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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A Mississippi congressman who chairs a House committee that oversees the Department of Homeland Security is leading a charge to scrutinize the Maryland State Police investigation into peace and anti-death penalty groups.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson has sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security requesting information about any federal dollars that were provided to the Maryland State Police.
The request comes a week after documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union showed state police spent 288 hours over 14 months in 2005 and 2006 spying on two anti-death penalty groups and one peace organization.
Thompson said he believes the spying, which took place during Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s administration, was politically motivated and wrote in his letter that the surveillance of peaceful groups with no ties to terrorism is “a deplorable use of taxpayer funds.”
The Maryland General Assembly is also planning hearings on the matter.
The state police documents show police agents kept watch of private organizing committees, events held in several churches in nearly every corner of the state, and rallies in Baltimore and Annapolis. In one case, an officer infiltrated an e-mail list.
The information obtained was passed on to federal, county and city law enforcement agencies, and the surveillance continued despite reports that said activists were acting lawfully at all times.
State police superintendent Col. Terrence B. Sheridan said in a news release that the “department does not inappropriately curtail the expression or demonstration of the civil liberties of protesters or organizations acting lawfully.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
fklopott@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
I would rather have it the other way, Intelligence watching the ACLU. We should deputize the ACLU and send them in to Southwest part of the City, and see how long they last with the civil rights bs. Have you ever noticed the expensive suits and jewelery these people wear, I must not be in the right job.
1 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The ACLU wants to destroy America. Don't do or believe antything they say. The government has to do things that cannot be made public. Involving congress in these matters would be a huge mistake.
1 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I cant believe Martin Owe'Malley was aware that his Baltimore Police were doing the exact same thing AND endorsed it by allowing it to continue, shame on you Martin. What would you expect from Owe'Malley, who was systematically arresting every black that moved in the year before the election in hopes of reducing crime, not a worry about civil liberties there?, eh Martin. Over 25,000 arrests, mainly of blacks who were held for a few days then released WITHOUT ever being charged with a crime. Thats scary Owe'Mally.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
While they are at it how about investigating what Owe O'Malley authorized when he was mayor of Baltimore. I'm sure what ever he authorized it was Bob Ehrlich's fault.Better yet lets investigate the the crooks in the Maryland General Assembly and have Mike Miller's son be the judge.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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concerned non-lawyer said:
Has marty stopped the practice? Didn't he know it was still in effect? If I were him, I would nt be so quick to blame Ehrlich unless he is prepared to take some responsibility for not putting a stop to it.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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richard f said:
What's the matter Marty afraid they might find out your past.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Marty said:
Where can we read these public records??? Who can we can sue!! Sounds like fun.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Impeach O'malley and reinstate Ehrlich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
O'Malleys appointed Terrence Sheridan to run the MSP. Sheridan routinely violates his own employees rights, so i doubt he would care about the citizens and any of there rights.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If Governor O’Malley was half the Governor that Ehrlich was, this state would have a chance to thrive. We are all doomed as long as O'Malley and friends are in charge!
5 agree | 2 disagree
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Fisher said:
So is the Governor going to let Republicans into his press conferences or will he continue to ban them? The "ACLU" Governor liked the crime cameras and he sured liked rounding up everyone in Baltimore, but nooooow he is Mr ACLU. Or more like he has a chance to try to bash Ehrlich so he does.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ho'MAlley needs to reach down grab a pair and tell the ACLU to pound sand. If I was Gov. I would put the ACLU on a terroist watch list.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't know one person who supports the ACLU, but I do know it's commonly referred to as the "American Criminal Liberties Union." Frankly, it should really be called "The American Criminal Rights Union" since all they do is support lowlife.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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The Undertaker said:
There is no way that these protesters could cause a disruption at a state prison. They have big walls and guys with guns around those places.
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I love this article. It makes perfect sense to monitor the anti death penalty groups. If their is a possibility of disruption at the prisons. After all The Maryland State Police oversees the Maryland prisons. Typical of O'Mally and the ACLU. I love that the ACLU wants the Maryland State police investigated. they are a Bunch of nuts. Jay Woodstock
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Keep up the good work police. Ignore the ACLU. The ACLU wants to destroy America. Never support the ACLU.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Jamal said:
Police dont drop charges, Pat Jessemy does. Once their in Booking and seen a a commishiner: out of the cops hands. Put blame on the lawyers who are too lazy to prosecute petty crimes. Besides, just because your arrested and not charged, most crimes have a year and a day to re-charge. Be lucky if they are dropped and go hide for a year.
66 agree | 65 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i just think its pretty interesting that you two know each other without one knowing... Well anyway, my opinion on those dirty, dumb people is as follows, there is nothing a single person, or even a handful of people can do to stop that issue. you say stop it at the source? our schools? then what be left with a much higher drop out rate, added to the murder rate.
70 agree | 47 disagree
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Voice of Reason said:
The reason people are being released without charge, or having the charges dropped isn't because the police are making thousands of illegal arrests, it's because there is a spineless States Atty's Office that won't prosecute, or take to court the charges against the defendant. I would agree that there are bigger fish to fry in the City than a guy who is caught urinating in public, but a crime is a crime is a crime. Have some sort of mediation or night court to address these issues.
58 agree | 49 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
POLICE: ACLU spreading misinformation
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Examiner Reader said:
More BS
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Examiner Reader said:
No harm to anyone
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Examiner Reader said:
What does CL stand for? I'm lost here. Just trying to figure out what your trying to say.
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Examiner Reader said:
CL is a name, figure it out!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
You are scared?? Well let me tell you what I thought about you after that incident. What kind of decent person has "crack-heads" for friends?? And makes excuses for what you considered as them "stalking you" as "oh, they are just high." If that is the way you see it then I suggest that you get the help you acknowledged earlier that you needed sooner then the latter, because you need it!!!! I was the one that referred to them as "sick pest," and if you told me about them I would have been by your side sooner and gave you Psalm 91 while I was driving to my sister's for Thanksgiving. I have some serious doubts about you.
58 agree | 47 disagree
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examiner reader said:
7:25, your thinking is distorted regarding this issue.
54 agree | 63 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"official police business" could mean you are avoiding the police and are bad.
64 agree | 58 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How about identity theft. How would all know if they have a record if ID was stolen. fastest growing crime i hear (identity theft). Makes me want to pull my credit reports and Md judiciary record and check. Any tips on checking it out?
59 agree | 70 disagree
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The Undertaker said:
A false arrest can trigger all sorts of problems including a violation of probation or a parole retake. Police officers need to be held accountable when they so clearly step on the rights of citizens.
77 agree | 58 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
ACLU - just what we need - a whole organization filled with lawyers. Get a real job.
62 agree | 63 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Place the blame where it needs to be placed, and move on to try and create awareness, mistakes happen. They were not meant I am sure. All that is needed is a meeting, of the minds in these situations.
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Examiner Reader said:
With out clear ACLU expextations, who could expect a miracle.
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Examiner Reader said:
It is shame only a certain group of people can legally carry a firearm to protect themselves. Even when not working they can carry a firearm for there own protection while the ever taxpaying, working family person cannot to any to protect themselves. This group of people are many, law enforcement, security, store owners, attorneys etc, but not the ever day person. It is so lopsided in this state. Law enforcement doe not protect, they are reactors who come after an altercation happens, and they take a report making them really historians. The criminal attacks first, help comes later not before to protect you. Nothing changes, we the conforming just hope and pray that we do not get hurt by the criminal element.
61 agree | 57 disagree
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mduwman2002 said:
The ACLU is slowly becoming an organization that is losing power. They make stupid statements like these. They say that for years police have been telling people that they must waive their rights to challenge an illegal arrest. That law in the article only changed less than two months ago, on October 1. Years has no bearing in this article, because then, it was the law, now it has changed. Let's not look at the present law, and try to criminalize actions prior to the present law. Grow up ACLU.
78 agree | 47 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Just drive through the city anytime, day or night, (Okay...wait until after 1 or 2 p.m. when the CITIZENS get out of bed) and see all those people that CAN'T get jobs because of (Laziness) these arrests for the CRIMES they commit! Who is the ACLU fooling? Why work when the government will send you free money (A check) once a month? ...and again, being released without charges does not mean that someone did not commit a crime, it means the State will not prosecute the case. Probable cause is needed for an arrest, not a conviction.
64 agree | 47 disagree
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Surprise--the ACLU hates law & order said:
Since when does the ACLU defend someone other than anti American flag burners, pansies, criminals, gun control nuts, commies, pornographers, opposers of school choice, abortionists, haters of Christianity, illegal immigrants, environmental whackos, child molesters, and fake hate crime hoax perpetrators? Oh, I get it, this is an anti-cop thing. Now it makes sense. The ACLU hates law & order. As if "I was arrested, and released the same day with no charges filed" is going to keep you from getting a job or housing when the laws prohibit such discrimination. Oh, I get it, this requires knowledge of the laws. Now it makes sense. The ACLU is ignorant of the laws.
74 agree | 68 disagree
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Jamal said:
Why doesnt the NAACP go out on the street corners and preach to the kids joining gangs and dealing drugs and killing each other? Suing the police department over tasers and death penalties is only going to make the problem worse. The NAACP doesnt care about "advancement" for our people. If they did, they would help the Baltimore PD get a grip on the city.
81 agree | 81 disagree
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Dunn said:
This is simply a preface to a lawsuit that the city's taxpapers will have burden. The ACLU doesn't seem to take into account the inherent difficulties of policing a violent city. I can complain about the police too, but at the end of the day I wouldn't want their job for $35k a year. Police don't like to make more work for themselves. Baltimore is very tough city with low paid police, mistakes are going to happen. The city has 40,000 open warrants, that means 1 in 15 people walking down the street are wanted for something. If the ALCU want to work on something how about getting communities organized to fight crime, rallying to increase police pay to hire the best and the brightest. The ACLU and NAACP needs to change their mission from lawsuits to doind some good = leadership. The police here may not be the best, but would you want their job? If so they are hiring! Currently we have to import people from Latin American countries to police our streets.
70 agree | 67 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the shoe fits... The ACLU believes in no personal responsibility, and the government is responsible for everything. Maybe "leftist" is more appropriate? I don't want to "ban" them, because that would be sinking to their level. But eventually people will stop being fooled by their title and see them for who they really are. Or maybe not.
94 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Stop calling things Socialist or Marxist whenever you want to scare people into not supporting an organization. Any police department is by nature socialist, as well as public education, national defense, public transportation, and national parks. They are public goods which by definition are established to benefit society at large. Confusing authoritarian traits with socialist ones only cheapens your arguments to everyone but those who would ardently agree with you. I dont by any stretch of the imagination agree with everything the ACLU does but the American way isnt to ban or "eliminate" organizations, instead its to form a politcal group that can effectively influenceor "buy" changes/nonchanges in the laws of the land. America-The best government money can buy.
76 agree | 70 disagree
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Too Funny said:
The ACLU? Isn't that the organization whose CEO told its members that anyone speaking ill of the company will be silenced? Yep. Those same wacky ACLU'ers who preach civil rights and free speech for anyone and everyone but Christians and apparently their own working stiffs. Never thought I'd ever see the day when I would gladly the the Baltimore City Police Department over the American Criminal Liberties Union but I do.
89 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The ACLU is a socialist, communist, Marxist organization and so is the Balto. City Police Dept. We are all doomed.
84 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The ACLU is a socialist, communist, Marxist organization and being such is a haven for all overzealous liberals. Over the years, they have done nothing but to harm this country. The scary part is the fact that they have infiltrated almost every aspect of our daily lives, and they are very dangerous people. They are fanatics. Whenever I hear "ACLU" a shiver goes up and down my spine.
73 agree | 84 disagree
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G said:
I really wish the ACLU would just go away. If it was really Libertarianism they were after, I'd support them. But they're an organization founded on Communist ideals, they're completely against personal responsibility, which true civil libertarians are all about. Yet they still fool a lot of people into supporting them, so more power to them I guess.
83 agree | 61 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
In my county we have had to build with taxpayer money sites for the day laborers - it was too hot outside and they demanded an enclosed site with A/C. The sued, they won - never have the sites been used - here we go taxpayers forced to build and then sites are abandoned and the illegals still block traffic standing 25 deep onto the streets. ACLU be damned - taxpayers should demand that our tax money is never forwarded to you - Our Taxes pay for the ACLU - let's see them start representing taxpayers instead of tax rapers.
95 agree | 106 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The ACLU should change its name to the IACLU (Illegal Alien Civil Liberties Union) because they sure aren't helping American citizens. Instead they intimidate local communities who try to do something about the illegals. The ACLU is a vile group!
104 agree | 100 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
when is someone going to go after the aclu?? they are nothing but criminal protectors...they need to be eliminated very soon
109 agree | 92 disagree
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LadyM said:
The town also has the right to impose strict loitering laws. If these people are here illegally they need to be deported not provided for.
119 agree | 90 disagree
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June said:
I don't think any local, state or federal entity has enough backbone to stop this unholy organization. Maybe a silver stake? This group should be the first to go when we get someone in office who cares about THIS country rather than trying their best to give it away to the lowest bidders.
126 agree | 110 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Before most residents are complaining that convergence of people at 7-11 is an eyesore, the reason why the city put up a day labor center, then it was closed and now people looking for a livelihood were back at 7-11. Make up your minds, people of Herndon. Imagine how much time and money has been spent for all these talks, suits, etc.
115 agree | 99 disagree
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