Take A Stand for Community Control of Police Surveillance
Donald Trump now has the keys to the surveillance state. He has inherited expansive powers and databases filled with information on millions of people. He has suggested this system could be turned on Muslim Americans and that NSA reforms triggered by Edward Snowden’s disclosures should be rolled back. While government spying is not new, the potential for abuse is greater than ever before.
But here in California, we have an opportunity to fight back.
A crucial Surveillance Technology Ordinance is currently being considered by the BART Board of Directors.
This ordinance would protect BART riders and our diverse community, giving Bay Area residents more control over how surveillance is acquired and used. Similar ordinances will need our support in cities across the Bay Area in the weeks to come.
We need to act now. Surveillance tech—particularly when acquired or used in secret—can be deployed to silence dissent or target people of color and religious minorities.
BART Police already have surveillance cameras and automatic license plate readers, collecting data that can be shared with the federal government. We won’t stand by as we face unprecedented threats to civil liberties. Community members should have a say in whether surveillance technology is necessary on our public transit system.
Sign the petition and urge the BART Board to vote “YES” for the Surveillance Technology Ordinance.