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.
Are you a Spaniard?
or are you just in hiding? LOL
while you're in Spain tell the no cojones Spaniards thanks for "bailing out" of Iraq.
oh FYI, folks in NY & LA are already cooperating with authorities. Ya see we don't have anything to hide and Americans are doing what we can to fight terrorism and prevent any more attacks. So if we are asked to open bags and containers we smile and allow the authorities to inspect the contents.
Let us know what you're doing to fight terrorism while in Spain.
Folks, there is no doubt in my mind that the majority of Americans want to put a stop to terrorism, not only here in the USA, but worldwide.
There has been much discussion here about different techniques for helping put a stop to it, but one thing we all really agree on is that we must uphold our Constitution in the process of defeating the barbaric acts others have committed against us.
I've written things about random searches, that fired some of you up. That's what I wanted to accomplish, as well as keep the focus on our own safety.
Whatever searches are being done, will be tested in our courts. I have enough faith in our system as suspicious as I am, to know if the cops have been ordered to do random searches and it violates our Constitution, some appeals court will overturn the conviction.
Still the rest of us will be enduring these long lines and even searches ourselves. Although a pain in the rear, I've submitted to numerous airport searches willingly, for an ounce of air safety. My final defense in airline travel is to not sit there and take it without trying to do something. I don't need a crowd, but the more that help the better. I ain't Superman.
What all of these discussions have shown me are that we are all American's and proud as heck of our Constitution and way of life. It also shows me that we're all united in trying to figure out the best way to stop others from changing that way of life through violent means.
Will it ever end? I don't think so. But I do think we can slow it down. We've had some success at that, but it's only a matter of time before someone decides to act again. We as citizens, can only be observant, report things that just don't fit and hope the intelligence community is busting their butts trying to ID the enemy and stop these ugly events from happening beforehand.
We need to stay on top of our leadership and make sure they are aware of our feelings and thoughts. If they don't respond we can replace them next election...or at least try. Searches are only one aspect of defending ourselves, we have border security issues, immigration issues, visa issues, we need to upgrade our human assets in the intelligence areas and provide better and more proper training throughout all of the law enforcement areas, not just the leadership areas of department. Remember not all LE staff tend to pass on information to those in the field that have to implement things.
We have a lot of areas we haven't even discussed yet to better protect ourselves. The main thing is we all need to work on these things together. Free Republic and all of it's members can be a major asset to the country, just by our discussion and focusing on problem area. It's a pretty big think tank in itself. And our research abilities are pretty broad as well.
Let's all keep our eyes open and do what we can to help.
"are you retarded? or just pretending?"
Not an answer to my question "Are you a Spaniard? or are you just in hiding?"
And since you're afraid to answer I won't bother reading the rest of your sophomoric rant!
Do you have problem with searches at the baseball park when you enter the front gate...(looking for contraband peanuts or concerts to see if you are toting drugs) or is it just when your life may be at stake upon entering your local subway or bus. Pick the right fight and live.
"I am a Spaniard"
Yea, well since you clowns cut and ran from the war in Iraq, I have no respect for your country. And since you are not even an American you have no right to criticize what we do and don't do in America.
Ya see genius, I actually fought for my country and the rights that we enjoy.
I suggest you "clean up your own house" before you criticize other's.
Adios!
You're getting paranoid buddy ..Relax..It'sactually only for a few weeks..The same jerks complaining about being searched will be the very first ones freaking out that the City didnt do enough to protect them when the next attack hits. Including you I have a feeling.
Yea , they shouldnt be random at all..The SMART thing would be to profile people and search them ..Miseastern Males in particular . But God forbid NYC do anything thats not PC. That would just make too much sense.
ahhhh a citizen of the cowardly Spain I see..
You guys caved into the terrorist like a bunch of scared school girls.I don't think we need any imput from you on this particular subject, thank you .
So , you're implying that you supported the War in Iraq and was against the Socialist anti American govt in Spain..Am , I correct ?
pS the searches in NYC are #1 designed to give the public a sense that somthing concrete and visable is being done and #2 adds another random factor into the plans of a would be bomber. Granted , it's not a major effective anti terrorist action but it does , in small measure , contribute to the 2 factors I mentioned above. I live in NYC and most dont really mind the searches .
"it can't hurt."
Yes it can. Wasting time and resources on pointless feel-good measures like this means that there are fewer resources available for more useful security measures.
like what? in this case, these are mostly beat cops doing subway checkpoint duty - they mostly write summonses of one kind or another most times. even if they aren't checking bags, having a presence there and simply looking for suspicious people is more beneficial then flagging someone for parking 10 minutes too long at a meter.
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