ACLU Launches Campaign Against Random Searches
Since the ACLU thinks random searches are so terrible, and no one came to them to complain about the MBTA, they have decided to advertise in search of some clients.
Civil liberties activists yesterday launched an advertising campaign to question the MBTA’s random bag inspections and collect customer complaints that could lay the groundwork for a lawsuit.
The advertisements, which ask customers to tell their stories of being searched, will run on the T’s subway system during the next 10 weeks.
“We’re trying to have the public serve as our eyes and ears to see how this policy is being implemented and to see if it’s leading to an unconstitutional infringement on people’s rights,” said Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.
The T reinstituted random bag inspections in October after a pair of federal court rulings that upheld the constitutionality of a similar inspection program in New York City. The T has also trained its police officers and front-line personnel to use behavioral recognition techniques to spot suspicious activity in passengers.
“Safety and security experts . . . have told us that random baggage inspection is another important element we can use to insert uncertainty into the minds of terrorists who may want to strike at the MBTA,” T General Manager Dan Grabauskas said.
The ACLU is against any kind of search no matter how it will protect us. They are against profiled searches, random searches, and searches across the board. If it were left to the ACLU there wouldn’t be any kind of searches allowed. Strange that the NYCLU has a sign warning visitors that all bags are subject to search.
It seems the searches are not the only security enhancement the ACLU is worried about. The complaint could not be complete without the race card being played.
Rose said the ACLU believes the T’s use of behavioral screening could open the door to a host of abuses. “We’re concerned it’s just a pretext for engaging in racial or ethnic profiling,” she said.
Grabauskas said, “Racial profiling is absolutely useless to us. This is training that points us in the direction of someone who may be acting suspiciously.”
When it comes to National Security I have yet to find any government action the ACLU has not opposed. Despite the deceptive slogan of “Safe and Free” the ACLU banner their website with, the ACLU is making America less safe.
Hmmm…seems the ACLU isn’t the only one fighting National Security measures.
Former Attorney General Janet Reno and seven other former Justice Department officials filed court papers Monday arguing that the Bush administration is setting a dangerous precedent by trying a suspected terrorist outside the court system.
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