Weston, Massachusetts
City/Town: Weston
County: Middlesex
State:
Massachusetts
Congressional District: (click to contact Rep.) 7
Population (2000 Census): 11,469
Date Passed: 05/12/04
Citizens' Petition: Resolution Regarding the PATRIOT ACT - Article 36
Approved by: Weston Town Meeting
Whereas, the Town of Weston recognizes and upholds all the rights and privileges secured by the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which guarantees all citizens and non-citizens the following rights:
•Freedom of speech, assembly and privacy;
•The rights to counsel and due process in judicial proceeding, and
•Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Whereas, we believe these liberties are precious and are now threatened by the U.S.A. Patriot Act, which
•Greatly expands the government's ability to conduct secret searches;
•Severely reduces judicial supervision of telephone and internet surveillance;
•Gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups as "terrorist groups;"
•Grants the FBI broad access to sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals without a court order or evidence of a crime;
•Allows the Attorney General to subject non-citizens to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime.
Whereas, the citizens of Weston have decried the U.S.A. Patriot Act and the associated orders and rules of the executive branch of the U.S. government as unnecessary to the prosecution of, and protection from, terrorism.
Therefore be it resolved that:
1. The Town of Weston affirms the civil rights guaranteed to all of its residents, U.S. Citizens and citizens of other countries alike, in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
2. The Town of Weston urges U.S. Congressional Representatives and Senators to monitor the implementation of the U.S.A. Patriot Act and related acts and orders, and actively work for the repeal of those portions that violate fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
3. The Selectmen of the Town of Weston shall send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the U.S. Attorney General, the Secretary of State, members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, our representative in the Massachusetts House and Senate, and to the Governor and Attorney General of Massachusetts.
Community Group / Coalition: Dialogues on Peace and Justice