Where Does this End--Surrender?

[Guest guest]

I have posted several articles about efforts to

curtail necessary police activities in the name

of civil rights. The NYPD has been a particular

target. Here is one more attempt to ignore the

reality of todays world, and pursue an agenda

that serves the purposes of radical fringe groups

at the expense of all of us. The article below

is particularly odious as it really exposes the

attempt to undermine the important tools

regardless of the consequences. An important

omission in the article is the fact that the NYPD

tapes demonstrations, rallies, and other events

not only for potential LE action, but also to

protect itself from accusations of improper

behavior on the part of the cops. This is no

different than patrol car dash cameras. This is

not an attack on civil rights, but good and responsible policing.

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SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_NYPD_Surveillance.html

Monday, November 28, 2005 · Last updated 7:29 p.m. PT

Group seeks end to NYPD taping protests

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NEW YORK -- A civil rights group on Monday asked

a judge to stop city police from routinely

videotaping political demonstrations as part of efforts to fight terrorism.

The New York Civil Liberties Union filed the

legal challenge in Manhattan federal court. NYCLU

attorney Arthur Eisenberg said the videotaping

" has a wide impact on the common citizen

exercising fundamental constitutional rights. "

The surveillance was noted by participants in

protests during the 2004 Republican National

Convention, especially those who wanted to

exercise their First Amendment rights anonymously, Eisenberg said.

The city's law office was evaluating the legal

papers, special counsel Gail Donoghue said, but

she was not prepared to comment further.

The court papers said the police department

adopted a regulation in September 2004 claiming

it may photograph and videotape all political

activity in the city without restriction.

The NYCLU filed the legal challenge with a judge

who oversees a consent decree that established

surveillance guidelines. The decree settled a

1971 lawsuit alleging that police engaged in

widespread surveillance of legitimate political

activity and distributed the information

elsewhere, including to law enforcement groups.

The NYCLU said in the court papers that the

Police Department now uses an exception contained

in those guidelines to fight terrorism " to wipe

out the rules limiting NYPD investigation of political activity. "

The exception " for the purpose of detecting or

preventing terrorist activities " permits police

officers to visit any place and attend any event

that is open to the public on the same terms and

conditions as members of the public generally.

The police department has used the exception to

videotape peaceful political gatherings and to

retain all the videotapes indefinitely, the NYCLU said.