Community Resolution for Duxbury, MA
THE TOWN OF DUXBURY
The ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WHICH WAS CALLED FOR 9:00 A.M. TODAY AT THE DUXBURY SCHOOLS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WAS DULY CALLED TO ORDER AT THAT PLACE AT 9:10 AM TODAY BY THE MODERATOR IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TOWN CLERK UPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED, AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MEETING WAS PROMPTLY RECESSED TO 9:20 A.M (NO OTHER BUSINESS WAS TRANSACTED AT THAT SESSION OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING) TODAY AT THIS PLACE, THE T.WALDO HERRICK GYMNASIUM, DUXBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL, ST. GEORGE STREET, DUXBURY all on March 13, 2004.
The clerk read the call to the meeting and the return of service, the Pledge to the Flag was given by members of Duxbury Police and Fire Departments. It moved and seconded to allow non-resident members of the Town departments to be allowed to speak if necessary. The meeting was recessed for the Special Town Meeting at 9:30AM and reconvened at 9:55AM at the adjournment of the Special Town Meeting. The meeting continued on Saturday, March 13, 2004 until it was recessed for lunch from 12:30PM and
reconvened at 1:40PM. The meeting was recessed at 5:08PM and
reconvened at 7:30PM on Monday, March 15 and was recessed at 10:45PM and reconvened on Tuesday, March 16 at 7:30PM and adjourned sine die at 9.40PM, all at the T .Waldo Herrick Gymnasium.
Article 34-Citizens Petition-Moved and seconded to approve the resolution as submitted by the Citizens for Peaceful Solutions" in a handout entitled Article 34 to affirm key civil liberties and rights granted to all of its residents, US citizens and citizens of other
nations alike, in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as follows:
Resolution to Restore Key Civil Liberties and Rights
Whereas, the Town of Duxbury recognizes and upholds all the rights and privileges secured by the U.S Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which guarantee all citizens and non-citizens the
following rights:
Freedom of speech, assembly and privacy
The rights to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings
Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
Whereas, we believe these civil liberties are precious and are now threatened by: The USA PATRIOT Act, which
Greatly expands the government's ability to conduct secret searches
Severely reduces judicial supervision of telephone and Internet surveillance
Gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups as "terrorist organizations"
Grants FBI broad access to sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals without a court order or evidence of a crime
Allows the Attorney General to subject non-citizens to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime
The Homeland Security Act, which
Increases secret surveillance and reduces privacy protections
Potentially allows the federal government to maintain extensive files on all Americans without limitations
Weakens safeguards on government access to e-mails and to information about an Individual's Internet activity, allowing access without the need for a court order
Gives the government the ability to secretly collect information without court orders or other checks
Federal Executive Orders, which
Establish secret military tribunals for terrorism suspects
Permit wiretapping of conversations between federal prisoners and their lawyers
Lift Justice Department regulations against illegal COINTELPRO-type operations by the FBI (covert activities that in the past targeted domestic groups and individuals)
Limit the disclosure of public documents and records under the Freedom of Information Act
Whereas, law enforcement officials, including previous heads of the FBI have decried the USA PATRIOT Act and the associated orders and rules of the executive branch as unnecessary to the prosecution of; and protection from terrorism,
Therefore, be it resolved that:
1 The Town of Duxbury affirm the civil rights grafted to all of its residents U.S Citizens and citizens of other nations alike-in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution;
2. The Town of Duxbury urges the U.S. Congressional representatives and senators to monitor the implementation of the above Acts and Orders and actively work for repeal of those portions of the Acts and Orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the United States Constitution'
3. The Selectmen of the Town of Duxbury shall send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the U.S. Attorney General, members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, our district representatives in the Massachusetts House and Senate, and to the Governor and the Attorney General of Massachusetts. Vote was Yes-59 and No-26 the motion carried.
Voted at the March 16, 2004 session.
A true copy. Attest:
Nancy M, Gates
Duxbury Town Clerk