Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell apologized yesterday over revelations that the state's Department of Homeland Security distributed a list of peaceful activist groups and citizens to monitor under a $125,000 contract. The list included citizens demonstrating in support of the governor's own education bill, animal rights demonstrators, and activists involved in Philadelphia's annual LGBT PrideFest.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
"Rendell said he did not know that the state Office of Homeland Security had been paying an outside company to track a long list of activists, including groups that oppose drilling in the Marcellus Shale, animal-rights advocates, and peace activists. The office then passed that information on to large groups of people, including law enforcement and members of the private sector…The bulletin included information about a PrideFest by gays and lesbians; a rally that supported his administration's education policy; and an anti-BP candlelight vigil. 'Tell me, what critical infrastructure does the gay and lesbian PrideFest threaten?' Rendell asked. 'How in the Lord's name can we consider them to be terrorists?'"
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