In 2005, according to documents acquired by the ACLU under the Freedom of Information Act, the Maryland State Police were spying on decent folk whose politics ran contrary to the then Republican administration of Robert Ehrlich. A certain Ms. Shoup, the pseudonym adopted by a police operative, was spying on decent folk involved with the Committee to Save Vernon Evans and was getting cozy at Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse, a left-wing venue here in Mount Vernon.
Gay rights groups and anti-war activists were targeted in a fashion reminiscent of the 60’s and early 70’s. When I first read about this it engendered a nostalgic feeling as I recalled raids on coffeehouses back in the day…. I could almost smell the patchouli and hashish!
Those were the days, my friend.
But this new millenium foolishness spied on everybody, not just a small “enemies” list. The Washington Post article lists: Silver Spring-based Progressive Maryland, Defend Life, immigrant advocacy group CASA of Maryland, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, the gay rights group Equality Maryland and a coalition formed to fight high electricity rates.
Who are the brain police?
