Jason Halperin of Alternet on Patriot Raid:
Two weeks ago I experienced a very small taste of what hundreds of South Asian immigrants and U.S. citizens of South Asian descent have gone through since 9/11, and what thousands of others have come to fear. I was held, against my will and without warrant or cause, under the USA PATRIOT Act. While I understand the need for some measure of security and precaution in times such as these, the manner in which this detention and interrogation took place raises serious questions about police tactics and the safeguarding of civil liberties in times of war.
But, if you haven't done anything wrong you don't have anything to worry about. Right?!
Halperin goes on to say:
When I asked to speak to a lawyer, the INS official informed me that I do have the right to a lawyer but I would have to be brought down to the station and await security clearance before being granted one. When I asked how long that would take, he replied with a coy smile: "Maybe a day, maybe a week, maybe a month."
We insisted that we had every right to leave and were going to do so. One of the policemen walked over with his hand on his gun and taunted: "Go ahead and leave, just go ahead."
This is our "democracy" at work folks. This is what we fought a war to bring to Iraq. Over a hundred Americans died on foreign soil so we could export this, or so we've been told. If this is what freedom is all about, you can keep it brother. I don't want any.