NYPD Surveillance Had ‘Devastating’ Impact on Muslim Communities: Report

[Hissyspit]

Source: Raw Story / CLEAR

NYPD surveillance had ‘devastating’ impact on Muslim communities: report

By Eric W. Dolan
Monday, March 11, 2013 18:42 EDT

A new report on the New York Police Department’s surveillance of Muslims suggests the program has impacted nearly every facet of Muslim life in a negative way.

“This report provides a powerful rebuttal to the NYPD and its supporters’ assertion that surveillance is harmless and victimless,” Diala Shamas, a Liman Fellow at the CLEAR project and one of the report’s authors, said in a statement. “It is a first-of-its kind opportunity to hear directly from affected community members, many of whom would only speak with us on condition of strict anonymity.”

The NYPD launched its surveillance program in 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks, monitoring Muslims in New York City and beyond. The intelligence gathering effort was revealed by the Associated Press has faced heavy criticism for both trampling the rights of Muslims and failing to produce any leads of terrorist activities.

The study of 57 American Muslims in New York City found the NYPD’s surveillance program was perceived as suppressing religion freedom, chilling freedom of speech, creating strife within communities, and harming trust of law enforcement officials. Many of the American Muslims in the study were “directly mentioned in leaked NYPD Intelligence Division documents,” according to the report.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/11/nypd-surveillance-had-devastating-impact-on-muslim-communities-report

[Grins]

1. Turn the police loose....

...what could go wrong?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. A problem with police agencies is mission creep. In their world, they never have enough power.

Some people may remember Martin Niemoller's words:

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me