Chicago City Council calling for the repeal of the PATRIOT Act

[IndianaGreen]

E-mail From the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression:

Please forward this message as widely as possible.

On Wednesday, July 9, aldermen Joe Moore (49th Ward), Helen Shiller (46th) and Ricardo Munoz (22nd) will present a resolution in the Chicago City Council calling for the repeal of the "USA PATRIOT Act." This will happen at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 2nd floor, Chicago City Hall. Almost 200 other cities and state legislatures have passed similar resolutions.

Alderman Moore is trying to get hearings scheduled on this resolution sometime in July, with a vote perhaps as early as July 30.

If you agree that the misnamed "USA Patriot Act" unnecessarily restricts the civil liberties of our people, and does not contribute to reducing the threat of terrorism, please contact your alderman or alderwoman and urge them to co-sponsor this resolution. There are two ways you can contact your alderperson:

1. Go to the Chicagoans Against War and Injustice web site (www.noiraqwar-chicago.org) and click the "Email to Your Alderman" button, select your ward and alderman, and send him or her an email, or call, or write a letter.

2. The 5th Congressional District Neighbors for Peace and Justice have a petition at www.beyondtoday.org which you can sign.

The text of the Draft Resolution follows:


WHEREAS, the City of Chicago houses a diverse population, including citizens of other nations, whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function, and

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees all persons living in the United States the fundamental rights including freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection to any person; equality before the law and the presumption of innocence; access to counsel in judicial proceedings; and a fair, speedy and public trial; and

WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act signed by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001, has a number of provisions that contradict the above mentioned rights and which fundamentally alter our civil liberties without increasing our security, and

WHEREAS, examples of the provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and Executive Orders that may violate the Constitution and the rights and civil liberties of Chicago residents are as follows:

* Significantly expands the government's ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and education records about individuals, and lowers the burden or proof required to conduct secret searches and telephone and Internet surveillance; * Gives law enforcement expanded authority to obtain library records, and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of monitoring or information requests; * Gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups, including religious and political organizations, as "terrorist organizations"; * Grants power to the Attorney General to subject citizens of other nations to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime; * Authorizes eavesdropping on confidential communications between lawyers and their clients in federal custody; * Limits disclosure of public documents and records under the Freedom of Information Act; and

WHEREAS, Department of Justice interpretations of this Act and these Executive Orders particularly target immigrants, including Hispanics, people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent and citizens of other nations, and thereby encourages racial profiling by law enforcement and hate crimes by individuals in our community; and

WHEREAS, almost 200 other cities throughout the country have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of government policies that threaten these values, and are demanding accountability from federal agencies regarding the use of these new powers;

THEREFORE, be it

RESOLVED, that the City of Chicago affirms its strong opposition to terrorism but also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of the fundamental civil rights and liberties of the people of Chicago, the United States and the world; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chicago affirms the rights of all people, including United States citizens and citizens of other nations living within the City, in accordance with the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that, to the extent legally possible, no City employee or department shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals' civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the above Amendments to the United States Constitution; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chicago City Council calls upon all private citizens and organizations, including residents, employers, educators, and business owners, to demonstrate similar respect for civil rights and civil liberties, especially but not limited to conditions of employment and cooperation with investigations; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Chicago calls on our United States Representatives and Senators to monitor the implementation of the Act and Orders cited herein and actively work for the repeal of the Act and those Orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments.