Nearly 30 years ago, the federal courts had to place limits on New York City police surveillance to protect law-abiding
citizens who happened to be politically engaged on civil rights and other issues. Based on new court filings in a longstanding suit challenging police surveillance techniques, the courts may need to intervene to stop the New York Police Department from spying on law-abiding citizens once again, this time Muslims.
The city’s police came under court scrutiny starting in 1971 for what civil rights lawyers described as illegal surveillance by the department’s infamous Red Squad, including its surveillance of Black Panthers who were acquitted on charges of conspiring to blow up police stations and department stores. The case, named for a plaintiff, Barbara Handschu, became a class action, spreading to other politically active groups, and was settled in 1985. The city agreed to follow court-ordered investigation guidelines that were loosened after Sept. 11 to ensure that the police had ample flexibility to ferret out terrorist threats.
The revised agreement allowed police officers to attend political and religious events, but barred them from retaining information unless it was related to potential terrorist acts or other unlawful activity. The restrictions had two purposes: to prevent the department from unfairly targeting entire political or religious groups, and to make sure that records were kept only when the police found “reasonable indications” of potential law breaking, not as an intrusion into the private affairs of innocent citizens.
A motion filed in federal court last week by the lawyers in the Handschu case makes a strong case that the city has simply ignored those guidelines in its antiterrorism fight and is targeting Muslim groups because of their religious affiliation, not because they present any risk.
In a particularly striking declaration, a Queens man who said the Police Department paid him to spy on Muslims last year also said he was assigned to spy on a lecture at the Muslim Student Association at John Jay College of Criminal Justice even though the police did not think the group was “doing anything wrong.” He said his handler told him that the department considered “being a religious Muslim a terrorism indicator.”
The man said he took pictures of those in the John Jay group and recorded their license plate numbers. While visiting mosques, he photographed worshipers and recorded cellphone numbers of people who attended Islamic instruction classes, forwarding all of it to his handler. At no point did his handler say he was going too far.
The Police Department’s agent said he used what the police called the “create and capture” method. He pretended “to be a devout Muslim and start an inflammatory conversation about jihad or terrorism and then capture the response to send to the N.Y.P.D.”
According to court documents, the New York City police routinely selected Muslim groups for surveillance and infiltration, even when they did not sponsor unlawful or terrorist acts and were not accused of contributing to them. Rather, the motion says, “they were all under investigation by undercovers or other infiltrators based on their theological views, status and association.”
Despite deploying an army of spies, the plaintiffs say, the Police Department never uncovered one of the so-called “incubators” of radicalism they set out to find. The lawyers also say that commanding officers criticized a detective for returning from spying expeditions without inflammatory information on the people he had been watching. If true, that could easily lead officers to hype their findings so they remain in good standing with their superiors.
The motion charges the city with violating the Handschu agreement by systematically retaining records of conversations in public places that do not pertain to “potential unlawful activity.”
Plaintiffs lawyers say they found scores of cases in which innocuous conversations recorded in public places were maintained in police records. One such conversation involved two Bengali speakers, one of whom spoke favorably of the United States government, discussing the president’s State of the Union address.
The court documents offer more than ample reason to be concerned about possible overreach and unconstitutional activity by the Police Department investigators. If the assertions by the Handschu lawyers are borne out in court, the judge should consider appointing an independent monitor to review department investigations.
http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/forum/topics/news-brief-...;; <p style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;" size="3">Support Oppressed Peoples Online Word</font></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"; src="http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"/></p>; <p class="description"><strong><span class="font-size-4"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.paypal.com/">https://www.paypal.com/</a></s...; <p class="description">Support Oppressed Peoples Online Word on Paypal: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/send-money-online">https://ww...; <p class="description">Send To Email Below: </p> <p class="description">Email at Paypal: jabal51@<span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked">hotmail.com</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="description">Donations Not Tax Deductible</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="https://plus.google.com/113418710349404662486/posts"><font size="4">Oppressed Peoples Online News and Information Updates</font></a> </strong></p> <p><strong>P.O. Box 1241, Conley, Ga. 30288-7018</strong></p> <div class="authordes"><p style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;" size="3"> </font></p> <p><span class="font-size-5"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://zakatusa.wordpress.com/partners-of-zakat-u-s-a/"; target="_blank">Partners Of Zakat U.S.A.</a></strong></span></p> <div><div><div><div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><p>**************************************************************************************************************************************</p> <div><p class="xj_site_desc"><span class="font-size-7"><font face="comic sans ms" size="4"><img title="" alt="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2394122928?prof...; src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2394122928?prof...; <span class="ecxyiv48149529ecxHOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> T.E.A.M... TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE<br/> <span><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://zakatusa.wordpress.com/"; target="_blank"><font face="'Courier New', Courier, mono" size="3"><font size="4"><font color="#5A8627"><span class="ecxyiv48149529yshortcuts" id="ecxyiv48149529lw_1347209831_0">Donate To Zakat U.S.A. Donations Tax Deductable</span></font></font></font></a></span></span></font></span><br/></span></p> <h2 class="ecxyiv48149529ecxReadMsgSubject"> Save more lives with 2.5</h2> </div> <div><strong> </strong></div> <div><strong>WE NEED YOUR HELP SO WE CAN HELP! PLEASE DONATE TODAY ZAKAT U.S.A.</strong></div> <div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><div class="style11" align="left"><div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://zakatusa.wordpress.com/"><font class="ecxApple" face="'Courier New', Courier, mono" size="3"><font size="4"><font color="#5A8627"><span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="ar" xml:lang="ar"><span class="hps">اضغط هنا</span></span>:</font></font></font></a></span></span><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><div class="bio"><div class="xg_user_generated"><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage"><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><a rel="nofollow" href="../../profile/ZAKATUSA?xg_source=profiles_memberList"><font class="ecxApple" face="'Courier New', Courier, mono" size="3"><font size="4"><font color="#5A8627">Zakat U.S.A. At A Glance OPOW</font></font></font></a></span></div> <div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><font class="ecxApple" face="'Courier New', Courier, mono" size="3"><font size="4"><font color="#5A8627"> </font></font></font></span></div> <div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://zakatusa.wordpress.com/"><font class="ecxApple" face="'Courier New', Courier, mono" size="3"><font size="4"><font color="#5A8627">Donate To Zakat U.S.A. Donations Tax Deductable</font></font></font></a></span></div> <div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;" class="font-size-6"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003209738620">ZAKAT USA ON FACEBOOK</a></span></div> <span><br/></span> <br/> <div><span> </span></div> <div><div class="ecxyiv626302933MsoNormal"><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc"><div><div><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><p><span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/07/horn_of_africa_on_the_brin... color="#5A8627">Crisis In The Horn Of Africa Pictures 1432 AH</font></a></span></p> <p><span><a rel="nofollow" href="https://plus.google.com/113418710349404662486/posts"><font color="#5A8627"><font size="4">Oppressed Peoples Online News and Information Updates</font></font></a></span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <div><div><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style" title="On Her Birthday: Ida B. Wells"><span>Click Here: <a rel="nofollow" href="../../photo/photo/slideshow"><font color="#5A8627">OPOW Slide Show</font></a><br/></span><div><span> </span></div> <div><span> <a rel="nofollow" href="../../oppressed-peoples-online-word-1"><font color="#5A8627">OPOW NEEDS YOUR HELP</font></a><br clear="all"/></span><p><span> </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <div><span> </span><p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em>If you like this article please consider donating to : <a href="../../opensocial/ningapps/show?appUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fos.ning.com%2Fningapps%2Fpaypal%2Fgadget.xml%3Fning-app-status%3Dnetwork&owner=2frvdhko3jtbx"><font color="#5A8627">Oppressed Peoples Online Word</font></a></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" size="2"><font color="#5A8627" face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><a rel="nofollow" href="../../our-statement-that-just-might">Mission Statement Of Oppressed Peoples Online Word</a></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" size="2"><font color="#5A8627" face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003342122835&sk=w... Peoples Online Word On Facebook</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=134675163235435">...; <p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em>O.P.O.W. Email: <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:oppressedpeoplesonlineword@gmail.com"><font color="#5A8627">oppressedpeoplesonlineword@gmail.com</font></a></em></font></font><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em> </em></font></font></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;" class="font"><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em> </em></font></font><a rel="nofollow" href="../../blog/list?user=2frvdhko3jtbx">Recent Stories On Oppressed Peoples Online Word</a></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em>World News Up-dated : <a rel="nofollow" class="title" href="../../video/mosaic-world-news"><font color="#5A8627">Mosaic World News</font></a></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><font color="#5A8627"> </font></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><font color="#5A8627">OPOW Mission Statement....<br/></font></em></font></font></span></p> <div class="mvm uiStreamAttachments clearfix"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix"><a class="external UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" href="../../our-statement-that-just-might" rel="nofollow" title="" target="_blank"><img title="" class="img" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQArI5cgrBzN0iRK&...; alt=""/></a><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div class="uiAttachmentTitle"><strong><a rel="nofollow" href="../../our-statement-that-just-might" target="_blank">Our Statement: That just might help us in our paradigm shift to a m...</a></strong></div> <div class="uiAttachmentTitle"><strong><a href="../../our-statement-that-just-might">http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blogs/our-state...; <span class="caption"><span><span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked"><span class="skimwords-unlinked">oppressedpeoplesonlineword.nin</span></span></span></span></span>g.com</span><br/> <div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc translationEligibleUserAttachmentMessage">We at Oppressed Peoples Online Word are constantly attempting to pass on what we think to be useful information related to Muslim and Non-Muslim around the wo…</div> </div> </div> </div> <p><span><font class="English" color="#008000" size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><font color="#5A8627"> </font></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" size="2"><font color="#5A8627" face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.presstv.ir/live/llnw/">Press TV Live</a></em></font></font></span></p> <p><span><font class="English" size="2"><font color="#5A8627" face="Comic Sans MS" size="3"><em><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cair.com/CivilRights/KnowYourRights.aspx">American Muslim Civic Pocket Guide</a></em></font></font></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>">
We at Oppressed Peoples Online Word are constantly attempting to pass on what we think to be useful information related to Muslim and Non-Muslim around the wo…
We at Oppressed Peoples Online Word are constantly attempting to pass on what we think to be useful information related to Muslim and Non-Muslim around the wo…
Allah completed the religion through him and the proof is His saying, He, the Most High: «This day, I have completed your religion for you, perfected My blessings upon you, and am pleased…Continue
Started by karriem el-amin shabazz in Sample Title Sep 8, 2022.
Allah says: “Nay! I swear by this city. This city wherein you have been rendered violable, and I swear by the parent and his offspring” (90Al-Balad:1-3) To begin a conversation, in Arabic with Nay,…Continue
Started by karriem el-amin shabazz in Sample Title Jul 29, 2022.
After Tauhid the other question about which a dispute was raging between the Prophet (pbuh) and the disbelievers was the question of the Hereafter. Here, before giving the arguments, the Hereafter…Continue
Started by karriem el-amin shabazz in Sample Title Jun 18, 2022.
Allah says: “Tell them, (O Prophet): “Did you consider (what would be your end) if this Qur'an were indeed from Allah and yet you rejected it? And this, even though a witness from the Children of…Continue
Started by karriem el-amin shabazz in Sample Title Jun 1, 2022.
![http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"](http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"){kind=link}
![http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"/></p>](http://www.drericmeyer.com/images/paypal-button.jpg"/%3E%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
You need to be a member of Oppressed Peoples Online Word...The Voice Of The Voiceless to add comments!
Join Oppressed Peoples Online Word...The Voice Of The Voiceless