Missoula, MT City Council Resolution

Resolution No. 6621

Missoula, Montana, Resolution on Civil Rights
Introduced by City Councilor John Torma and passed unanimously by the Missoula City Council on February 24, 2003.

Whereas, in response to the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York City by a terrorist act on September 11, 2001, the U. S. Congress passed the USA Patriot Act and the Justice Department revised its internal orders restricting procedures for investigation and detention; and

Whereas, the Missoula City Council supports programs to prevent such terrorist violence in the future and to protect the people from the consequences of such future attacks; and

Whereas, we do not think it necessary or desirable that such programs should diminish civil rights that were enjoyed in America prior to the destruction of the WTC;

Whereas, the City of Missoula houses a diverse population whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function; and

Whereas, the City of Missoula has gratitude for those in the armed forces who defend and protect these same cherished rights, including those who have made the supreme sacrifice doing so;

Whereas, the members of the Missoula City Council have taken an oath of office which includes the protection and defense of these rights and liberties;

Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council of Missoula, Montana, reaffirms allegiance to civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the Montana Constitution, as core values of our society and nation, and allegiance to the procedures that protect them; and opposes in Missoula the possible curtailments of people’s civil liberties or any diminished accountability for law enforcement agencies, be they local, state or federal; and reaffirms that the Missoula Police Department works to preserve the people’s freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and privacy; rights to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings; and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and

Directs that the City Clerk communicate this resolution to all City departments, the County Sheriff and the County Attorney, the Attorneys General of the State of Montana and the United States, and the Montana Congressional and Statehouse delegations.

Passed and Adopted on this 24th Day of February, 2003.

ATTEST: APPROVED:

/s/Martha L. Rehnbein /s/Mike Kadas

City Clerk Mayor