The ACLU is in the news today for a massive constitutional suit they've just filed along with two of my teachers - Seth Kreimer and David Rudovsky - and Rudovsky's partner Paul Messing. They target the city's use of stop and frisk, which has been ramped up quietly since the heated public debate during the last mayoral race. The suit claims that as practiced by the Philadelphia police, stop and frisk is unconstitutional in targeting black and Hispanic men for no valid legal ground and in not disciplining and correcting clear patterns of police misuse. It will be really interesting to see what comes out of any discovery. The complaint, pretty fascinating, is here.

But I wanted to post an upcoming ACLU event on a topic that has had much less media attention, continued and increased targeting of activists for surveillance and harassment since George Bush left office. This is a great group of people covering a lot of important ground. Definitely worth getting out for.

THE WAR ON DISSENT: A TOWN HALL

FBI raids on homes of anti-war activists... State office of homeland security tracking of activists… Police harassment and arrest of G-20 protestors...

Surveillance and harassment of activists are on the rise. Express your support of free speech and learn more about current threats to the right to dissent,
including:

*The latest on the state anti-terrorism bulletins tracking activists
*The dangers of fusion centers, mechanisms created to share federal, state and local intelligence
*The use of the PATRIOT Act’s “material support” statute to go after activists
*The risks of privatizing intelligence gathering

Moderated by activist and attorney Michael Coard and featuring:

Michael German, former FBI agent and ACLU Policy Counsel
Paul Hetznecker, criminal defense attorney/civil rights attorney
Mary Catherine Roper, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU of Pennsylvania
Jess Sundin, one of the targets of the recent FBI raids on activists in the Midwest

When: Wednesday, November 10, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102

Free & open to the public.

For more information: aclupa@aclupa.org or 215-592-1513 x122