Posted on 11/13/2004 10:13:38 AM PST by kattracks
Not everyone is happy that tighter airport security has managed to prevent a rerun of the 9/11 attacks.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Boston's Logan Airport, the very facility used by Osama bin Laden's suicide hijackers, claiming that its security measures led to the illegal detainment of one of its officials. In a press release issued last week, the left-wing group says that Logan's behavior pattern recognition program "effectively condones and encourages" racial and ethnic profiling and is therefore unconstitutional.
The lawsuit claims that King Downing, the ACLU's national coordinator for racial profiling, alleges that he was harassed by state police last year while he was on his way to attend a meeting on racial profiling.
Downing says he was making a telephone call when airport officials stopped him and "demanded that he produce some identification,” according to an ACLU press release.
Downing declined to give his information and was arrested on the spot. He was released a short time later, however, after producing identification along with his travel documents. No charges were filed.
"This program is another unfortunate example of the extent to which we are being asked to surrender basic freedoms in the name of security," said John Reinstein, the Massachusetts Legal Director of the ACLU. "This allows the police to stop anyone, any time, for any reason."
The Massachusetts Port Authority strongly denies the racial profiling charge, arguing that its program protects civil rights and that there are no racial factors in behavior pattern recognition.
Joseph Taranto contributed to this report.
The only real hijack prevention measure is National Air Travel Concealed Carry.
Gee, how coincidental.
Are these people ever on the correct side? I'm convinced they're a crazed band of renegade lawyers.
They are exactly that! The American UNcivil and Nonexistant Liberties Union.
Evidently, I missed that clause in the Constitution that says "thou shalt no profile."
Boo frickity hoo, ACLU. Too bad we don't have the same civil rights afforded to the citizens of Islamic countries...
John Kerry was also alerted, PERSONALY of security concerns by Logan airport officials months before the 911 attacks, (as the Senator from that area) He ignored them completely, did nothing. A member of the Intellegence Commission no less!
It's either the beauty or the downfall of America that groups like these can just do their thing with total disregard for the implications or ramifications of how the country will be affected by their actions. </headshaking off>.
Works for me.
This ass---e has to identify himself anyway to get on a plane. What's the problem?
They always try to bend being on the correct side to further some mischief, but its hard to be on the wrong side versus the highly competent TSA.
He is the ACLU LOL
There is no problem, but they invent intimidation, where none exists. Hmmmm Sounds familiar, somehow
Since the election has ended the ACLU has been grabbing a lot of headlines.
I appears the have started getting a lot of funding.
The question you should be asking is "Why?"
It didn'y used to be that way.
IDs didn't stop 9/11.
People give their lives for freedom.
I'd give you a buck for Freedom Lite(tm) - if I'd still have enough pocket money for a beer left.
Yah, isn't that just great? The libs know they can't get this crazy stuff done the "honest and above board" way by getting the will of the people, so they have to resort to legislation from the judicial branch. Grrrr....
Since the IRS investigated NAACP, why not the ACLU.
I did a Google search. This case is about "behavioral profiling" not racial... I also researched a little about the "victim". He is appears to be a "Marxist-Leninist Torte Reformer"... in other words a classic "Cop- Baiter".
The ACLU and its cronies should be tried for sedition.
What a name, what an ego, what a DORK!
New Profiling should place all ACLU members in custody.
This would prevent any further Mooslime hijackers from boarding. It would also mean the civil liberties(ie the right to live and breathe) of AMERICANS would not be violated for the sake of the aclu!
Shut down the Alphabet Channels (ABJazerra & Her Sister Stations)!
Vote with your Remote!
But, I Have A Plan
Zippo Hero
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
It's the 
That's UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
So the high school dropouts in the airport gestapo managed to arrest one of Americas biggest terrorists. This is news. I guess even a blind sow finds an acorn once in a while.
Wanna bet there's a whooooole lot more to the story.
Some people just LOOK like they could be a problem, and you can be sure this guy did not cooperate at all and most likely made a scene before he was cuffed.
What an irony that now we are willing not to sell the rope, but to give it away, and to go through all sorts of Politically Correct mental, logic and common sense gymnastics to justify it.
The negatives of the ACLU (originally created to defend Communists) far outweight their accidental "positives".
WHY DO GOVERNMENTS EVEN BOTHER TO REPLY TO THESE STUPID ACLU LAWSUITS? LET THEM WIN A JUDGEMENT AND COLLECT OR ENFORCE ON IT AGAINST LOGAN AIRPORT...GOOD LUCK!
Reminds me of what was going on in 2001, before 911. Hillary was gearing up then, too. The ACLU will be a big part of it.
The unalienable right to board an airplane that is not yours?
Downing declined to give his information and was arrested on the spot. He was released a short time later, however, after producing identification along with his travel documents. No charges were filed.
When security personnel in our post-9/11 airports make a simple and unobtrusive request like producing identification, it seems to me that an obstinate refusal is either based in lawsuit-bating or actual participation in illegal activities. Either way, the authorities must act on behalf of our security, rather than fear of a frivolous lawsuit.
No, of course, not.
You are setting up a straw man.
I should be free to fly No-towelheads/RKBA Air if I want to.
YOU can continue to fly NannyAir.
Instead, the Government Nanny wants to give you the anal probe uniformly, just so nobody gets the idea they are free or anything.
Mmmmmm tasty jackboots! Lick! Lick!
If you tell a cop to stick it, you MUST be up to no good.
After all, the cops are supreme in their rights over yours.
Are they *ever* on the correct side of anything?
Can't believe some of the ex-republican politicians that have joined this organization.
So then, you should also be free to fly "towelhead" air without interference from the feds?
I agree with you MissPie. Barr and Armey are two.
So who would you rather stand with?
Bob Dole?
or Bob Barr and Dick Armey?
The latter two are worth 100 Bob Doles.
Nowadays, Bob Barr and Dick Armey apparently stand with the left infested ACLU. I assign that a negative worth.
So then, you should also be free to fly "towelhead" air without interference from the feds?
The question remains unanswered by you(See Bold).
So then, you should also be free to fly "towelhead" air without interference from the feds?
The question remains unanswered by you(See Bold).
Sure, YOU should have that choice.
SUBMIT to teh JBTs, or SUBMIT it Islam, as you please.
As for me, I'd rather fly a free man.
So, don't fly. Nobody gives a damn.
Sure, YOU should have that choice.
You don't think that a "towelhead" air would be a risk to the defense of our country?
I do. Thus the feds. Because air travel has become a risk -- to those of us on the ground. I've got 3K dead neighbors to prove it.
He is an activist for the ACLU. He was probably causing a minor ruckus, just enough to get their attention, so they would stop him and ask him for ID. I bet he was yelling and screaming on the phone - just loud enough to be noticed - on purpose.
Hmmm.....
I wonder what he was actually doing.
Excerpt: The American Civil Liberties Union has rejected $1.15 million from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, saying their effort to ensure that none of their money inadvertently underwrites terrorism or other unacceptable activities is a threat to civil liberties....
"Ford's grant agreement, which governs the use of the money it gives to more than 4,000 organizations it supports, says, "By signing this grant letter, you (the ACLU) agree that your organization will not promote or engage in violence, terrorism, bigotry or the destruction of any state, nor will it make subgrants to any entity that engages in these activities."
A.C.L.U. Rejects Foundation Grants Over Terror Language
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.