Under the administration of Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich, The Maryland State Police used terrorist watch lists to spy on non-violent political activists opposed to the Death Penalty and the Iraq War over a period of 14 months between 2005 and 2006.

Over 50 of these activists had their names entered into State and Federal Databases originally designed to track suspected terrorists. Similarly, the protest groups to which they belonged were similarly designated as terrorist organizations. According to Maryland State Police Superintendent Terrence Sheriden, these activists were sent letters of notifying them of this surveillance last Saturday.

Thomsas Hutchins, The retired Maryland State Police superintendent who originally authorized the domestic spying program defended it, saying that it was “a bullwark against potential violence caused by fringe people”. Pressed for further comment, Hutchinson added that he doesn’t “believe the First Amendment is any guarantee to those who wish to disrupt the government”.