In Colorado, a dozen or so men and women have been questioned at two homes in Denver, and one man was questioned at his workplace in Fort Collins.

The law enforcement interviewers have included police and sheriff's deputies assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

"JTTFs in several states were tasked to conduct interviews of persons who reasonably could be expected to have specific details about people or groups planning criminal acts during a number of upcoming national events," FBI spokesman Joe Parris e-mailed from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

He did not name any states other than Colorado where interviews are occurring.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and some of the Colorado activists who were questioned have said the interviews are intimidating and could discourage people from exercising their First Amendment rights to express opinions, associate with one another and peacefully protest government actions.

"The FBI does not conduct investigations or interviews designed to discourage anyone from exercising their First Amendment right to assemble and peacefully protest," Parris said.

"However, violent criminal acts are not protected by the Constitution," he said, "and the FBI has a duty to prevent such acts and to identify and bring to justice those who commit them."

Activists who were questioned in Colorado said they suspect they were questioned because they have participated in protests of war, economic globalization and a recent Denver police shooting.

Denver settled an ACLU federal lawsuit last year with a promise to stop keeping "spy files" of surveillance information on individuals and groups who engage in peaceful political demonstrations.

The settlement applies to no other government agency, and the question of whether Denver police officers who serve on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force are bound by its rules remains unresolved.

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