Groups to monitor driving checkpoints

As a follow-up to the recent thread about driving checkpoints, here's a story about groups of folks who are watching the watchdog:

Groups to monitor D.C. area checkpoints

Quick quotes:

[NAACP's local police task force leader Mark] Thompson was joined Saturday morning by about a dozen activists representing myriad groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, at the intersection where the checkpoints began in the evening. They warned of legal action if residents' constitutional rights were violated.

"It seems interesting that police are willing to easily cast aside fundamental freedoms for quick-fix, lazy law enforcement tactics," said Johnny Barnes, executive director of the ACLU for the National Capital Area. "We're going to do everything to make sure that the rights of citizens are protected."

This is the kind of thing our Meetup groups can be doing on a regular basis; not necessarily monitoring driver checkpoints, mind you, but taking action on local issues where Constitutional rights are being violated.

Of course, there are still mindless, lock-step boneheads like this:

But others applauded the initiative. George Saxton of Capitol Hill was pulled over in his black Ford Focus after dropping off his niece near the checkpoint. He said those who are complaining about the initiative probably have something to hide.

*sigh* Still lots of work for us to do out there, folks. Let's keep on the job of renewing minds. Forward!