Santa Clara County, California
County: Santa Clara
State:
California
Congressional District: (click to contact Rep.) 11
Population (2000 Census): 1,682,585
Date Passed: 08/19/03
Resolution of The Board of Supervisors of The County of Santa Clara to Defend The Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties
Approved by: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
WHEREAS, the County of Santa Clara has a long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the County of Santa Clara has a diverse population, including immigrants, students, and working people, whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function; and
WHEREAS, fundamental constitutional rights and liberties are essential to the preservation of a just and democratic society; and
WHEREAS, several new federal laws, regulations, and executive orders issued since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including the adoption of certain provisions of constitutional rights and liberties, including:
• Freedom of speech and religion;
• Right to privacy;
• Right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings;
• Right to equal protection before the law; and
• Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; and
WHEREAS, the powers granted under the Act threaten the civil rights and civil liberties of Santa Clara County residents, and particularly affect those of Arab-American, Muslim, and South Asian backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, thirty years ago California voters overwhelmingly adopted a Constitutional right to privacy against a "proliferation of government snooping and data collecting [that] is threatening to destroy our traditional freedoms;" and
WHEREAS, the failures to defend civil liberties during World War II led to the incarceration of 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent in California and other western states; and
WHEREAS, during the 1930s and 1950s. the U.S. government systematically rounded up and deported thousands of Mexican immigrants and Americans of Mexican descent;
THEREFORE BE IT NOW RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of the county of Santa Clara County:
1. Affirm its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights and its opposition to(1) the provisions of the Act that infringe on important civil liberties and (2) any future legislation, rules, regulations or executive orders that strengthen, reinforce, broaden, or otherwise expand the provisions of the Act that infringe on civil liberties.
2. Affirm its strong support for the constitutional rights of immigrant communities in Santa Clara County and oppose racial profiling and the scapegoating of immigrants.
3. Direct the County Executive to send a letter and a copy of this Resolution to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Congresspersons Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda, Richard Pombo, and Zoe Lofgren, urging them to (1) work to repeal all provisions of the Act that infringe on civil liberties and (2) to oppose any future legislation, rules, regulations, executive orders that strengthen, reinforce, broaden, or otherwise expand the provisions of the Act that infringe on civil liberties. A copy of the letter and resolution shall also be sent President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Community Group / Coalition: Silicon Valley for Civil Rights
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 9457
San Jose , CA 95157