VICTIMS OF STATE POLICE SPYING SCANDAL DEMAND COPIES OF FILES & RIGHT TO ATTORNEY

Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, 325 East 25^th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski at verizon.net

 

PRESS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   October 16, 2008

 

Contact: Max Obuszewski [410] 366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net

Kim Snowden 443-838-3221

 

VICTIMS OF STATE POLICE SPYING SCANDAL DEMAND COPIES OF FILES & RIGHT TO ATTORNEY

WHO: The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore was formed for individuals willing to engage in nonviolent civil resistance to first prevent and later to protest the war in Iraq. It is affiliated with several national peace groups, including the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance and United For Peace & Justice. The Baltimore Coalition Against the Death Penalty is affiliated with the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, a grassroots organization focused on abolishing the death penalty in the U.S.

The Pledge, the Coalition and the Campaign were listed in Maryland State Police [MSP] documents released by the Attorney General’s office after the Maryland American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit. The documents revealed and detailed many instances of state police officers engaged in illegal surveillance of peace activists and opponents to the death penalty.

On October 7, during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee in Annapolis, it was revealed that a MSP terrorist database contained the names of 53 activists.  At this time, the MSP has not released the names of these individuals. 

 

WHAT:  The Maryland State Police was to send letters to those who were erroneously listed in the terrorist database.  Through news reports, at least fifteen people acknowledged receiving letters.  Some of those are Ellen Barfield, Nadine Bloch, Barry Kissin, Jason Kray, Laura Lising and Max Obuszewski.

 

When activists contacted the Homeland Security Bureau of the state police, they were informed they could look at their files, but not get copies, nor could they bring an attorney with them.  In response, the Maryland American Civil Liberties Union contacted Gov. Martin O’Malley about this disregard for due process.  However, the governor has yet to respond. So the victims of the spying, who  are demanding a copy of his/her file and an opportunity to have an attorney witness the transaction, are holding a press conference.

 

WHEN:  Friday, October 17, 2008 at noon

 

WHERE:  at State Police headquarters, 1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208.   

 

WHY:  Spying on activists is a travesty of justice, an absolute waste of taxpayer money and an unproductive use of government employees.  To compound this disastrous policy decision, the Maryland State Police is now denying activists who were labeled terrorists copies of their files and their right to an attorney.

 

Activists who received letters from the state police and representatives of groups calling for a real investigation of the spy scandal will speak at the press conference.   Copies of the letter delivered to Gov. O’Malley’s representative calling for a complete investigation of the spying will be made available at the press conference.  To ensure that the spying is not ongoing or will not be repeated in the future, the progressive community in Maryland is demanding a full investigation to determine who ordered the surveillance, how long it was ongoing, what government officials were involved  and what preventive measures will be taken.

 

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