TELECONFERENCE FEBRUARY 9, 2009
AT 11 AM:
ACLU to Discuss First Amendment Protections Needed in Bill to Ban Police Spying on Peaceful Activists; “No Spying” Rally on Feb. 9
Dial-In For Reporters: 1-712-580-1800, Access Code: 61804
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR
February 9, 2009
CONTACT: Meredith Curtis, 410-889-8555, media@aclu-md.org
WHAT: Teleconference press briefing to discuss proposed legislation to ban police spying on peaceful activists in Maryland, and what provisions are necessary in order to ensure Marylanders’ First Amendment rights are protected. Also, to discuss the ACLU’s “No Spying” rally and lobby night in Annapolis on Feb. 9 from 5:30-8:30 PM
WHO: Cynthia Boersma, ACLU of Maryland Legislative Director; Mike German, National ACLU Policy Counsel and former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he specialized in domestic terrorism and covert operations.
WHEN: 11 AM on Monday, February 9, 2009.
NUMBER: 1-712-580-1800, Access Code: 61804
BACKGROUND: Since July 17, 2008, when the ACLU of Maryland uncovered that the MSP engaged in covert surveillance of local peace and anti-death penalty groups for over a year from 2005-2006, we have learned that the Maryland State Police has engaged in a far-reaching program of covert surveillance of political groups in Maryland. Dozens of individuals and organizations have been targeted by the Maryland State Police which maintained criminal intelligence files on their political beliefs and activities, labeling them as suspected terrorists and security threats. According to their own files, the MSP had no evidence or suspicion that any identified target was engaged in criminal activity of any kind.
The First Amendment protects the rights of all Marylanders to organize to advance their political and social views free of the chilling specter of government surveillance and dossiers, yet Maryland has no law that protects these most basic of rights to organize, peacefully assemble, and petition our government.
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