Growing Rebellion Against the Patriot Act - 300 Communities, 4 States and counting...

[buddy28]

I took the time to compile a nice list of communities and states who passed resolutions rejecting the USA Patriot Act and reaffirmed the legal supremacy of the US Constitution.

This is no small feat as the dissenting communities represent over 50 million constituents

Specifically, 3 key provisions were centered out as the primary justification to
denouncing the Patriot Act:


Section 213 -- permits the searching of one’s home without the traditional ‘knock and announce’ requirement, allows notification of the search to be delayed indefinitely and is not limited to crimes of terrorism.

Section 215 -- authorizes searches of records such as library, bookstore, business, medical, university, and Internet Service Provider records without any showing of probable cause that a crime has been committed. It also prohibits any person from disclosing that they have been ordered to produce such letters.

Section 802 -- creates a new crime of "domestic terrorism," defined so broadly that it could be applied to acts of civil disobedience wholly unrelated to terrorism.


Its really inspiring to see so many American communities have the courage to stand up for their liberties and reject the Patriot Act in the face of a real and immediate threat.

My hats off to you for setting an incredible example of principled bravery to not only your fellow countrymen, but to the world...



May 23— Alaska has joined a growing national rebellion against the USA Patriot Act, voting to oppose the massive federal anti-terrorism law passed by Congress soon after Sept. 11, 2001.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/alaska_patriot030523.html

State of Vermont House of Representatives -- Joint resolution strongly urging the President to revise executive orders and policies, and for Congress to amend provisions of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, which seriously erode fundamental civil liberties [PASSED]
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/resolutn/JRH009.HTM

Island lawmakers have made Hawaii the first state to take a stand against the controversial USA Patriot Act, passing a resolution "reaffirming the state of Hawaii's commitment to civil liberties and the Bill of Rights."
http://www.hawaiinews.com/archives/politics/000133.shtml

Maine became the fourth state to take a stand against the Patriot Act, joining Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont, as well as some 270 other communities around the country, in what has become a widening debate over the difficult balance between security and civil liberties.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/p...=1086148800&en=10e2c9327c582d51&ei=5070&fta=y

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 -- New York City, site of the country's most horrific terrorist attack, Wednesday became the latest in a long list of cities and towns that have formally opposed the expanded investigatory powers granted to law enforcement agencies under the USA Patriot Act.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13970-2004Feb4.html

CHICAGO – The Chicago City Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution Oct. 1 denouncing the USA Patriot Act and calling for the repeal of those parts of it that violate the U.S. Constitution.
http://www.pww.org/article/articleprint/4197/

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia yesterday became the largest U.S. city to condemn the USA Patriot Act as a threat to the constitutional rights of its citizens.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A56185-2003May29&notFound=true

Pittsburgh City Council put the administration -- of President Bush -- on notice Monday that it rejects many provisions of federal anti-terrorism policies, including the USA Patriot Act.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/pittsburgh/s_191304.html

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- The Broward County Commission has gone on the record --they're against the U.S. Patriot Act...

Broward County commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday protesting the act because they believe it violates freedoms protected by the constitution.
http://www.local10.com/news/2186305/detail.html

PORTLAND -- The Portland City Council Monday night approved a resolution criticizing the Patriot Act, which gives new powers to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
http://www.wmtw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1711417


TAMPA - ...Thursday night, the City Council decided they had a broader responsibility - and took a stance on a national issue that puts them squarely at odds with the president. It voted 4-to-3 for a resolution asking Congress to repeal key parts of the Patriot Act.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/16/Hillsborough/City_resolution_doesn.shtml

DALLAS - After a round of impassioned debate, a resolution denouncing the USA Patriot Act was approved Wednesday in a 9-6 vote of the Dallas City Council. In approving the resolution, Dallas joins three states and 225 local governments that have taken stands against the Patriot Act.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/8045589.htm?1c

BALTIMORE -- WBAL-TV 11 NEWS I-Team reporter David Collins reported that the City Council passed one of the most strongly worded resolutions in the country Monday night...

The Baltimore City Council is taking a stand against the Patriot Act, sending a strong message to the Bush administration -- putting the government on notice that they don't approve of where the policy lines are being drawn, Collins reported.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/2217471/detail.html

The Oakland City Council joined more than a dozen others nationwide by passing a resolution opposing the USA Patriot Act on grounds it violates civil rights.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/12/18/state1959EST0165.DTL

St. Petersburg leaders join Tampa and nearly 300 other communities across the nation that have taken a stand against parts of the [Patriot Act]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/21/Southpinellas/St_Petersburg_City_Co.shtml

San Francisco -- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved on Tuesday a resolution condemning the USA Patriot Act, making it one of the largest cities in the nation to oppose the Bush administration policy, according to supporters.

The board's action asks city agencies to not aid federal authorities in investigations that jeopardize a person's civil liberties, whenever legally possible.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/23/BA242366.DTL

Pittsburgh City Council Rebuffs Bush Patriot Act Misinformation Tour; Pro-Civil Liberties Resolutions Now Cover 50 Million Americans
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=15540&c=206

 

[bluepeter]

Hope that it continues to be denounced and that all Americans do something about it come November.....

 

[buddy28]

Feel free to contribute more articles showing community support.

 

[Gonzosc1]

Hope that it continues to be denounced and that all Americans do something about it come November.....

I agree there are alott of dumbshits in DC make these laws up. how hard can it be to come up with laws that are fair and can be used to help the US.
As far as november goes well thats a different story IMHO. Bush=dumbass,,
Kerry=dumbass and its been this way for alott of the past elections.
making a choice between the two still = DUMBASS,, we lose either way.
now I can't just blame the top man, there are alott of others in congress, like all of them who do or will do the same as the pres or Kerry.
some choice we have! Judas or Barabas, one's a traitor and the other is a thief. but there no sense in trying figure out which is which, the terms apply to both! they will both lie, cheat and steal to line their pockets with the money of the lobbyist, in the mean time as always we get shit on.
maybe its just me!,,, does everyone actually think that their vote counts for something.....the top office in town is not voted for,,,its bought with lots of green paper..... why else would you need 240 million dollars for a campaign, for a job that only pays 250.000 a year. please lets do the math and come to a logical conclusion.

 

[bluepeter]

I agree there are alott of dumbshits in DC make these laws up. how hard can it be to come up with laws that are fair and can be used to help the US.
As far as november goes well thats a different story IMHO. Bush=dumbass,,
Kerry=dumbass and its been this way for alott of the past elections.
making a choice between the two still = DUMBASS,, we lose either way.
now I can't just blame the top man, there are alott of others in congress, like all of them who do or will do the same as the pres or Kerry.
some choice we have! Judas or Barabas, one's a traitor and the other is a thief. but there no sense in trying figure out which is which, the terms apply to both! they will both lie, cheat and steal to line their pockets with the money of the lobbyist, in the mean time as always we get shit on.
maybe its just me!,,, does everyone actually think that their vote counts for something.....the top office in town is not voted for,,,its bought with lots of green paper..... why else would you need 240 million dollars for a campaign, for a job that only pays 250.000 a year. please lets do the math and come to a logical conclusion.

Can't disagree but with the caveat that George Bush is the only President in my memory that has made me afraid.....

 

[Longhorn85]

Well it passed the Senate 99-1 and many of them are up for re-election this November. If their constituents don't vote them out, you can expect the next version of the Patriot act to pass. I hope so, and I expect it will.

 

[bluepeter]

Well it passed the Senate 99-1 and many of them are up for re-election this November. If their constituents don't vote them out, you can expect the next version of the Patriot act to pass. I hope so, and I expect it will.

Can you name one thing in the past 4 years that this administration has done that you didn't agree with?

 

[Robert Jan]

Has anybody in the Administration reacted to the rebellion against the patriot act?

 

[Gonzosc1]

Can't disagree but with the caveat that George Bush is the only President in my memory that has made me afraid.....

the fear is understandable and as I get older the fear of things such as this just makes everyone walk with more caution. I don't know how old you are but for me I remember alott of my past and fears.
How many here are old enough to remember bomb drills in school????????
I remember do this in 1st - 3rd grade. under the desk, away from the windows. this was a result of the cuba missle crisis and the classroom drills went on for years after it was over. if we look back, what we are going through now is not new! the same shit just a different color package. someone is always eyeballing the US and the US as always will handle it in the worst way. who knows where all this will take us, but things are changing in the world and we must change with it to get by also.

 

[Longhorn85]

Can you name one thing in the past 4 years that this administration has done that you didn't agree with?

Yes, a few lol. But what we're talking about here is a bi-partisan (unanimous really) supported Act. Everyone supported the Patriot Act and the 9-11 hearings proved that it is not only the right thing to do, but we probably did it too late or else we might have prevented that disaster.

As far as things I disagree with concerning Bush:

He should have rammed more conservative judges onto the bench, not consulted Ted Kennedy and allow him to co-sponsor the Education Bill cuz I knew he would turn on Bush.

Should have gone deeper on the Tax Cuts. Should increase the size of the military by 50%.

But, you can't have it all, and I think term two will bring more good conservative policy.