Portland, OR Police Resist Homeland Gestapo!

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

Wednesday November 21 8:14 PM ET (via Yahoo)

Portland Won't Aid in Terror Roundups

By WILLIAM McCALL, Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland police are refusing to help the FBI
question Middle Eastern immigrants hauled in as part of the terror
investigation, saying the practice violates Oregon law.

The Justice Department asked local law enforcement agencies around
the country for help tracking down 5,000 men for questioning about
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But acting Police Chief Andrew
Kirkland refused.

"The law does not allow us to go out and arbitrarily interview
people whose only offense is immigration or citizenship," he said
Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Michael Mosman, the chief federal prosecutor in
Oregon, said the questioning is legal, but added: "I'm supportive
of their right to decide not to do this particular task."

The FBI refused to comment.

Mayor Vera Katz on Wednesday said the city objected to certain
questions that would be asked of those on the list. She did not
offer details but said police may reconsider if the questions are
changed.

Civil rights activists applauded the city's decision.

"These young men of Middle Eastern descent are being rounded up
for questioning without any basis or suspicion or probable cause.
So basically it comes down to racial profiling. It isn't OK with
African-Americans so it shouldn't be OK for any other racial group
or ethnic group," said Zaha Hassan of the Middle East subcommittee
of the National Lawyers Guild.

Mosman said the list of 5,000 was drawn up to gather information
and denied it was akin to profiling. "It's just because we know
less than we need to know about terrorism, and this is a way to
learn more,"

he said.

In San Francisco, police spokesman Jim Deignan said there had been
no formal FBI request for help from the city, but "we'll cooperate
with the federal authorities."

In Minneapolis, police spokewoman Cyndi Montgomery said the police
chief would look closely at any request to help with interviews.

"The department hasn't made a decision as to whether such interviewed
might conflict with racial profiling policies," she said.