At least police take protests seriously

July 24, 2008

Last year, I circulated a petition to "Save the Maryland National Guard, Bring them Home." I was surprised by how many people asked me if I wasn't concerned that "someone" would be monitoring my actions. My answer was that I couldn't care less.

I deplore the waste of tax dollars spent monitoring peace groups, but I fail to detect a First Amendment issue here. No one's right to speak or assemble has been violated.

Instead of complaining about the surveillance, perhaps Maria Allwine should be applauding it ("State police spying is dangerous repression," Commentary, July 22).

After all the hours I spent scouring the Inner Harbor and farmers' market for signatures, I became disillusioned that so few people cared about the actions of our government or the poaching of the Maryland National Guard for overseas duty.

Now, I am delighted that peace groups are being taken seriously once again.

If I am on any watch list, great.

Standing up for what is right is a privilege. And if the cops want to monitor me, bring 'em on.

Rosalind Nester Ellis

Baltimore

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At least police take protests seriously

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