Today 118 civil rights, faith, community and civic groups sent a joint letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder demanding an immediate investigation of the NYPD’s surveillance practices for violations of the constitutional rights of American Muslims.
The letter begins:
Dear Attorney General Holder:
The undersigned civil rights, faith, community, and advocacy groups write to
express our deep concern regarding the New York Police Department’s (“NYPD”) welldocumented
and blanket surveillance of Muslim communities in America without any
suspicion of wrongdoing. The NYPD appears to have targeted individuals and
communities for surveillance based upon nothing more than their faith. Such measures
are just the latest manifestation of the NYPD’s discriminatory practices against racial,
religious, and ethnic minorities. In light of the breadth of information now available, we
strongly urge the Department of Justice to commence a prompt investigation into NYPD
surveillance of Muslims in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut,
including determining whether potentially unlawful surveillance continues.
To read the comlplete letter, click here.
