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Title: Chicago Marathon featured warrantless bag searches along 26-mile track, unprecedented security
Source:
Police State USA
URL Source: http://www.policestateusa.com/2013/ ... -searches-along-26-mile-track/
Published: Oct 16, 2013
Author: PSUSA
Post Date: 2013-10-16 22:21:33 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 104
Comments: 2
CHICAGO, IL — Continuing the trend of mass-suspension of the 4th amendment at every possible event, police searched the bags of anyone they chose along the 26-mile track of the annual Chicago Marathon. More disturbing than the predictable push to eliminate privacy rights is the public’s utter acquiescence in the face of the growing police state. At the annual race on Sunday, October 13th, a legion of police officers lined the streets. Chicago Police sent more than 1,000 officers to the race; some wearing conspicuous yellow vests, others infiltrating the crowd in plain clothes. FBI agents wearing military fatigues held a visible presence throughout the track, along with federal ATF agents and U.S. Marshals carrying rifles. DHS agents littered the scene performing searches with dogs. Department of Homeland Security designated the marathon a “Level Two” event, justifying the massive presence of federal agents at the race. Near the intersection of Michigan and Jackson, a giant Emergency Alert System banner read “EAS: Alert Level Low.” “Everywhere you look there’s about 20 officers at the corner, about 14 helicopters in the air,” said Amie Byrne. Grant Park was locked down with checkpoints and suspicionless bag searches. To add to the security theater, the race banned costumes for participants and only allowed runners to carry clear plastic baggies. Barriers and fencing were erected in many places, a notable difference from years past. “(Now) you can’t run out and say, ‘Hi,’” commented one onlooker. Unlike in the past, when police have looked the other way, no one was allowed to help a marathoner finish the run in the last mile or two. Bleachers that were open to the public years past were heavily restricted, leaving many disappointed fans. “I understand … the need for security,” said runner Clara Santucci. “I just hope they can figure out (a solution) so spectators aren’t kept from being able to see the most exciting parts of the race, like the start and the finish. It’s what our sport is all about, and I don’t want that taken away from us.” “The goal is to create a hostile environment for the bad guys,” said veteran counter-terrorism agent Michael O’Neil, who is now president of MSA Security. “[The race has] no hard perimeter like in a stadium,” so security measures are being pushed out onto public city streets. Everyone should be in the paranoid “if you see something, say something” mindset, according to O’Neil.
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#1. To: X-15 (#0)
And we had the audacity to criticize Germany and Russia years ago.
Funny how government tyranny has been perfected in America atop the bodies of all those dead citizens from the 20th century.
police searched the bags of anyone they chose along the 26-mile track
#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
-Alex Kurtagic
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