Miami PD to Institute Random “ID Sweeps”

In yet another litigious abuse of power by our fear instilled, post-9/11 government, the Miami police department announced this past November that they will implement a mass program of unannounced identification “sweeps” at various public locations throughout the greater Miami area. Banks, hotels and mass transit systems are among those subject to such sweeps, where officers could, according to Miami Deputy Chief of Police Frank Fernandez, surround the building and ID everyone entering or leaving. The newly implemented strategy is described as “in your face” and one that “people are definitely going to notice.” Officials somehow keep a straight face when they claim that they do not want the citizens of Miami to feel as if their personal rights are being infringed. The reasoning behind the new policy, says Fernandez, is “letting the terrorists know we are out there.” Fernandez also added, on the subject of the desired public reaction to the program, that “We want that shock. We want that awe.” Ironically, the actions are being taken despite the fact that there is no credible evidence to support such preparations for a future threat in the area or to the people of Miami, as admitted by Chief of Police, John Timoney.

The measures taken by the Miami police might be seen as necessary and harmless in the context of the fear-based society in which we live. After all, if you’re innocently going about your daily business, then you’ve got nothing to fear. Right? Not quite. In order to understand the scope of the issue, it is important to look at the precedent that is being set by the actions of the Miami PD. The random ID sweep policy is a very subtle violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects the right for individuals to, “be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” It is scary and dangerous because most people do not believe that being asked for identification is an unreasonable search. However, a transition could be easily made from this policy to one that involves frisking suspicious persons due to an officer’s justification of “reasonable suspicion” (i.e.: long hair or dark skin). Maybe even searching their articles or their person, potentially leading to arrests. Such a random act would then be in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment, but because it is an offshoot of the policies already in practice, law enforcement could easily get away with it.

Take a brief look at another example. The United States Patriot Act led the way for government to take unprecedented liberties in the name of homeland security. From there, President Bush and other high ranking officials have weaseled their way into instituting warrant-less wire taps by the NSA (see the Bush/NSA Wiretaps article, this issue), secret CIA torture sites in foreign countries, and God-knows what other violations of not only civil but human rights. An “ends-justifies the means” policy is indefensible; it has no place in American government, be it at the local level as with the Miami Police, or in the upper echelons.

I realize that many people who strongly support our President’s views on defending freedom by sacrificing our own would feel that this is a reasonable action, and opposition to it is nothing more than typical liberal soft-on-terrorism politics. But if our domestic policy of fighting terror has really been reduced to surprise ID sweeps, then we are in very bad shape.

Thanks to the fear and paranoia of Bush’s post 9/11 America, authorities such as the Miami Police Department believe that IDing people randomly with strong shows of force is not only necessary, but acceptable and in accordance with the principles that American was founded on. Call me crazy, but this seems like the making of an American Police State is already under way. Nazi Germany did not spring up over night. It was brought about by subtle changes made and defended by some of the most charismatic leaders this world has ever seen. Herman Goering, one of the Nazi regime’s highest ranking officials stated at the Nuremberg Trials, “the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.” Scary.

History does repeat itself, and America and her leaders are not immune to such errors. Now, allow me to clearly state that I am not calling President Bush, his administration or the United States of America Nazis in any sense whatsoever. My point is that bad things do not happen all at once, but rather in a series of small steps over a prolonged period of time. If we are not careful and vigilant, we too could end up on the wrong side of an out of control government.

Our country’s founding principles do not permit abuses of power, regardless of the situation or potential justification, and the precedent that is being set by the Miami Police Department leads us down a frightening road towards an America that no true patriot wants. In order to protect the America that I and millions of others love so dearly, it is imperative that free-thinking, freedom loving Americans dare to question and dissent, and thereby participate in the highest form of democracy. It is not only possible, but imperative that we fight terrorism abroad and at home with all of the tools of our diplomatic arsenal. But we have to do that while continuing to uphold our basic civil liberties that give America the strength and power to be a truly great nation. God bless the USA, and God bless those willing to fight for what she stands for. Compromise those ideals, and the terrorists have won.