Police Spying in Maryland Was Broader than Previously Thought

[BlueJessamine]

Police Spying in Maryland Was Broader than Previously Thought

by Bill of Rights Defense Committee

Last July, we learned that police in Maryland had infiltrated and spied on a number of peaceful activists and activist groups, including groups who oppose the Iraq war and the death penalty. This month, news came out that this surveillance effort affected even more people and groups than initially indicated. The Maryland police spied on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Amnesty International, gay rights organization Equality Maryland, and a group fighting energy bill increases. The surveillance of these and other groups was uncovered by a Freedom of Information Act request made by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in which the ACLU "guessed" 250 individuals and 32 groups that might have been victims of this police effort. Their guesses turned out to be 66 percent accurate.

The ACLU, the Defending Dissent Foundation, and other groups in Maryland and across the country are fighting back against this unprecedented and illegal use of police powers. Because of public outcry, the Maryland state legislature is expected to consider legislation explicitly prohibiting spying on peaceful, law abiding activists and activist groups without suspicion of wrongdoing, and Congressional hearings may be suggested to illuminate the full scope of this police surveillance effort.

BORDC supports these efforts, and we encourage local PCC groups and members to take action against illegal surveillance of activists. What can you do to help? This issue is of national importance, and you can help raise awareness in your community by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper stating your opposition to the Maryland police's violations of activists' rights to assembly and dissent. If your letter is printed, let us know!

More Groups Than Thought Monitored in Police Spying

New Documents Reveal Md. Program's Reach

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010301993_pf.html


ACLU 'guessed' correctly about police spying subjects

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.spying06jan06,0,553069.story


Contacting the Bill of Rights Defense Committee

http://us.mc554.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=[e-mail]

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Bob Erlich needs to go to jail.

Is that idiot still thinking of trying to run again for Govenor? I hope not. What an embarassment to my native state he was.

[JaneQPublic]

3. And not just for the spying scandal

He got caught trying to sell 836 acres of natural woodland in St. Mary's County to a developer, who just happened to be a huge contributor to Ehrich's campaign.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23428-2004Nov30.html

[Burma Jones]

2. Ehrlich is a Filthy Hunk of Shit.

And was flushed (along with that other hunk of shit, Steele) at the first opportunity...

[leveymg]

4. National Security is a federal function - never should have been devolved to state and local law

enforcement agencies, as it was under Bush's USA-Patriot Act authorizations of Joint Counter-Terrorism Task Forces (JCTTFs).

This sort of small-minded abuse of civil liberties was inevitable when so much power was handed to small-time political hacks like Ehrlich and Steele.

The people who designed this system knew there would be stuff like this. Just like the Red Hunts of the McCarthy era.

[originalpckelly]

5. OMG! TEH GAYS ARE A THREAT TO SECURITY!

They could turn our sons teh gay!