Middle Eastern, what would have happened?"
While Diffly was taking pictures of one plant from a bridge, two Hall County police cars arrived.
Diffly said the officers told him they received a call claiming that a man who looked Middle Eastern was taking pictures of the plant. Diffly is white with a beard and dark hair.
He said he let the officers investigate his papers and ask him questions. The officers asked why he had a long beard.
Diffly said he told them he grew out a beard in opposition to his very conservative grandfather.
The police officers let Diffly go but notified the FBI.
Filson would not speak to the specifics of how he was alerted to the case, but he said there are numerous databases that are used by the FBI.
He said this case went through a system and reached his desk Wednesday. He called Diffly that day and set up the meeting for Thursday.
The meeting lasted about 20 minutes.
Filson asked Hayes and Diffly about the project and spoke briefly about Diffly's life.
Filson told Diffly that this is America and he should do what he wants, but when someone looks different in a post-Sept. 11, 2001 world, police may be called.
The differences between the student and the agent were apparent.
Diffly came to the meeting wearing gauges in his ears, his dreadlocks and beard and an oversized T-shirt and shorts. The shirt had a machine gun on the front. Filson wore his hair cropped short, a Polo shirt and khaki shorts.
Reflecting on Filson's words, Diffly said, "At least I could change my appearance. But if I were Middle Eastern, what would have happened?"
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
msfreeh
posted 4/07/08 @ 7:08 AM EST
for a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 100 pages long see
campusactivism.org
click on home in upper left
click on forum in upper right
scroll down to FBI WATCH
Anon. because I'm different
posted 4/07/08 @ 8:34 AM EST
Wow. How incredibly scary.
"... when someone looks different... police may be called."
Being different warrants law enforcement involvement. I'm sure that there are folks who support this and don't see no problem with it. (Continued…)
Winfield J. Abbe
posted 4/07/08 @ 8:36 AM EST
Dear FBI agent: Would you please talk to the Athens Clarke County Mayor and Commissioners and the Georgia DOT and request that they address the very dangerous situation on Jefferson Rd. (Continued…)
stapler
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:16 AM EST
He is lucky that he's not in Gitmo right now. Hell, he's lucky he wasnt sent to Egypt to be "renditioned" either. I'm 1000x more afraid of this FBI agent than I am of some college student. (Continued…)
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