Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

A R C H I V E S

The police state has begun...

Madina Archives


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

The police state has begun...
jannah
07/21/05 at 18:55:52
No racial profiling??? yeah right... if you're arab/desi looking i guarantee you're going to have to add 1/2 hour to your commute - J

===================================

Police Begin Checking Bags on NYC Subways

By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago

Police on Thursday began random searches of bags and packages carried by people entering city subways, a new security measure announced after another round of bomb attacks in London.

"We just live in a world where, sadly, these kinds of security measures are necessary," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "Are they intrusive? Yes, a little bit. But we are trying to find that right balance."

The inspections began Thursday on a small-scale basis in at least one location in Manhattan, where a cluster of officers was seen stopping five men over a 15-minute period as they entered a subway at evening rush hour. In each instance, the officers peered briefly into the men's bags, then waved them through.

Full-scale inspections are scheduled to be in place by rush hour Friday.

Passengers carrying bags will be selected at random before they pass through turnstiles, and those who refuse to be searched won't be allowed to ride, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The announcement drew complaints from civil liberties advocates in a city where an estimated 4.5 million passengers ride the subway on an average weekday. The system has more than 468 subway stations — most with multiple entrances — and the flood of commuters hurrying in and out of stations during rush hour can be overwhelming.

Kelly stressed that officers posted at subway entrances would not engage in racial profiling, and that passengers are free to "turn around and leave." He also downplayed the possibility of bottlenecks at subway entrances.

Officials declined to specify how frequently the checks would occur. Authorities said bus and commuter train passengers will also be checked.

"If it serves a purpose, I'm OK with it," said one of the men inspected Thursday, James Washington, 45.

William K. Williams, a 56-year-old Manhattan resident who rides the train every day, said such security measures — while inconvenient — are a way of life now.

"It doesn't bother me — I mean, the whole state of things bothers me — but it's just part and parcel of the world we live in," said Williams, who was carrying a briefcase outside the Brooklyn Bridge station of the subway.

The New York Civil Liberties Union said the searches violate basic rights and will inconvenience New Yorkers, but the group stopped short of threatening a legal challenge.

"The NYPD can and should investigate any suspicious activity, but the Fourth Amendment prohibits police from conducting searches where there is no suspicion of criminal activity," executive director Donna Lieberman said.

Andrew Morris, a 57-year-old New Yorker who had a large bag slung over his shoulder Thursday, said he would consent to a search if asked, but added that the extra security measures are essentially useless.

"I think these terrorists go where it's easiest to go, so if you make it hard on the subway, they'll go where we're weak," Morris said.

Williams predicted the new searches would frustrate New Yorkers, not exactly known for their patience.

"Sometimes you need to get to an appointment, you're running late and a cop stops you to delay you even further? That's going to create a mess," he said.

In Boston, additional police officers were added at downtown subway stations after the latest round of London explosions, and Gov. Mitt Romney boarded a subway to reassure residents that the city's transit system is safe.
Re: The police state has begun...
lala
07/22/05 at 09:41:01
[slm]

well so far in the last few random bombings - its been the work of arab desi looking folks...or so they believe. Sometimes police work has to incorporate profiling. Think about if you were a copper...what would you do? what would you look for ?
anyhow, if someone wanted to bomb the nyc trains its not impossible. there are way too many commuters to even check 1/4 or even 1/8 of them. Scary thought for those of us who take the trains every morning/night...

Obviously, one never knows so they should check all suspicious looking people, packages etc... and they should not be turning the eye towards all arab/desi looking people...but its hard to disregard that .. its hard even for me to disregard that..and I'm a muslim / desi looking person. Go figure. What has the world turned to. . .

Remember the good ole days....pre september 2001... ? man...

people need to stop killing people. Governments need to stop killing people.

Grant us the patience and courage oh Allah to look past all these wrongs, to strengthen our hearts and our faith.  Stand unified , stand together as societies muslim and non muslim. Let us protest in our own ways, against the evil in this world... ameen
ameen
jannah
07/22/05 at 10:15:29
[wlm]

ameen lala

the thing is, is it fair that because you're an obviously muslim looking male (or female for that matter) you are going to be stopped every time you get on the subway??  that your bags are going to get searched, that you are always the one that gets "randomly" checked/questioned/harassed. that's racial profiling and its not right...is it right that cops stop black guys twice as much as white guys? what if you're a few shades lighter.. what if you can pass as hispanic.. what if you have green eyes and blond hair (syrians).. i mean if ur just white enough you might pass eh...  

i mean if ur going to do that they should just install metal detectors and make everyone go through them, instead of checking skin color and facial features.

and imagine the effect on society.. hey if the police are allowed to legitimately racially profile why shouldn't the ordinary person descriminate and do the same thing.

i'm just really scared for the desi bros in england.. imagine one of them trying to get on the subway...if they have a backpack if they even look at other ppl they're going to say 'yeah he looked scared or strange'...and the guy they were trying to stop TRIPPED and then they shot him 5 times dead.. i guess they were told to shoot first and ask questions later... i mean wow... remember amadou dialou... it's just scary..
07/22/05 at 10:17:15
jannah
Re: The police state has begun...
amatullah
07/22/05 at 10:50:24
well like jannah said it has begun because they announced two days ago like the state they can detain people for no evidence and they can shoot to kill on the spot and they actually did it today!
someone who had no bag and no apparently weapon was shot 5 times after the police jumped on him.
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-07/22/article03.shtml


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
A R C H I V E S

Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.
The rest © Jannah.Org