Authorities seized thousands of dollars of masks intended to shield protesters from COVID-19

[SouthernCal_Dem]

Source: Salon

The U.S. Postal Service told a Black Lives Matter-affiliated group that face masks it sent to protect protesters from the new coronavirus were seized by law enforcement, according to a new report.

The Movement for Black Lives bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of masks they planned to distribute to protesters marching against George Floyd's death and police brutality across the country, HuffPost reported. But the first shipment of 2,000 masks sent from Oakland to Washington, St. Louis, New York City and Minneapolis never left the state.

The USPS tracking numbers indicate that the masks were "Seized by Law Enforcement," according to HuffPost's Ryan Reilly, and urged the group to "contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for further information."

The Oakland custom printing shop Movement Ink said on Instagram that they have not been told why the shipment was seized.

Read more: https://www.salon.com/2020/06/05/authorities-seized-thousands-of-dollars-of-masks-intended-to-shield-protesters-from-covid-19-report/

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The US government wants protesters to get sick.

[stillcool]

1. mother f.

there has to be some way to make it stop.

[lagomorph777]

15. Arrest Barr.

[OMGWTF]

16. YES! Sen Mark Warner has called for his resignation. Call your senators and tell them to support it.

[droidamus2]

2. What?

Number one how does law enforcement know what is contained in private packages. Also, what law allows the government to cease private mail or packages? From what I see these were not seized by 'law enforcement' they were just seized by a bunch of ideological bullies.

[niyad]

4. Erik prince's contract killers???? They probably have some writ from Billy's boy.

[LiberalArkie]

7. The mailing address that the package was going to its flagged. The package goes to a distribution

center where it was grabbed. The NSA did it for years with Cisco and Juniper routers heading over seas.

[SheltieLover]

8. This!👆

FISA?

[Newest Reality]

3. Then,

Law enforcement is equivalent to endangering the people? This is definitely contradictory. The enforcement of tyranny might be a more accurate description.

This is another egregious assault on our rights as citizens of a country that provides Constitutional protections for all of us.

Is Tarump and his Regime going into Gestapo mode? I only say that because I would equate the sheer contempt for our system and laws with that.

This Administration is a clear and present danger that scapegoats even protesters to deflect from its malignant and destructive intents to the actual RULE OF LAW. When Tarump uses that phrase he means his rule and his law. It's very simple to understand. People are prone to conflating that with the original meaning.

[ananda]

5. We all know why!

This is one scary disgrace! Many more Blacks will die because of this; and that was the intention!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Same old shit Jared has been pulling since he became Covid Czar (Dense is just a figurehead). . . nt

[LisaL]

29. Those are cotton masks. They are really not a valuable PPE.

So I would say motivation isn't to obtain PPE here.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. You would think so, wouldn't you. But I have no doubt that will be the excuse.

They must give them back ASAP. Or else it is theft if they won't use them for health care workers, AND it is a violation of First Amendment rights for the government to keep them away from people who want to use them.

[LisaL]

37. These masks had slogans of them.

There is no way anybody can claim with a straight face these masks are needed for medical professionals.

[RockCreek]

9. Courier?

Airplane fares are so cheap now. Pack them in suitcases, and have someone who is willing to fly take it as their baggage.
Although then there is TSA....

[IronLionZion]

10. Violates their Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[raging moderate]

18. Yes. This violates the Fourth Amendment.

You are right.

[SeattleVet]

22. And that matters little...

to the administration that treats the Constitution like so much toilet paper.

[IronLionZion]

35. BLM DC is suing them

for the completely unnecessary tear gassing and violence towards peaceful protestors. This is another charge to add.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

33. Also violates the First Amendment because something is written on them. . . . nt

[Igel]

38. How do you know there isn't some warrant issued?

Seems like an assumption argued from silence.

[IronLionZion]

39. Prove there is a warrant issued

The burden of proof is on the government

[intheflow]

11. Correction: 45 and his minions want protesters to get sick.

There are MANY people in the US government who want Americans to be healthy and also protest against *everything*.

[SergeStorms]

21. Not only protestors...

but members of the press as well. Trump had all of the reporters in the Rose Garden crammed in together, then bragged about it.

[Mersky]

12. There's no way, no how this can be a lawful seizure.

Shame on them - is an abuse of whatever charter of whichever LE entity took these masks.

LEOs should be handing out masks, not taking them away.

[PurgedVoter]

13. Tampering with the mail and reckless endangerment

The authority who did this, first off was watching peoples mail. Arrest them. The authority who did this may have killed hundreds by taking protective equipment from people who need them. Arrest them. The authority who did this has interfered with interstate commerce. Arrest them.
Authorities should not have a walk on theft and murder. When the dust clears, these folk need to be behind bars.

[raging moderate]

19. Yes. Mail tampering and reckless endangerment and interstate commerce interference.

You are right.

[Lonestarblue]

14. I've wondered how private orders from states for supplies were tracked.

FEMA was able to seize a number of them until the governors started hiding their orders. Does the federal government have the ability to track anything a private citizen orders? That is a scary thought, not because I order anything much but because of the extensive invasion of privacy it represents.

[Pepsidog]

17. Gestapo tactics.

[scarletwoman]

20. There'd better be some ACLU lawyers getting on this case, and fast. This HAS to be unconstitutional!

Our democracy is being dismantled right before our eyes. I hardly have words anymore...

[JDC]

23. These are some sick fucks. This must stop now

[progressoid]

24. How did "law enforcement" know what was in the packages?

[LisaL]

25. I am guessing they are intercepting all of the packages from this organization.

[keithbvadu2]

26. Trump/Jared's supply chain for their personal sales.

Trump/Jared's supply chain for their personal sales.

[volstork]

27. "The US government wants protesters to get sick."

No, they want us dead.

[Evolve Dammit]

28. The "terrorists" are now in the government, directed by William Barr. This is criminal.

[Scalded Nun]

30. Every day, another fucking flood of tears.

[Jose Garcia]

31. Next time use FedEx

[diverdownjt]

40. Your god damn right....

25 year retired Fedex worker here. Give it to Fedex and it will get delivered.
It's the only benefit of a company being run by a right wing Guru like Mr. Smith.
They wouldn't dare mess with his business. Hope it stays that way.

You wouldn't believe how many checks we go thru everyday to make sure our customers packages make it on time.

Drug interdiction is one of the only exceptions.

[Cha]

34. Of course the MF did.

[Coventina]

36. FTP & ACAB

[Duppers]

41. Then shipping by FedEx is safer.

Isn't this yet one more instance of illegal acts by this administration?