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RI Protesters to Gather Outside Federal Building to Oppose Surveillance

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

GoLocalProv News Team

A protest against surveillance by the U.S. Marshals will be held on Thursday, November 20 at 11 a.m. on the sidewalk outside of the U.S. Marshals Service district office at 2 Exchange Terrace in Providence.

The scheduled protest comes after a Wall Street Journal article on November 13 revealed that the U.S. Marshals Service has been flying planes with "dirtboxes" in them. The "dirtboxes" trick cell phones on the ground into giving up information and therefore risking the privacy of citizens.

Some of the concerns are:

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Do "dirtboxes" have a side effect on individuals cell phone calls being dropped?

Is information transmitted from a persons cell phone retained by any company or government?

Are judges informed of cell phones that are connected to "dirtboxes?"

The protest is being organized by the RI Coalition in order to defend human and civil rights.

Related Slideshow: The 15 Costliest Government Programs in RI

#15 Non-Highway Transport

Category: Transportation

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $4.87

National Rank: 4

#14 Community Development

Category: Environment and Housing

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $4.97

National Rank: 12

#13 Sewage & Solid Waste

Category: Environment and Housing

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $5.09

National Rank: 36

#12 Health & Hospitals

Category: Social Services

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $5.40

National Rank: 49

#11 Other Ed. & Libraries

Category: Education

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $6.00

National Rank: 12

#10 Fire

Category: Public Safety

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $6.50

National Rank: 2

#9 Highways

Category: Transportation

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $7.66

National Rank: 48

#8 Police

Category: Public Safety

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $7.87

National Rank: 13

#7 Utilities

Category: Utilities and Liquor Stores

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $9.25

National Rank: 40

Note: Utilities are not considered to be "direct general expenditures." Instead utilities are categorized as "other direct expenditures." The category is a U.S. Census Bureau term. Unlike some states, Rhode Island does not have state-run liquor stores.

#6 Gov't. Administration

Category: Administration and Debt Interest

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $11.05

National Rank: 16

#5 Interest on Debt

Category: Administration and Debt Interest

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $12.13

National Rank: 3

#4 Higher Education

Category: Education

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $13.59

National Rank: 45

#3 Pensions and Other

Category: Insurance Trust

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $39.62

National Rank: 4

Note: Other than pensions this area of spending includes unemployment security, disability insurance, and workers compensation. Together, these expenses are categorized U.S. Census Bureau as "insurance trust."

#2 Public Welfare

Category: Social Services

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $46.90

National Rank: 7

#1 Elementary and Sec. Ed

Category: Education

Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $48.59

National Rank: 15

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