New threshold highlights list’s absurdity and ineffectiveness

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

Contact: (202) 675-2312, media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union will mark the addition of the one millionth name to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) terrorist watch list in a July 14th Press Club event. The roll-over to one million confirms the warnings the ACLU has been making for years: the TSA is pinning American security on a system of watch lists that are bloated, inefficient, ineffective and unfair.

Since February, the ACLU has maintained a "watch list counter" at www.aclu.org/watchlists showing how many records are on the nation’s terrorist watch list. The number shown is extrapolated from data in the government’s own reports. In mid-July, that counter will reach one million.

This event will feature ACLU experts, as well as victims telling their stories of how the watch list has interfered with their lives.

WHAT: Event to mark the one millionth addition to TSA terrorist watch list

WHO: ACLU privacy experts and watch list victims

WHERE: The National Press Club

First Amendment Room, 13th Floor

529 14th St. NW

Washington, DC 20045

WHEN: July 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

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