Bill of Rights Defense Campaign

BILL OF RIGHTS Defense Committee - Working with communities to uphold the Bill of RightsWe the People
Working with communities to uphold the Bill of Rights
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Take action on the 4th anniversary of the USA PATRIOT Act!

Educate and organize during the week of October 24, 2005

Possible actions
Resources
Participating cities

On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act into law. Four years later, Congress is on the verge of reauthorizing all of the provisions scheduled to sunset, and plans to make only minor changes (see more information on our legislation page). Now is the time to renew our opposition to the PATRIOT Act and other post-9/11 laws and policies that infringe on rights and liberties.

During the week of October 24, local groups across the country will mark the fourth anniversary of the USA PATRIOT Act by holding public events, mounting letter-to-the-editor campaigns, and otherwise taking action to educate their communities about threats to civil liberties and to engage more people in the movement to defend the Bill of Rights.

Please join us by organizing an event in your community during the week of October 24. We need your participation to assure that our message is heard loud and clear: we will not stop fighting for our rights and liberties!

Below is a list of possible actions brainstormed by local activists from across the country. Additionally, we have created a sample press release, flyer, and op-ed, along with other resources. Please let us know about your plans so we can begin compiling a list of participating cities: info@bordc.org.

Possible actions

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Resources

Additional resources: fliers, literature, talking points (from Patriot Days of Action), list of threats to civil liberties.

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Participating Cities

October 19
Ashland, OR – Local broadcast of a roundtable discussion recorded October 26, 2001, with peace and social justice activists, including beloved community member, arborist and Muslim educator Pete Seda, who has since fled the U.S. after government accusations he was funneling money to al-Qaeda. During the program Seda states what he values about America, "freedom of speech and freedom to be who we are." When asked for his definition of terrorism, Seda answers that to him it means "to go after the innocent". Broadcast details. Organized by the Media Collective.

Green Bank, WA – “Beyond the Patriot Act” and “And Justice for All” showings at Green Bank Progressive Hall off Hwy 525 at 7 p.m. Organized by Coupeville Peace and Reconciliation as part of their effort to pass a resolution in Island County, WA.

October 21
New York City, NY – Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration of the United States: The Commission will take testimony and judge evidence on detention and torture at 8 p.m., after introductory presentations at 6pm. Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th Street. Organized by Not in Our Name and the New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee. Visit http://www.bushcommission.org/ for more information.

October 23
Charleston, SC – Community screening of "Unconstitutional," followed by a community discussion about working toward a local resolution. Charleston County main library auditorium, Calhoun Street, 2 p.m. View the flyer. Organized by Thinking People.

Week of October 24
Austin, TX – Opinion Editorial in the Austin American Statesman.

Boulder, CO – Call-in day to Senators and Congressperson Mark Udall. Opinion Editorial in the Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center newsletter.

Corvallis, OR – “Unconstitutional” and “Beyond the Patriot Act” airing on public access television at various times during the afternoon and evening. Organized by the Benton County Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Kansas City, MO – Readings of the Bill of Rights on heavily-trafficked street corners, with sandwich boards displaying the amendments, which have been abolished due to the Patriot Act and other post-9/11 laws and orders. Organized by the American Friends Service Committee Civil Liberties Campaign, Sanctuary for Freedom/Civil Liberties Campaign, and the Kansas City Public Library.

Mercer County, NJ – Letter to the Editor and Opinion Editorial campaign. Organized by the Mercer County Coalition for Civil Liberties.

Minneapolis, MN – Opinion Editorial campaign, organized by the Minnesota Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Newark, NJ – Public presentation about the Patriot Act at Rutgers School of Law, followed by a showing of “Unconstitutional.” View the flyer. Organized by the New Jersey ACLU.

Orange County, NC – Letter to the Editor campaign organized by the Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Porterville/Visalia, CA – Public reading of the Bill of Rights. Organized by the South Valley Peace Center.

Tacoma, WA – Leafletting campaign organized by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee - Tacoma.

Willits, CA – Opinion Editorial in the Willits News.

October 25
Coupeville, WA – City Council meeting to decide on Coupeville Peace and Reconciliation resolution against the Patriot Act. 6:30 p.m.

Dallas, TX – Glen Mitchell radio talk show featuring an interview with Joe Wise “Chip” Pitts III from the Dallas Bill of Rights Defense Committee, talking about reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

Sioux Falls, SD – “Unconstitutional” showing at Caille Branch Library, followed by a public forum. 7 to 9 p.m. Organized by Grassroots South Dakota.

October 26
Chicago, IL – New Orleans style funeral for the Bill of Rights with a eulogy highlighting how the USA PATRIOT Act has "killed" the Bill of Rights by compromising or negating many of the liberties and rights contained within it. Presented by the Chicagoland Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CCCLR), beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Tribune Plaza, then proceeding to Federal Plaza for the funeral service at 5 p.m. View the press release.

Columbia, SC – Press conference announcing that the City of Columbia will be the first community in South Carolina to join the list of "Civil Liberties Safe Zones." City Councilors will read and sign their statement expressing the city's concern about post-9/11 antiterrorism laws and policies. Organized by the Living Room Group, the Carolina Peace Resource Center, the mayor, and members of the city council.

Dallas, TX – Glen Mitchell radio talk show featuring an interview with Joe Wise “Chip” Pitts III from the Dallas Bill of Rights Defense Committee, talking about reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

New York City, NY – Funeral for the Bill of Rights to mourn the loss of fundamental rights due to the Patriot Act and other post-9/11 policies. 5 p.m., Union Sq. South. Organized by the New York City Bill of Rights Defense Campaign. Visit http://www.nycbordc.org/ for more information.

October 27
Dallas, TX – “Reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act” luncheon, featuring Joe Wise “Chip” Pitts III as speaker. Noon at Mattito’s Tex-Mex Restaurant, 3011 Routh Street (Carumba Room). $15 for fajita buffet lunch. Organized by the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.

Ukiah, CA – “Beyond the Patriot Act” showing at 7pm, at the MEC at 106 W. Standley St., Ukiah, CA. Organized by the Ukiah Valley Alliance for Democracy. For more information, contact kpop@pacific.net or 707-462-6570.

October 30
Westport, CT – Program entitled, "The Patriot Act: The Library Case in our Back Yard," featuring Roger C. Vann, Executive Director of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Joining him are Christine Bradley, Executive Director of the Connecticut Librarians Consortium and past president of the Connecticut Librarians Association, and Dale C. Fredston, former president of the Westport Library Board of Trustees. Westport Women's Club, 44 Imperial Ave, 2 to 4 p.m. Organized by Democratic Women of Westport.