As The Nation editorialized this week, while the details of the NYPD spying on Muslims are shocking—targets included a small elementary school and some students’ whitewater rafting trip—in many ways the program is merely business as usual as the NYPD has morphed in the decade since 9/11 into an imposing and largely independent and unchecked counterterrorism force.
Given the blatant discriminatory nature of the spying, at least thirty-four members of Congress have called for the Department of Justice to investigate; New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt has been particularly outspoken. The ACLU and CAIR have also called for an investigation.
TO DOThe ACLU is demanding a federal probe into the use of White House funds to underwrite the NYPD’s religious profiling. Contact the DOJ and implore Attorney General Holder to open up an investigation. Explain that spying on innocent Americans without probable cause is un-Constitutional and un-American. Call the DOJ Public Comment Line at 202-353-1555 and email to [email protected]. After weighing in, share this info with friends, family, Facebook friends and Twitter followers.
TO READA team of Associated Press reporters first exposed the NYPD’s intelligence operations surveilling Muslim citizens. To get a sense of the scope and enormity of the program, start with this story.
TO WATCHAl Jazeera English‘s Cath Turner details the history of spying on Muslim communities in the US.
A weekly guide to meaningful action, this blog connects readers with resources to channel the outrage so many feel after reading about abuses of power and privilege. Far from a comprehensive digest of all worthy groups working on behalf of the social good, Take Action seeks to shine a bright light on one concrete step that Nation readers can take each week. To broaden the conversation, we’ll publish a weekly follow-up post detailing the response and featuring additional campaigns and initiatives that we hope readers will check out. Toward that end, please use the comments field to give us ideas. With your help we can make real change.
