ACLU SUES CITY OF MEDFORD FOR ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE, CITING RECORDS OBTAINED BY INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC USE

On August 20, ACLU of Oregon filed a lawsuit against the City of Medford on behalf of Rogue Valley Pepper Shakers, Stabbin Wagon, and Melissa Jones, arguing that Medford Police Department (MPD) has been illegally spying and compiling files on the progressive and radical organizations and activists for several years. 

The lawsuit is based on the nearly 600 pages of public records obtained by Information for Public Use between 2021 and 2023 and released in November of 2023. The records, which were first covered by The Intercept’s Natasha Lennard in November 2023, show that MPD illegally surveilled individuals and groups involved in the Rogue Valley’s progressive and radical social movements around as racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, housing justice, harm reduction, decriminalization, government transparency, and environmental advocacy.

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According to the ACLU’s lawsuit — now covered by the Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Hill, Democracy Now!, ABC News, Oregon Public Broadcasting as well as dozens of other state and local media outlets — MPD monitored groups and activists without any reasonable suspicions of crime. Under Oregon State law (ORS 181A.250), police are not allowed to collect or maintain information about the political, religious, or social views, and associations or activities of people who are not reasonably suspected of criminal activity. 

The Oregon legislature passed ORS 181A.250 in 1981 after it was discovered that Portland police were maintaining files on political advocacy organizations, including the ACLU of Oregon. Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level have historically used surveillance to undermine and repress movements for justice, equality, and liberation. 

Under Oregon’s Public Records Law (ORS 192.311 – 192.478), all Oregonians have the right to request public records about what information local government — including the police — are collecting or maintaining. If you’re concerned that local law enforcement may have unlawfully monitored you or a local organization, the ACLU of Oregon recently published a toolkit with a template and directions on how to submit your own public records requests.

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