Civil rights groups attack MBTA transit security plans

Angered by a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plan to begin random searches of riders’ bags, civil rights groups have prepared a lawsuit against the transit agency.

Additionally, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild is distributing buttons to transit passengers that read: "I do not consent to a search."

According to the Boston Herald, MBTA developed this one-of-a-kind plan to prepare security measures for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Boston from July 26-29. The plan also calls for bomb-sniffing dogs.

MBTA officials insist the searches will be random, but officials from groups such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the American Friends Service Committee say they believe minorities and Muslims will be unfairly targeted.

Protesters plan to file the lawsuit later this week.