[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [SRRTAC-L:8427] ACLU slams TIPS program

[Alfred Kagan]

>Delivered-To: akagan at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
>Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 10:23:20 -0400
>From: Chuck Munson <chuck at tao.ca>
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>To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l at ALA.ORG>
>Cc: "acc at lists.mutualaid.org" <acc at lists.mutualaid.org>,
>	"mgj-discuss at lists.mutualaid.org" <mgj-discuss at lists.mutualaid.org>
>Subject: [SRRTAC-L:8427] ACLU slams TIPS program
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>Status:  
>
>It's kind of funny that the spokesperson for John Ashcroft has the last
>name of "Comstock." Has anybody else noticed this? What's up with this
>"comstockery?"
>
>ACLU slams TIPS program
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - -
>By Associated Press
>
>July 17, 2002  |  Washington -- A new program which the government
>envisions as a tip service for  authorities concerned with terrorism is
>being assailed as a scheme to cast ordinary Americans as "peeping Toms."
>
>The focus of the American Civil Liberties Union's wrath is Operation TIPS
>-- Terrorism Information and Prevention System - in which rank-and-file
>citizens would watch for suspicious activity and report it.
>
>Attorney General John Ashcroft's spokeswoman denied Tuesday that the
>Justice Department program, still in the development stage, would set up
>people to spy upon one another in their homes and communities.
>
>Barbara Comstock said the agency had no intention for people -- such as
>utility workers -- to enter or have access to the homes of individuals.
>The idea is to organize information from people whose jobs take them
>through neighborhoods, along the coasts and highways and on public
>transit, she said.
>
>Said Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge: "The last thing we want is
>Americans spying on Americans. That's just not what the president is all
>about, and not what the TIPS program is all about."
>
>The ACLU said the concept was worrisome, nonetheless.
>
>"The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will turn
>local cable or gas or electrical technicians into government-sanctioned
>Peeping Toms," said Rachel King, an ACLU legislative counsel.
>
>The ACLU said it was concerned that these volunteers would, in effect, be
>searching people's homes without warrants, that resources would be wasted
>on a flood of useless tips and that the program would encourage
>vigilantism and racial profiling.
>
>It would provide a central reporting point for reports of unusual but
>non-emergency situations. Among those involved in the voluntary program
>could be truckers, mail carriers, train conductors, ship captains, utility
>employees and others.
>
>Ridge told radio reporters that people in certain occupations are ideal
>observers. "They might pick up a break in the certain rhythm or pattern of
>a community. They may pick up in the course of their daily business
>something that's very unusual."
>
>He noted that the program is voluntary.
>
>"There's a big difference being vigilant and being a vigilante. We just
>want people to use their common sense," Ridge said. "It is not a
>government intrusion. The president just wants people to be alert and
>aware. ... We're not asking for people to spy on people."
>
>The goal, Comstock said, "is to allow American workers to share
>information they receive in the regular course of their jobs in public
>places and areas."
>
>Operation TIPS is a part of the Citizen Corps, an initiative announced by
>President Bush in his State of the Union address.
>
>The Postal Service issued a statement saying it has had preliminary
>discussions with the Department of Justice and Bush's homeland security
>office, but no final agreements have been reached.
>
>"It is important to note, however, that the Postal Service has established
>processes for our postal employees nationwide to report suspicious
>activity to the Postal Inspection Service and to local authorities," the
>agency said.
>
>Justice plans to begin the project in August in 10 cities, to be selected.
>Participants will be able to report anything unusual to a toll-free phone
>number.
>
><< Chuck0 >>
>
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>"...ironically, perhaps, the best organised dissenters in
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>still trying to form committees."
>                -- Jeremy Hardy, The Guardian (UK)


-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu