Monthly Archives: January 2011

Videos, transcripts of WMATA board comments on bag searches

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

To effectively oppose WMATA’s random bag search program at this point, it will be important to study WMATA director statements for indications about their sentiments about the bag search program — and in some cases their misunderstandings of that program. … Continue reading →

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WMATA board refers RAC recommendations against bag searches to committee

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

Outgoing WMATA board chair Peter Benjamin talks with newly confirmed GM/CEO Richard Sarles before meeting The Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Association (WMATA) met on Thursday — the first board meeting since the Riders Advisory Council … Continue reading →

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Public comment at 1/27/11 WMATA board meeting: Karen O’Keefe

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

I’m Karen O’Keefe, an attorney and a member of the D.C. Bill of Rights Coalition. I’m here to ask you to heed the Riders Advisory Council’s resolution to immediately halt the bag searches. Please consider better ways to use police … Continue reading →

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Public comment at 1/27/11 WMATA board meeting: Pat Elder

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

My name is Pat Elder and I am a co-founder of the DC Bill of Rights Coalition. There are serious unintended consequences to your bag search policy. You are alienating a significant number or riders who feel their constitutional rights … Continue reading →

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Public comment at 1/27/11 WMATA board meeting: Thomas Nephew

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

I’m Thomas Nephew with the Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition. We urge you to adopt the RAC recommendations to halt random bag searches and conduct a public evaluation of their real effectiveness. We have a number of concerns with the … Continue reading →

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MCCRC activists attend key legislative forum

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

A legislative forum sponsored by Progressive Neighbors and the Progressive Working Group took place Sunday afternoon at the offices of IMPACT Silver Spring.   Members of the Montgomery County delegation to Annapolis — including Senators Jamie Raskin (Dist.20), Roger Manno (Dist.19), and … Continue reading →

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MLK Day demonstration at Quantico for Bradley Manning

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

As announced here and elsewhere, there was an MLK Day demonstration at Quantico Marines Base in support of Bradley Manning — accused “Wikileaks” whistleblower who may have leaked diplomatic cables, Afghanistan and Iraq action reports, and the notorious video of … Continue reading →

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Towards a Montgomery County Civil Rights Restoration Act

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

When the Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition first met in December, we hadn’t planned on being absorbed in a struggle against random bag searches in local Metro train stations. As our first blog post — “Protecting civil liberties at home” … Continue reading →

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Media relay Taborn’s “be observed” statement

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

Local news outlets are beginning to take note of Metro Transit Police Chief Taborn’s statement reported here last week — that Metro bag search refusers would “be observed” by law enforcement, including possibly by the FBI and Department of Homeland … Continue reading →

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Register your WMATA bag search complaint emails

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Thomas Nephew

Metro Transit Police Department has claimed that response to the bag search policy has been mainly positive — yet many people have told us they complained.  For my part, I submitted a complaint to the WMATA online complaint form, and … Continue reading →

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