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Equality Maryland Falls Prey to State Surveillance
A Note From Executive Director Kate Runyon
On January 22, Equality Maryland staff members, past and present, spoke out in Annapolis in favor of the Freedom of Association and Assembly Protection Act of 2009, a bill would require the police to have at least "reasonable suspicion" before they could start collecting dossiers on individuals. Last year, EQMD authorized the ACLU of Maryland to file a Maryland Public Information Act Request on our organization's behalf, as well as on behalf of several members of our board and staff. The goal was to ascertain if the state had in any way spied on Equality Maryland. The ACLU provided to Equality Maryland information received from the Maryland State Police, and what has turned up so far is chilling. The MSP had 6 database entries on EQMD. One memo indicates a concerted effort to compile information on political protest groups thought to be a threat to public safety, and includes EQMD on that list.
One reference indicates that someone contacted our organization using a fake name to obtain information about a rally, and we have reason to believe our email lists were being monitored. In fact, the files on EQMD indicate repeated references to "continued monitoring," but what that consists of, we don't yet fully know. One note references a photograph "on file" of former Executive Director Dan Furmansky, though whether or not a full file has been compiled on him has not yet been determined.
To date, we do not believe the full extent of the spying on the LGBT community in Maryland is yet understood. I am offended and shocked that any of us associated with a reputable human rights organization would be treated by our state police as potentially criminal and dangerous with absolutely no just cause. Anyone should be free to advocate for anti-discrimination laws, equal marriage rights, domestic partner benefits, and other human rights measures without fear of government surveillance or fear that we will end up in databases.
Equality Maryland will continue our efforts to ascertain what information has yet to be shared with us about this spying, and we will urge legislators in Annapolis to pass the Freedom of Association and Assembly Protection Act of 2009.