Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell 'appalled' that Homeland Security Dept. Tracked Gays
Wed. September 15, 2010 11:54 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Philadelphia -
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell says he's sorry and "appalled" that a company under contract to the state Homeland Security Dept. tracked gays, lesbians, anti-BP activists and tax-hike protesters.
"I apologize to the taxpayers protesters," Rendell said on Tuesday. "I apologize to the lesbian and Gay Pride Festival. I apologize to every single name that was on the list."
The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response had been under a $125,000 contract to supply Pennsylvania with thrice-weekly bulletins about possible terrorist activity. A recent bulletin claimed that Jewish holy days and Ramadan could attract "anarchists and Black Power radicals."
The governor learned about the contract from The Patriot News.
"I think I would have said `no' to this contract before we ever spent a dime and before we sent out any information that was wrong and violative of, in my judgment, the constitution," Rendell told the Associated Press.
"I apologize to the taxpayers protesters," Rendell said on Tuesday. "I apologize to the lesbian and Gay Pride Festival. I apologize to every single name that was on the list."
The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response had been under a $125,000 contract to supply Pennsylvania with thrice-weekly bulletins about possible terrorist activity. A recent bulletin claimed that Jewish holy days and Ramadan could attract "anarchists and Black Power radicals."
The governor learned about the contract from The Patriot News.
"I think I would have said `no' to this contract before we ever spent a dime and before we sent out any information that was wrong and violative of, in my judgment, the constitution," Rendell told the Associated Press.