Our government abusing the law? This from reason.com:
The Maryland State Police classified 53 nonviolent activists as terrorists and entered their names and personal information into state and federal databases that track terrorism suspects, the state police chief acknowledged yesterday.
Those classified as “terrorists” were protesting the death penalty and the Iraq war. Obviously they are not terrorists, but such an escapade underscores the idiocy of the Patriot Act and other extreme Federal efforts to fight the “war” on terrorism.
It was one of my fears that this kind of nonsense would happen to the people of the United States, which is why I oppose the Patriot Act and the detention of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. I do not believe that this exemplar case in Maryland will the be last time those abusive laws are being applied to our own citizens.
Do local governments now have a new tool to subdue those who express dissent? Tyranny of an intolerant majority. Hopefully not coming soon to a city near you.
Dan,
The incident in your post was what I referred to in this comment. The story from Maryland was based on the Sachs Report (linked in the comment.)
It already has happened here, just on a smaller scale (as far as we know).
Comment by Bill — October 8, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Does the Sachs Report pertain to our city’s use of their legal dept to harass citizens opposing incumbents in local elections? There are several examples to choose from…
Comment by mary — October 8, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
Mary,
No, the Sachs Report (after former MD AG Stephen Sachs who headed up the committee) looked into the use of the Maryland State Police to infiltrate lawfully assembled anti-death penalty and anti-war organizations without any valid security or law enforcement predicate.
Comment by Bill — October 8, 2008 @ 7:05 pm