Marty Golden Comes Out Against NYPD’s Spying Program

According to a report in Vos Is Neias, New York State Senator Marty Golden reversed his stance on the NYPD’s controversial “spying program,” which allegedly targets mosques and other Muslim gathering points in a citywide counter-terrorism effort.

Golden, a Republican, who had previously provided his signature to a letter praising Police Chief Ray Kelly and the NYPD in their efforts for “going to precisely the source of the problem,” now has stated the opposite at a forum hosted by the Arab-American Association of New York.

“Anybody that would spy on any religious institution is absolutely wrong. I do not stand by anybody who would do that,” said Golden in response to a question wondering if Kelly should apologize. “If [Commissioner Kelly] has, he should apologize – but it hasn’t been proven that he has.”

The spying program, which, according to the AP, targeted “Muslim student groups, put informants in mosques, monitored sermons and cataloged every Muslim in New York who adopted new, Americanized surnames.” It has led to no leads, cases, or arrests.

Golden’s call for an apology was not overlooked by Democratic challenger Andrew Gounardes, also present at the forum, who reminded voters of Golden’s previous support for the initiative.