Are you a "person of interest?"

On inauguration day, 36 people in Melbourne, Florida gathered at city hall for a counter-inauguration protest. Their peaceful and legal protest was also attended by 9 police officers who videotaped the protest and the license tags of the people attending. The police said they were doing it for their protection. 4 police officers for every protester. We should all feel so protected. Keep in mind the protection was not expected, requested or necessary.

Enter the ACLU to wrangle over the tapes... In late February, saying his predecessor had established the policy to routinely videotape protesters, Police Chief Don Carey said he is changing the rules to require more accountability for such surveillance. He also said a tape of a recent demonstration would be erased. Melbourne police officers will no longer systematically videotape antiwar demonstrations in town.

However, six individuals somehow became aware that they were on a list of "persons of interest" with the Melbourne police and the Brevard County sheriffs office. These caring people could easily be you or me. Interesting to note that "person of interest" is also how the police department in Orange County described their suspect in a recent rape/murder case prior to his arrest.

These individuals, assisted by the ACLU, hand-delivered public records requests this morning to determine what records the sheriff's office is maintaining on them. The ACLU will also be filing its own follow up requests to determine the involvement of other agencies involved in spying on demonstrators. i.e. Are the FBI or Homeland Security department involved?

Supposedly websites and email activity have been monitored on these individuals and there is suspicion of police moles in local protest groups.

The people on this list are guilty of the following types of dangerous behavior. Organizing and attending antiwar demonstrations, peace vigils, and inauguration protests. Writing blogs expressing dismay over the actions of the current administration. Writing letters to the editor. Attending MoveOn.org house parties and DFA meetings. Exchanging emails to spread the word about liberal events in the county.

Local Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates attended the press conference today. I wonder if they'll even bother to edit it into the evening news.

I think I missed something...I'm not sure what press conference you're referring to?

I'm glad at least that the ACLU is helping. I saw your post on this topic yesterday too. You are brave.

-wildflower

After the arrests of 9 protesters in Westfield, NJ, 2 weeks ago, one police officer was quoted by the brother of one of those under arrest as saying that everyone "picked up" would get a Secret Service file started on them. Fight this!

If you want to see video of the Westfield arrests and general police intimidation, please see this link:

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

Brevard county native, here. There's all kinds of defense industry down there that i bet ate this shit up. Someone at the Chamber probably leaned on Carey to harass the protesters for economic development PR.

it's like people exist at the pleasure of corporations, anymore.

Over 50 people and all major media showed up this morning (Mon., Mar. 21) at the Brevard County Sheriff's Department's branch office at Sarno Road, Melbourne, to witness an official public records request and subsequent press conference with ACLU and counter-inaugural demonstration participants. Six individuals who participated in a Jan. 20 counter-inaugural demonstration at Melbourne City Hall were not only videotaped by the Melbourne Police Department, but have been labeled "persons of interest" by the Sherriff's Department, and their web-browsing and e-mail activities have been covertly monitored by the Sheriff's Dept. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Department has forwarded information on these "persons of interest" to Patrick Air Force Base officials. The counter-inaugural demonstration was a peaceful public protest at which no one broke any laws. There is no apparent reason for any participants to have been singled out for such scrutiny. What do the six have in common? Their opposition to the war in Iraq and the policies of the Bush Administration. Are intensive police surveillance and intimidation practices that ordinary citizens will have to suffer from law enforcement under the Bush Administration?

Brevard ACLU Vice President Kevin Aplin gave a masterful presentation to the press on exactly what occurred, what is known (and unknown), and the reason for ACLU's involvement in this issue. Kevin was followed by Jeff Nall, a lead organizer of the counter-inaugural demonstration, who did a great job explaining the threat that such surveillance presents to ordinary citizens. Watch Kevin and Jeff on TV news tonight (Central Florida News Channel 13, Channel 2 WESH, Channel 6 WKMG, Channel 9 WFTV, and Fox 35). Read all about it tomorrow in the Florida Today and watch for the next edition of Hometown News (free weekly).

UPDATE: Brevard County Sheriff "Jack Parker responded with his own news release attempting to justify his actions. This was followed by an additional ACLU Brevard news release from Kevin Aplin, which said the Sheriff's remarks were absurd, and asked that the Sheriff withdraw his remarks.

MORE: See updates at <http://www.spacecoastprogressivealliance.org>

TV: today's press conference, sherriff's follow-up news release, and Kevin Aplin's reply to that:
Channel 2 WESH TV: <http://www.wesh.com/news/4304980/detail.html>

PHOTOS: <http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4264048&a=31690320&f=0&vt=mp>

We have a similar situation here, and I have been on "the list" since an anti-war rally I attended in the summer of 2002. I caught the police videotaping the license plates of my car as I walked away from it with my banner. My husband approached him, holding my infant son, there because this was a small, very peaceful rally. He asked him why he would feel the need to monitor a couple with their children who happened to want to express an opinion peacefully. He said, "because I can". He then commented on how tragic it was we were given charge of two young minds.

Unfortunately, when we attempted to challenge their treatment of us, the photos taken of us, and the video of our vehicle, we were beaten at every turn. No one backed us up.

I am watching the situation in Brevard County, hoping that doesn't happen there.

The teaser story during the show "Medium" is about the press conference today. It may be worth it to stay up past my bedtime to see how they cover it.

We were followed by a cop leaving a "count all of the votes" rally right after the election. They tailagated us for 8-10 blocks, rather than passing us in another lane. Assholes. I don't doubt they took our tag # for some "list."

remember 2 can play the game......anytime you deal with someone photgraphing you,photograph them.

at least they won't "hate us for our freedoms" any more when we lose "freedom of speech and of assembly", right? :eyes: