Dissent Is Patriotic
The Bill of Rights Defense Committee's e-mail newsletter
May 7, 2003, Vol. 2, No. 3
Newsletter topics:
- Milestones: First state resolution, first ordinance, more than 100 resolutions protecting nearly 11 million people!
- Legislative News:
- HR 1157, Freedom to Read Protection Act
- PATRIOT Act Sunset Provisions
- Reception for 'PATRIOT II'
- National BORDC conference proposed
- Resolutions for other constituencies
- Announcements:
- BORDC to receive ALA Intellectual Freedom Roundtable Award
- Bill of Rights is going to Iditarod
Milestones
First state resolution: On April 25th, Hawaii's House of Representatives passed the first statewide civil liberties resolution. The resolution, drafted by Bob Rees, cites the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. State resolutions are also in progress in New Mexico and Alaska. For more information, visit the statewide resolutions page of our web site.
First ordinance: Last January, after the Arcata (CA City Council passed a resolution, City Councilor David Meserve informed us that he was not satisfied; he wanted an ordinance. On April 2, the ordinance he drafted was approved by a vote of 8 to 2. Meserve calls it "our citywide form of nonviolent civil disobedience." The resolution was supported by Veterans for Peace and the Quakers. Read articles in the San Francisco Chronicle and Washington Post (page A1). The Town Council of Telluride, Colorado, plans to consider an ordinance soon.
Resolutions top 100, protecting 10 million: To date, 103 local "civil liberties safe zone" resolutions and one statewide resolution protect nearly 11 million people. These figures more than double the totals in the last newsletter issue, just two months ago. On May 6, Broward County (FL) became the most populous jurisdiction (1.6 million) with a civil liberties resolution.
Freedom to Read Protection Act: Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act extends the capabilities of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by enabling anyone within the FBI down to the rank of Assistant Special Agent in Charge to request a court order for tangible items sought for an investigation "to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." The judge must give permission if an agent has so certified.
In March, Congressman Bernard Sanders (I-VT) introduced HR 1157, the "Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003." This bill would reinstate legal standards which were in place for libraries and bookstores before the passage of the USA Patriot Act. It would also increase Congressional oversight over the use of Section 215. As of May 6, the bill had 81 cosponsors. Your help is needed! An important purpose of this grassroots movement to restore civil liberties is to band together to help ensure passage of legislation like HR 1157. Visit our web page for more information, links to other useful pages, and a petition you can download (coming soon), and spread the word to your community via tabling, leafletting, and writing letters to the editor. Don't forget to visit, call, or write your congress person.
PATRIOT Act Sunset Provisions. In April Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch introduced legislation to make the entire USA PATRIOT Act permanent through an amendment to a bill that would expand the government's powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Interestingly, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner's stunning response to the attempt to eliminate the Sunset Provisions on certain Sections of Title II of the Act was, "Over my dead body." Congressman Sensenbrenner has frequently voiced frustration over the Justice Department's refusal to provide information that would enable his committee to assess how the PATRIOT Act is being used. Other conservatives also voiced concern over the amendment, which Senator Hatch quietly withdrew.
News reports on Senator Hatch's amendment revealed a widespread misunderstanding among press and others that the Sunset Provisions apply to the entire USA PATRIOT Act. They do not: Most sections of the Act's ten "titles" are permanent. Certain sections and subsections of Title II, Enhanced Surveillance Procedures, "sunset" in 2005, at which time Congress must review and either terminate or reauthorize them.
Reception for "PATRIOT II." The most vocal opponents of the Justice Department's leaked draft of the Domestic Security Enhancement Act seem to be conservaties, including former Congressman Bob Bar, the American Conservative Union, the Eagle Forum, and Gun Owners of America. Visit the web site of the Paul Revere Project to find out whether your Senators and House member have taken a stand on PATRIOT II and make sure they hear from you.
National Grassroots Conference Proposed
The Bill of Rights Defense Committee is planning a conference with several other organizations to bring together representatives from cities, towns, counties and states that have passed resolutions or are working on resolutions, representatives of Arab, Muslim, and South Asian organizations, and other groups interested in restoring civil liberties. We envision a fall weekend session of strategy discussions, workshops, and meetings to broaden and deepen the movement and public education on the abrogation of rights. We plan to hold the conference in Washington, DC, so that those who can stay until Monday will be able to meet with their state's Congressional delegation or key staffers.
We hope you can join us. We will send out more information as we develop plans this spring and summer.
Resolutions for Other Constituencies
Organizations, student bodies, religious bodies, and unions are all welcome to weigh in on civil liberties, and gradually they are. Within the next few weeks, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee will expand our web site to include tools, tips, and resolutions to help different types of organizations express their concerns about the loss of key liberties, plus contact information for groups that have passed or are working on resolutions. If you know of efforts in your organization, please contact us at info@bordc.org.
Announcements
BORDC to receive ALA Intellectual Freedom Roundtable Award. Last week the American Library Association announced that the Bill of Rights Defense Committee is the 2003 winner of its State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Achievement Award. We are honored to have this association with librarians, who have historically defended the First and Fourth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. We thank ALA member James Kuhn, who nominated the BORDC. Kuhn was instrumental in the passage of the Takoma Park, MD, resolution. We are also grateful to everyone who has been involved in the grassroots movement. We share this honor with you!
Bill of Rights is going to Iditarod (from the Fairbanks, Alaska, Bill of Rights Defense Committee). Last February Mike Lawless, carrying a copy of the Bill of Rights in his pocket and the Fairbanks Bill of Rights Defense Committee's banner on his sled, won the "Nenana Ice Classic 60 Mile" sled dog race. Mike said he wanted to win the race for the Bill ofRights. However, due to unusually warm temperatures, the trails soon became soft, the dogs were hot, and Mike was running fourth. Returning to Nenana the trail doubles back on itself, and each musher encounters returning teams passing them head-on. On his return pass, musher Bill Cotter, who had been running in first place, lost his team in a portage, which resulted in an imposed 30 minute penalty. Two other mushers who had passed Cotter without stopping to assist him were each penalized 15 minutes. Lawless picked up Cotter, helped him find his team, and then made his way to the finish line winning for the Bill of Rights with a total time of 4:45:55.
Lawless is planning a run to Nome next year in the world famous Iditarod (more than 1,000 miles). He has expressed a desire to do so in the name of the Bill of Rights. He is seekingsupport from sponsors, whose names or logos he would carry along with the Fairbanks BORDC banner, and a nice copy of the Bill of Rights. Mike can be reached at 907-488-2424.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead
Editor: Nancy Talanian, Codirector
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
8 Bridge St., Suite A
Northampton, MA 01060
Email: info@bordc.org
Web: www.bordc.org
Telephone: 413-582-0110
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