Germany is sending an intelligence team to Washington to discuss the issue. On Friday, the prime minister of Spain announced plans to call in the U.S.ambassador to discuss surveillance.
Jesselyn Radack, national security director for the Government Accountability Project, one of the rally organizers, read the crowd a statement from Snowden decrying the government’s ability to examine call records and internet transactions.
“Our representatives in Congress tell us this is not surveillance. They’re wrong,” Radack quoted Snowden as saying. She gestured toward the Capitol building behind her and added, “We are watching you.”
David Segal, executive director of Demand Progress, one of the grass-roots groups that helped organize the event, said before marching from Union Station to Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Capitol that the goal is to put a face to opposition to surveillance.
Members have been lobbying this week for legislation to curb surveillance after a near-miss in July, with a 205-217 loss in the House, for a provision to block bulk collection of data such as phone records. The provision was sponsored by Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., who is scheduled to speak to protesters on the National Mall.
Other legislation is expected next week from Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., and Rep James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Segal said: “I think that what the NSA has been doing is so transparently egregious that we have a real shot at winning this fight.”
Article Appeared @http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/26/nsa-dc-rally/3241417/