ACLU, Other Groups Protest Alleged Activities of Kinston Company

Raleigh, N.C. — There are more protests underway over "torture flights" that originate in North Carolina.

Various groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union gathered at the General Assembly Wednesday to renew their criticism of Aero Contractors. The ACLU believes the company works with the CIA hauling terror suspects to secret locations, without due process.

The air carrier flies out of Johnston County and the Global Transpark in Kinston. A group of state lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Roy Cooper last Thursday, asking that he order the State Bureau of Investigation to probe reports of illegal activity at the Johnston County Airport.

The letter from 22 legislators asks for the SBI to investigate Aero Contractors.

The CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" aired a story in 2005 about secret Central Intelligence Agency flights that were part of the abduction of terrorism suspects, a process known as rendition.

"60 Minutes" said the flights began in North Carolina.

WRAL has learned that a Swedish news crew traced the flights to Aero Contractors, a company based at the Johnston County Airport.

Aero denies any involvement in the flights. Protesters said they're frustrated that state leaders won't investigate.

15 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 15 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

I would hate to see how the society of 2007 would react if transported back in time to WWII when even-so-much as Japanese Americans were put into concentration camps away from the West Coast in an effort to protect against sympathetic uprisings.

It would be madness and mayhem across this whole country, and weaker because of it. The general public has no idea what protection calls for sometimes, nor are they willing to participate. When we hear of American born citizens being arrested and dragged out of homes, then we can be afraid of the Patriot Act. Until then, get all the criminals you can find.

gpd
March 22, 2007 12:48 p.m.

Why would the ACLU want the CIA investigated? Um, CIA aka secret service? Um... hello???

IHave1-2
March 22, 2007 12:19 p.m.

Let's face it the ACLU is about as FAR LEFT as you can get...and have completely lost touch with the meaning and spirit of the Constitution. Personally, I think they are a Hate Group and should be prosecuted as such...if any organization is to be held up as responsible for the systematic dismantling of my rights its the ACLU!!!! oh and Builder03...do you really think the CIA has ANY interest in your petty paranoid cell phone ramblings! Get a grip...like it or not this country is at war. Hats of to Aero Contractors if they are snatching terrorists!!!

me-in-raeford
March 22, 2007 11:50 a.m.

And another thing. Doesn't the ACLU have better things to do than sue to keep the Boy Scouts of America from public parks and holding meetings after hours in schools buildings?

68_polara
March 22, 2007 10:52 a.m.

The ACLU stinks. They only protect rights for politically correct causes. They absolutely refuse to fight to uphold the 2nd amendment.

68_polara
March 22, 2007 10:11 a.m.