Chilmark, Massachusetts

City/Town: Chilmark
County: Dukes
State: Massachusetts
Congressional District: (click to contact Rep.) 10

Population (2000 Census): 843
Date Passed: 04/28/04

Chilmark, Massachusetts, Ballot Initiative

Approved by: Chilmark Voters

WHEREAS, the BILL of RIGHTS of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Massachusetts ensure that every person has the right to freedom of speech and association. Every person has the right to freedom of religion. Every person has the right to assembly and privacy. Every person has the right to due process in judicial proceedings. Every person has the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. Stops or arrests may not be made without establishing reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. Every person has the right to equal protection under the law and the right not to be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; and

WHEREAS, there is strong evidence that these guarantees are threatened by parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, related legislation, and Federal Executive orders which allow:

a) detaining citizens and residents without bringing legal charges and denying their right to counsel
b) monitoring their telephone, internet and library use, video rentals, book and grocery purchases, financial transactions, medical records and other activities without evidence of criminal behavior and without a court order
c) spying on domestic organizations without evidence of wrongdoing, designating organizations as "terrorist" without evidence of intent to act against the US and deporting citizens and residents who contribute to these organizations even if they are unaware of the "terrorist" designation
d) conducting secret military tribunals without fundamental legal protections
e) secretly searching the homes of residents and citizens when they are absent
f) profiling individuals according to their ethnicity

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the people of Chilmark and other Towns on Martha's Vineyard are joining over 233 cities and towns in the US in affirming strong opposition to those parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, related legislation and acts, and to certain Justice Department directives and executive orders that weaken or destroy our constitutional civil rights and liberties.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the people of Chilmark request that our United States Congressional representatives monitor the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act and related legislation, acts, and executive orders, and actively work for the repeal of the parts of those documents that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Massachusetts, in the United Nations Charter, and the ratified International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Town Clerk communicate this resolution to all Town departments, the General Court, the Governor and Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Congressional delegations, the US Attorney General, the President of the United States, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.

Community Group / Coalition: Islanders for Civil Liberties

Contact Information:
Jean Entine
1 Windy Hill Road
Aquinnah , MA 02535
508-645-3858
jeanentine@igc.org