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Classification 157: Extremist Matters; Civil Unrest

This classification was established in 1959 to investigate concerning civil disorders and demonstrations. The Bureau has responsibility for investigating violations of criminal law connected with civil disturbances, for assisting the Secret Service upon request, for providing information concerning actual or threatened civil disorders which require the presence of federal troops, and for providing information regarding demonstrations which require the Federal Government to provide health and safety measures.

Initially, this classification was titled "Racial Matters/Bombing Matters" and focused on Ku Klux Klan investigations. Beginning in the early 1960s, investigations of bombings and bomb threats against racial, religious, and educational institutions were also conducted under this classification. Also during this period, the Bureau conducted investigations of the American Nazi Party; anti-Semitic and other hate groups; and attacks on civil rights workers.

With the onset of urban riots in the mid and late 1960s, the Bureau investigated such matters as interstate travel to incite riot and the roles of the Black Panther and Black Nationalists movements. In 1971, the title of the classification changed to "Extremist Matters/Civil Unrest" and investigations of the American Indian Movement and the Symbionese Liberation Army were opened. As a result of guidelines issued by the Attorney General in 1976, activity in this classification decreased dramatically.

Investigations focus on individual members as well as the groups themselves. Full field investigations were prepared for both national and local offices of organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. Usually only preliminary investigations were prepared for individuals. Cases on major civil rights groups such as the Congress on Racial Equality were frequently opened to determine the degree of subversive influence even though the general purpose of the organization was not in question.

NARA online catalog descriptions of holdings for Classification 157: Extremist Matters; Civil Unrest

Headquarters Files

Record Group NARA IdentifierSeries Title
654795307Classification 157 (Civil Unrest): Case Files, Headquarters

Field Office Files

Record Group NARA IdentifierSeries Title
651565925Classification 157 (Civil Unrest) Index to Field Office Case Files (Albany thru Oklahoma City), 1957-1978
651366591Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Albany, New York
651436753Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Albuquerque, New Mexico
651448994Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Alexandria, Virginia
651450329Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Anchorage, Alaska
651450334Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Atlanta, Georgia
651455551Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Baltimore, Maryland
651461836Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Birmingham, Alabama
651461838Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Boston, Massachusetts
651468096Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Buffalo, New York
651468437Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Butte, Montana
651487607Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Charlotte, North Carolina
651487609Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Chicago, Illinois
651487610Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Cincinnati, Ohio
651487611Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Cleveland, Ohio
651487612Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Columbia, South Carolina
651487613Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Dallas, Texas
651487614Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Denver, Colorado
651487615Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Detroit, Michigan
651489016Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: El Paso, Texas
651489018Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Honolulu, Hawaii
651489019Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Houston, Texas
651489022Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Indianapolis, Indiana
651513558Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Jackson, Mississippi
651513559Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Jacksonville, Florida
651513560Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Kansas City, Missouri
651513561Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Knoxville, Tennessee
651513562Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Las Vegas, Nevada
651513563Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Little Rock, Arkansas
651513564Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Los Angeles, California
651513565Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Louisville, Kentucky
651513566Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Memphis, Tennessee
651513567Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Miami, Florida
651513568Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
651513570Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Minneapolis, Minnesota
651513571Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Mobile, Alabama
651518841Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: New Haven, Connecticut
651518842Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: New Orleans, Louisiana
651518843Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: New York, New York
651518840Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Newark, New Jersey
651518845Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Norfolk, Virginia
651518846Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
651518847Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Omaha, Nebraska
651524565Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
651525356Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Phoenix, Arizona
651525594Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
651535897Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Portland, Oregon
651535898Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Richmond, Virginia
651535900Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Sacramento, California
651535902Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Salt Lake City, Utah
651535903Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: San Antonio, Texas
651535906Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: San Diego, California
654725926Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: San Francisco, California
654671241Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: San Juan, Puerto Rico Field Office
651535907Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Savannah, Georgia
651537555Classification 157 (CIvil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Seattle, Washington
651537557Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Springfield, Illinois
651535901Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: St. Louis, Missouri
651537563Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Tampa, Florida
654685574Classification 157 (Civil Unrest), Field Office Case Files: Washington, D.C.

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