Terrorizing the innocent

Among many memorable scenes and bits of dialogue in the film Serenity is a moment where The Operative tells Malcolm Reynolds, "You can't beat us," and our stalwart captain replies, "I got no need to beat you. I just want to go my way." I believe that's how many of us feel about our imperial government.

But Miami police are making it awfully hard for innocent people to go their way. The Associated Press reported Monday night:

"Miami police announced Monday they will stage random shows of force at hotels, banks and other public places to keep terrorists guessing and remind people to be vigilant.

"Deputy Police Chief Frank Fernandez said officers might, for example, surround a bank building, check the IDs of everyone going in and out and hand out leaflets about terror threats."

Claire Wolfe's friend Elk noticed that late Tuesday afternoon, the reference to citizens having to show their papers was specifically denied in a revised story by the same AP reporter, who seems to have been contacted by a police spokesman in between versions:

"As an example, uniformed and plainclothes officers might surround a bank building unannounced, contact the manager about ways to be vigilant against terrorists and hand out leaflets in three languages to customers and people passing by, said police spokesman Angel Calzadilla. He said there would be no random checks of identification."

This announcement is wrong on so many levels that you have to wonder what alternative universe someone is operating in. The supposedly-discarded (we wish!) random ID check is another way to fill our jails and prisons with innocent new criminals. Terrorizing little old ladies and mild-mannered writers who are trying to do their banking doesn't send a message to terrorists; it sends a message to the ladies and writers: The police may disrupt your day and perhaps your life anytime they choose. It sends another message to the banks targeted by these rogue police: Your business, already at risk of armed robbers and terrorists, is now more likely to be subject to a random show of police force.

I had no real desire to visit Miami, but now I have a real desire to avoid that city at all costs. I just want to go my way unimpeded by flagrant violations of the Fourth Amendment. First airports, then New York City with its random subway searches, and now Miami. My world is getting smaller as our freedom slips away.