At a keynote address in Ferguson, Mo., Sunday evening, Dr. Cornel West promised that “we are going to fill the jails tomorrow.” West kept his promise, with himself, Deray “I swear I’m not a paid agitator” McKesson and many more being arrested for crossing the barricades surrounding the Eagleton Court House, among other minor offenses.
What surprised and disturbed many of those arrested was that DNA samples were taken as part of their processing. This might be the one time McKesson sides with Justice Antonin Scalia, who in June delivered a fiery dissent opposing the idea that DNA sampling was no different than fingerprinting.
“Make no mistake about it,” Scalia said. “Because of today’s decision, your DNA can be taken and entered into a national database if you are ever arrested, rightly or wrongly, and for whatever reason. But the proud men who wrote the charter of our liberties would not have been so eager to open their mouths for royal inspection.”
NOT RIGHT: DNA taken from #Ferguson arrestees. http://t.co/msUR4dmI9W
— Occupy The Port (@occupytheport) August 11, 2015
Which reminds us: Open wide.
https://twitter.com/goldietaylor/status/630983593117007872
Did you know that when in the custody of the U.S. Marshal that they take two DNA swabs from your mouth to be sent to the FBI? I didn't.
— deray (@deray) August 11, 2015
https://twitter.com/NeoSoulPol/status/630898610713063424
@deray Did they swab everyone arrested, or did they target and arrest protest leaders IN ORDER TO collect your DNA samples?
— ABOLISH ICE (@RogueDionne) August 11, 2015
@NeoSoulPol @deray Can't help but wonder if arrest of top activists today was engineered to be able to get DNA on record
— Tina W (@tmwinsett) August 11, 2015
The US government now has @deray's DNA on file, along with many other protesters'. No conviction necessary. https://t.co/2GuGZuKU9s
— saltire (@saltire) August 11, 2015
At last, the government can work on cloning its own Deray.
“I don’t like that they took our DNA.” Clergywoman talking about her arrest and processing in Ferguson, via @ryanjreilly on #Periscope.
— reported.ly (@reportedly) August 10, 2015
@reportedly @ShaunKing @ryanjreilly All part of the war on people. Catalog & track the enemy. It's now 5:46 PM Eastern War Time.
— Brilliant Bill (@EnsorceledBill) August 10, 2015
@reportedly @ryanjreilly um–m welcome to being arrested–
— Rev. Marie (@GaryMillrat) August 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/tauralinda/status/630853715604279296
@tauralinda @reportedly @ryanjreilly My comment is that in our police state your rights go with the wind–
— Rev. Marie (@GaryMillrat) August 10, 2015
SCOTUS: DNA swab incident to "serious offense" arrest permissible. Trespassing followed by release OR shouldn't qualify. #Ferguson @Lawrence
— ???? Only4RM ???? (@Only4RM) August 11, 2015
@deray Please tell me how a peaceful protest requires an arrest AND the gathering of DNA samples?! That's f'd up on numerous levels.
— Aurora (@spacehurricanes) August 11, 2015
.@Nettaaaaaaaa, who just got arrested, just said that DHS cops took her DNA. which i guess is standard for federal arrest but
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) August 10, 2015
Also said that she and the other black arrestees were ziptied, not so for whites arrested.
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) August 10, 2015
The fact that peaceful protesters & citizens exercising their rights were arrested detained & their DNA collected! #WhichEmergency #Ferguson
— Leslie Mac (@LeslieMac) August 11, 2015
What in THEE hell are they doing taking DNA samples from protesters arrested for obstructing an entrance? This can't be okay? @ACLU ??
— Old Crow (@OldCrowNest) August 11, 2015
Why are they taking DNA samples from protesters who've been arrested in #Ferguson today? Seems a bit extreme.
— Solomon Pinkins ™ (@solomonP) August 10, 2015
taking dna from protesters???? that shit is NOT GOOD! #Ferguson #STL #JustSayNoToAPoliceState
— FREDRICK (@STL_MIKE_D) August 11, 2015
* * *
Editor’s note: Thanks to a commenter for pointing out that it was Justice Antonin Scalia, not Samuel Alito, who delivered the dissent in the case; Alito actually sided with the majority. Twitchy regrets the error.
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