What's new
Your community can do what the federal government won't
BORDC has developed two model ordinances for consideration by city councils across the country. These ordinances, which will have the force of law where enacted, allow individual municipalities to do what the federal government will not: protect the fundamental rights and liberties of law-abiding Americans to be free of arbitrary monitoring, surveillance, detention, search, or arrest by local law enforcement authorities; and bring to justice senior government officials complicit in torture.
USA PATRIOT Act provisions up for reauthorization - Act now!
Three provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to sunset at the end of 2009, and Congress is currently considering a number of bills on the subject. Some bills, such as the JUSTICE Act, the USA PATRIOT Amendments Act, and the FISA Amendments Act of 2009, would institute essential civil liberties protections, allow some provisions to sunset, and remedy serious problems with other PATRIOT powers (such as national security letters). Other bills, however, aim to reauthorize these provisions without meaningful protections for civil liberties.
As Congress considers these bills, it is essential that you stay in touch with your senators and representative and demand appropriate protections for civil liberties and constitutional rights. See our blog for the latest developments.
Disbar the torture lawyers: Sign on today
While the Attorney General contemplates a limited investigation scapegoating junior officials who violated "approved" torture techniques, BORDC and allies (including the National Lawyers Guild and Velvet Revolution) are pursuing ethics complaints against former senior officials licensed to practice law. Sign our letters in support of disbarment.
Current Civil Liberties Issues
Read our blog for more on the latest civil liberties issues.
House considers PATRIOT Act reauthorizations
On Wednesday, November 4, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to consider the USA PATRIOT Amendments Act of 2009. This bill, introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and cosponsored by nine other representatives, would institute important civil liberties protections to various PATRIOT Act provisions. Read more about the bill in our action alert.
The day before the hearing, Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) introduced the JUSTICE Act in the House. This bill was originally introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), but never made it to the House floor.
Want to take action on these civil liberties issues? Find your legislators' contact information.
In the News:
11/20, William Fisher, TruthOut, Military Tribunals - Justice Lite?
11/20, Paddy McGuffin, Morning Star (UK), Bagram: A living hell
11/20, Herschel Tomlinson, Examiner.com, If you're a North Texas antiwar activist or Muslim...
11/20, Michelle Chen, Air America, States Say REAL ID Heading for Real Problems
11/19, David Sarasohn, The Oregonian, Patriot Act: We don't know what we don't know
11/19, Philip Giraldi, Antiwar.com, Internet Under Siege
