Ever Call the Police? Have a Misdemeanor? You Could be on the Terrorist WatchlistBy John Vibes This filing error was discovered last year when a Latino man who spoke very little English was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest, two misdemeanors. When he had to appear in court, the mans attorney Anisha Gupta was expecting a quick and easy trial because the charges were so small. However, Gupta was informed by the judge that her client was listed on the terrorist watchlist. I said to her, Judge, I dont think hes on the terrorist watchlist. There are so many errors on the last pages of peoples rap sheets, and the judge said, Well, counsel, Ive never seen this terrorist watchlist thing. Were going to have to check on it. Im not going to release him, Gupta told The Intercept. Counsel, he could be a sleeper, the judge allegedly replied. It is not known exactly how many people this has happened to, but if previous errors with the watchlists are any indication, there are likely many others in the same situation. The actual list is kept entirely secret, and there is no way of knowing who is on it. Even people who are on the list themselves only end up finding out by accident when they go to court or attempt to pass through airport security. You have the word terrorist printed on a rap sheet that a judge is looking at to determine whether to release someone or to set bail and, in effect, ensure that they remain behind bars. That notation is very loaded. I think judges, just like anybody else, are subject to the same biases and prejudices that exist in the rest of the community. The fact that your freedom could be taken away based on a mysterious designation you didnt even know about, and that is probably wrong, is a very scary thing indeed, Gupta said. In one case, a man was put on a federal watch list for two years because he called the police to report drug paraphernalia. So it seems that even having your name anywhere in a police database, for any reason, could result in an erroneous listing on the terrorist watchlist. Last year we reported that there are 72 people on the US terrorist watchlist who currently have jobs with the Department Of Homeland Security. The fact that there are people working for the DHS who are on the terrorist watchlist is not necessarily as scary as it sounds, considering the fact that the list itself is a farce, with over a million names of mostly innocent people, according to the ACLU. However, this does point to the gross incompetence of the agency and highlights the facade that is national security. John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can purchase his books, or get your own book published at his website www.JohnVibes.com. John Vibes writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared. Im pretty sure Im on their watch lists After all, I have a marijuana conviction. Im thinking of getting a copy of my file from ASIO Im proud to have been a problem my whole life they would have recorded more of my history than I could Ever remember. I have no idea what you said But, I like the way you said it. This is such pandering to fear. The US citizens on the consolidated watchlist are well under 25,000. only about 2.3 percent of the 1.1 million people on the consolidated watch list are American citizens or legal permanent residents. U.S. Persons (including both citizens and legal permanent residents) account for about 25,000 of that total, the NCTC fact sheet says. Each year, over 240 million calls to 9/11 are made, or over 3 billion since 9/11. As for misdemeanors, there are 10 million filed each year, or 150 million since 9/11. I am not saying War on Terror is justified but that this article is pandering to an irrational fear, based on peoples ignorance of the small number of citizens on the terrorist list, which is about 1 in 13,000 people. So the chances of being on the list because you called the police or had a misdemeanor filed is infinitely small. But fear sells The point is they shouldnt have any kind of list that lists Americans as terrorists, or a kill list either. Keeping an eye on someone and killing them are radically different operations. The idea of a terrorist list is to watch those who have ties to other terrorists or groups. This can be abused, and often is, but it is nothing like a kill list. There are many domestic terrorists in the US.those who have threatened Planned Parenthood, Klu Klux Klan types, and members of various hate groups. It is not a bad idea to keep track of such people. In general, I oppose the WWOT, which has involved us in unneccessary wars and led to a million deaths, mostly innocent people. But I also object to fear-mongering by implying that if you are one of tens of millions who has called 9/11 or had a misdemeanor filed against you, you are a target for the War on Terror. The War on Terror is a form of fear-mongering, so I oppose fear-mongering which pretends to be opposing it. Kill lists are something totally different, a gross violation of Constitutional and international law. I do believe anyone on the terrorist lists should be notified and have the opportunity to appeal. It should be confined to people for whom there is strong evidence of a likelihood of violence, but then this would include many of our leaders, as well as right wing zealots, and armed thus parading as patriots. Its DALE, people! Thought he got eaten in Season Three. Its William Burke, the troll with another brilliant contribution. What about prank calling the White House? Ive only done it a few times. I was in federal prison with quite a few guys who did that. Most of them had 5 year sentencesspent about 14 months. Amazing what theyll actually lock people up for these days. Yeah, it is. Theyll even lock you up for a plant multi faceted robo attacks automated by on demand intermittent aliases could become a major problem for the suits in DC. and the vast majority of employees of the government cant commit a crime, well, not one that theyll be held accountable for, especially elected officials or those running for office. Sounds like you believe you are a sovereign citizen DEFINITELY a terrorist. After all, nothing terrorizes them more than a person claiming their natural right to exist. sovereign citizen is an oxymorn.. one cannot be both a citizen and sovereign, I would tell you to look up the definitions of both words but as youve utterly failed to do so by this time in your abysmal life the likelihood is nill. You are the living embodyment of the allegory of platos cave, you embrace your shadows! Wow! Perhaps you should actually read and understand a reply before you go ballistic at what you imagine it says but doesnt. Well John, why dont you explain what it is you meant then, if you meant something other than what you typed! I was being IRONIC, Did you find out what that means? it didnt translate,.. dont sweat it though, it happens! combine your first sentence with the second and therein is the issue. Moving on.. Terror, terror, terror sure this is apt to make it. Everyone who knows how evil the government is, is on their watchlist. 