Md. Police Put Activists' Names On Terror Lists

[RoyalShock]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100703245.html?hpid=topnews

Police Superintendent Terrence B. Sheridan revealed at a legislative hearing that the surveillance operation, which targeted opponents of the death penalty and the Iraq war, was far more extensive than was known when its existence was disclosed in July.

The former state police superintendent who authorized the operation, Thomas E. Hutchins, defended the program in testimony yesterday. Hutchins said the program was a bulwark against potential violence and called the activists "fringe people."

"I don't believe the First Amendment is any guarantee to those who wish to disrupt the government," he (Hutchins) said.

The police also entered the activists' names into the federal Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area database, which tracks suspected terrorists. One well-known antiwar activist from Baltimore, Max Obuszewski, was singled out in the intelligence logs released by the ACLU, which described a "primary crime" of "terrorism-anti-government" and a "secondary crime" of "terrorism-anti-war protesters."

If this doesn't scare you, you need to have your pulse checked. Take particular note of the last quote. Just being "anti-government" or an "anti-war protester" makes you a terrorist and criminal in the eyes of some in power, namely those who can now, thanks to the Patriot Act obtain your bank records and enter your home without a warrant.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

im speechless