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Advocacy Blog
Friday, October 10, 2008
Nonviolent Activists Placed on Terror Lists
In Maryland, 53 nonviolent activists, primarily opponents of the death penalty and the Iraq war, were classified as terrorists in 2005 and 2006. Their names and personal information were entered into state and federal databases that track terrorism suspects. The Washington Post reports that the surveillance took place over 14 months. "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.'" The police superintendent said protest groups were entered as terrorist organizations in the databases, but his staff has not identified which ones.
This could have far reaching consequences, especially if any of those activists happen to try and buy a car for example. A report by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area from 2007 details how ordinary citizens have had difficulties in obtaining a loan, purchasing a car, and even purchasing exercise equipment.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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