Spend $16.99 so you can wear this to your grave
Posted on 07/22/2005 11:06:07 AM PDT by BigFinn
Reacting to the NYPD's announcement Thursday afternoon that police would randomly—but routinely—search the bags of commuters, one concerned New Yorker quickly created a way for civil libertarians to make their views black-and-white. In a few outraged moments, local immigrant rights activist Tony Lu designed t-shirts bearing the text, "i do not consent to being searched." The minimalist protest-wear can be purchased here, in various styles and sizes. (Lu will not get a cut. The shirts' manufacture, sale, and shipment, will be handled by the online retailer. Lu encourages budget-conscious New Yorkers to make their own and wear them everywhere.)
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly had announced the legally obvious—that New Yorkers are free to decline a search and "turn around and leave." But Lu, who is a lawyer at Urban Justice Center, warned that even well-intentioned cops could interpret people's natural nervousness or anger as "reasonable suspicion." The possibility of unjustified interrogation and even arrest is real, Lu said.
Although police promised they would not engage in racial profiling, Lu said that, as with all street-level policing, people of color and poor immigrants would be particularly vulnerable, especially if encounters lead to arrests.
Riiiiiight. Searching 1 in 1000 people - and specifically but unofficially avoiding those most likely to either (a) sue for harrassment or (b) actually blow up the searcher - is unreasonable to believe will actually stop these perps. Blowing up on the train, or blowing up in the security line, are going to both garner approximately the same results during rush hour.
I don't understand why anyone believes these empty gestures of "security" actually work, nor do I understand why a growing number of "conservatives" are supporting Communistic methodologies.
The chances of being killed by terrorists while commutting are significantly less than the chance of being killed a host of other ways on the same commute. The only difference is that terrorist attacks are so rare they actually make the news - unlike other commuter fatalities - yet it's the far-less-likely occurrence that people are scared of.
Review your statistics textbook and stay out of my backpack.
And .. you have documented evidence that 65 yr old white guys are being stopped. So far, I haven't seen anybody on TV being searched that resembles that description.
I believe the cops are "profiling" .. just not being obvious about it. And .. I would trust the gut feelings of a cop any day.
5,000 is way to high an estimate. Figure NYC has about 50,000 homeless -- you can't tell me that 1 in 10 are mole people. It's gotta be something like 2,500, at most.
I'll respect you when you a) grow a pair and b) stop resorting to hyperbole.
Especially since, in everything I've posted, I've railed against the politicos & not the cops who unfortunately have to enforce this BS. This distinction is apparently lost on you.
I've seen it for myself in Penn Station. NYPD are definately profiling.
I never said it has to be "sinister", but I have lots of things that I don't want people to see. That's why I use envelopes, close my blinds at night, and used brick instead of glass to construct my house. I also carry bags that aren't made of see-through plastic.
I've spent a lot of time over the last 20-odd years going through airport security in many countries. Never had a problem or resented it.
Well, that's private property. I think it's a pain, but I put up with it when I have to. But, it's against the constitution to search people at random on public property. At least it used to be. At some point in history. I happen to like the Bill of Rights. Don't you?
...and I saw one guy peforming a very thorough search of another guy on the A train late one night. I didn't know they did cavity searches like that!
Are you sure that they weren't on a date? :o)
TMI
Ouch!
Thanks.
All of my responses on this thread have been in context of the original post. This thread is about Tony Lu and his faggoty @$$ t-shirt.
The only purpose for wearing this t-shirt is to thwart law enforcement and get in the faces of cops.
Tony Lu is an activist for illegal immigrants. He receives grants from George Soros for his work with "domestic workers".
Cooperating with law enforcement does not mean that I like Bloomberg or his policies--especially regarding illegal aliens.
Thank you!! I was hoping they were!
Personally? I'd like a 20-foot electrified fence with machine gun turrets every fifty feet or so along the Mexican border.
But that's just me. :-)
I don't know where you live, but in most places no such indemnification exists.
I totally agree.
I really would like for travel to
be like it used to! Walk into an
airport, walk out onto the tarmack
and get on the plane.
But we can no longer do that. Maybe
in a hundred years from now it will
be like that again. IF they can get
the terrorists under control. Who
knows? Maybe in a hundred years,
they will have done so. And people
at that time will say things like,
"Remember when everyone was searched
before getting on planes, subways,
etc."
I hope it will happen for the sake of
mine & everyones descendants.
I refuse to crack wise to that comment, mostly because I'm terrified of what cyborg will respond.
$20K would be an excellent investment if it stopped one bomber intent on blowing up a subway car.
In strictly monetary terms, the U.S. Gov. considers the life of one person @ $250K. The ave. deaths /subway bomb in London was 15. That's $3.75 million per., not including material damage, general psychological damage and economic damage, locally and nationally. Then there is the emotional damage to survivors and friends.
So, investing several million in a bunch of smart doggies would be an wise decision. Pitbulls excluded.
These searches are by New York City police. Not by a federal police force.
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