Michael Blim slinks by the jodhpur-clad transit cops doing a bag search at Stony Brook, but that gets him to pondering the police's newfound ability to conduct searches without warrants, at least on MBTA property:

... The 4th amendment guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure that in many areas of law restricts police searches to those whom they suspect of a crime or who arouse suspicion of criminal intent no longer applies to subway and bus riders. Any city that wants to conduct "suspicion-less" searches on their mass transit can. The judicial trick is that because no one is under suspicion, everyone can be under suspicion. Anyone’s rights can be violated so long as everyone’s rights can be violated. Call it equal opportunity rights violation. ...

Via Brian Kane, who has more to say on the topic.

WE NOW KNOW THE CIVIL LIBERTIES HEARING WILL BE IN GARDNER AUDITORUM
AND WE NEED TO FILL IT -- PLEASE PLAN TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE BILL
OF RIGHTS -- the REAL PATRIOT Act!

See:

Hearing on HB 1881 -- the Resolution Affirming the Civil Rights and Liberties of the People of Massachusetts

Support the Bill of Rights -- the REAL PATRIOT Act

Wednesday, June 22 at The State House in Boston

10 AM: Hearing on HB 1881 -- the Resolution Affirming the Civil Rights and Liberties of the People of Massachusetts

12 noon: Rally in Boston Common near the steps of The State House

The Civil Liberties Task Force (CLTF) at ACLU of Massachusetts has been trying to have the Boston City Council pass a resolution affirming our civil liberties in an attempt to counter their erosion due to certain aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act. This can happen only if the City Council President and Councillor at-large, Michael Flaherty, allows the resolution to be brought in front of the Council. So far he doesn't seem inclined to do so.

The US Congress is once again talking about the constitutional amendment to prohibit the physical desecration of the US flag. The House joint resolution (H.J. Res. 10, 108 sponsors) was introduced on March 2, and the Senate (S.J. Res. 12, 51 sponsors) on April 14.

From Mass. ACLU - Four members of the Massachusetts delegation support the amendment: Richard Neal, James McGovern, Stephen Lynch and William Delahunt. They need to hear from their constituents.