Monthly Archives: February 2016

MCCRC supports Del. Smith’s HB521 bill restoring SWAT team reporting

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

On February 23d, MCCRC submitted written testimony in support of HB521, a bill sponsored by Delegate Will Smith (D-20) that would require Maryland police departments to annually report detailed data about their SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team deployments. The … Continue reading →

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Marylanders show up in Annapolis for police reform – sheriffs, chiefs agree #NoRec23

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

Over a hundred advocates of police reform descended on Annapolis on Tuesday to press their case for real police reform and against measures like “Recommendation 23” — packing brutality hearing boards with members favorable to the accused — that would … Continue reading →

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BORDC/DDF’s Sue Udry: FBI iPhone demand seeks “crow bar” into our lives

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

[Yesterday, activists held a protest in Washington DC against the FBI’s efforts to compel Apple to help break the encryption of an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. MCCRC supported the demonstration with email alerts, and BORDC/DDF … Continue reading →

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Maryland at a crossroads on Tuesday – rally for police reform, pack the hearing room!

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

WHEN: 11am-9pm, Tuesday February 23 WHERE: MD Legislature, Lowe House Office Building 6 Bladen St, Room 145 Baltimore City Delegation Room Annapolis, MD 21401  (map) WHAT: Rally for police accountability, 11pm Hearings on police reform legislation, 1pm until late. HOW: Montgomery … Continue reading →

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WMATA: come clean about bag searches, comply with MCCRC records request

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

[SIGN OUR PETITION AGAINST BAG SEARCHES] Last November, the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority (WMATA) police department announced it was resuming a controversial bag search procedure in which (allegedly) random customers are asked to submit to testing of their bags … Continue reading →

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MCCRC 2016 Annapolis legislative tracker

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

During the coming weeks, MCCRC will be maintaining a list of pending Maryland legislation of particular significance to civil rights and civil liberties in our state. The list — embedded below — is annotated with current MCCRC positions (the first … Continue reading →

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Phonebanking for police reform with Progressive Maryland

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

WHERE: 35 University Blvd, Silver Spring, MD (United Methodist Church; enter via playground) (map) WHEN: Thursday, Feb 18, 6-9pm WHY: Get commitments to join us at a rally and hearings for police reform in Annapolis next Tuesday! RSVP: Progressive Maryland … Continue reading →

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MCCRC testimony on HB257 historical location data bill by Del. Moon

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

MCCRC submitted written testimony today in support of an “admirably succinct” bill, HB257, by Delegate David Moon (D-20, Montgomery County) that would address a major loophole in Maryland electronic surveillance law: the ability to view historical location data. By adding … Continue reading →

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Guest post: Montgomery County electronic voting finally gets a real paper trail

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

Voting is one of the most fundamental civil rights — but electronic systems used by Maryland and Montgomery County have been vulnerable to abuse. Now new systems, to be deployed in April, promise improvement. Guest author Robert Lanza explains. I … Continue reading →

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Police reform coalition responds in detail to Annapolis recommendations

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Thomas Nephew

Last summer, in the wake of the Freddie Gray unrest in Baltimore, a “Public Safety and Policing Work Group” (PSWG) of Annapolis legislators was convened to belatedly acknowledge some need for police reform, following the all but complete denial of reform … Continue reading →

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