Your community can do what the federal government won’t

Over the past several years, we have all objected as our government has expanded its domestic spying authorities, detained thousands without trial, and tortured with impunity. Now, We the People have an opportunity to stand up for our Constitution and our most fundamental rights and liberties.

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee (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. Municipalities can modify each ordinance to suit their needs by adding or removing provisions.

One ordinance imposes limits on local law enforcement agencies, enabling them to focus on public safety by restricting their domestic spying activities. As Congress considers reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act without meaningful protections for civil liberties, this ordinance offers a compelling opportunity to shift the debate about domestic surveillance, racial and religious profiling, and individual privacy. The ordinance's provisions limiting local immigration enforcement also offer an opportunity to promote local public safety, as the federal government will soon renew 287(g) agreements, which increasingly distract local police with immigration enforcement.

A second ordinance focuses on torture accountability, requiring local law enforcement agencies to investigate any former or current government official accused of conducting or authorizing torture. It also authorizes potential prosecution by local authorities under international principles of universal jurisdiction. Consider approaching local officeholders to suggest that they introduce this ordinance on or near October 21, 2009, the 15th anniversary of the United States’ ratification of the Convention Against Torture.

Stand up for the Constitution by supporting a movement to pass these ordinances in your community. To get started, please review our toolkit for ideas about how to develop your campaign and contact Emma Roderick, BORDC’s grassroots campaign coordinator. We look forward to supporting your efforts and promoting them to inform and inspire others around the country.

Many thanks for all your work defending the Constitution,

Shahid Buttar
Executive Director
Bill of Rights Defense Committee