The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on Tuesday filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the FBI's offices in Norfolk and Richmond seeking records on the agency's collection and use of racial and ethnic data in those communities.
The requests are part of a coordinated effort in 29 states and the District of Columbia to determine how the FBI collects, maps and uses racial and ethnic data under its 2-year-old Domestic Intelligence and Operations Guide.
"While some racial and ethnic data collections by some agencies might be helpful in lessening discrimination, the FBI's attempt to collect and map demographic data using race-based criteria for targeting purposes invites unconstitutional racial profiling by law enforcement," the ACLU said in a news release.
The FBI has denied it practices racial profiling and has said that since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it has increased intelligence-gathering in an effort to prevent another attack.
The guidelines for collecting the data, issued in late 2008, reflect consultations with Congress and privacy and civil liberties groups, the FBI said. Those included three oversight hearings, numerous formal and informal briefings, and outreach to interested organizations.
"We are confident these guidelines will assist the FBI in carrying out its critical national security and foreign intelligence missions while also protecting privacy and civil liberties," the FBI said in a statement at that time.
The ACLU points out that the guidelines allow agents to collect information about ethnic-oriented businesses, behaviors, lifestyle characteristics and cultural traditions in communities with concentrated ethnic populations. Muslim groups in particular have cried foul over the guidelines, saying they have been unfairly targeted.
Michael German, an ACLU attorney and former FBI agent, said the guidelines "raise serious civil liberties concerns."
"Creating a profile of a neighborhood for criminal law enforcement or domestic intelligence purposes based on the ethnic makeup of the people who live there or the types of businesses they run is unfair, un-American and will certainly not help stop crime," German said.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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Defend the constitution
In this era of people demanding a strict adherence to the constitution, it is surprising the outcry over the ACLU in demanding strict adherence to the constitution. I guess the constitution to some is situational. Laws and the constitution is only for when they are on your side.
Now we know ---
Why German is no longer an FBI agent! Here's a clue for all the malcontents that are crying --- there are planes and ships leaving for other countries all the time --- buy a ticket!!
So!
Your solution to people who disagree with you is that THEY should leave the country. I wonder, have you ever heard of Freedom of Speech???? Remember that one??
ACLU
Any thing the ACLU does is suspect. The purpose of the ACLU is to totally destroy AMERICA as we know it. They defend pedophiles, murders, rapists, liars, extortionists, terrorists ....the list goes on. If you don't believe this...look it up and you will start to see the ACLU's trend. ACLU must be stopped at all costs.
re: ACLU
So just how do you propose "stopping" the ACLU? It's rhetoric like this that leads to unstable persons attempting to commit acts of political violence. Maybe someone should stop you from making threatening comments.
what's your point??
defense attorney's do the same thing as the ACLU.
Data Collection
As a white person, I can only think of a two reasons for this to be collected and studied as the information is already available through other channels. Racial profiling and boondoggle.
ACLU & FBI
I suggest the FBI give the ACLU what they are asking for - all of it - including field notes (if any), any/all raw data - endless graphs - analyst notes - all the paper they want and let them wade through it. Shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 years and keep them out of other mischief. A couple of mouse clicks to d/l all that crap.
LEST WE FORGET
All the VP has to do is write an article with the words "ACLU" & the "FBI" in it and all the Wildlife appears on these forums (myself included)!
Actually some of the comments, Pro & Con, are pretty good.
Thank BOTH the ACLU & FBI for the fact that we can all express our views.
Lest We Forget.
Lest We Forget
I believe that "YOU" have forgotten - I thank the "SOLDIERS" who have fought since day one of this great United States of America for our freedom and to be able to express our views! I will be damned if I will ever thank the aclu or the fbi for anything!
Thank BOTH the ACLU & FBI for the fact that we can all express our views.
Lest We Forget