Resolution No. 36058

WHEREAS the Council of the City of Tacoma seeks to protect the civil liberties and civil rights for all its residents, and

WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America holds as self-evident that all people are created equal and endowed by the creator with unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and

WHEREAS the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eight, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States establish a shield of protection for the residents of the City, and

WHEREAS the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of the state of Washington guarantees all people living in Tacoma freedom of speech, assembly, and privacy; equality before the law and the presumption of innocence; access to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings; and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and

WHEREAS the Tacoma City Council believes these liberties are precious and any act that seeks to deny or threaten them should be opposed, and

WHEREAS the Tacoma City Council acknowledges what federal, state, and local  jurisdictions have a responsibility to protect the citizenry, and

WHEREAS the Tacoma City Council established a Human Rights Commission with a mandate to protect and preserve the civil liberties and rights of its residents as a pillar of our common society, and

WHEREAS measures such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and other recent federal executive orders and governmental actions can undermine or threaten these basic liberties, and

WHEREAS the Tacoma City Council believes that residents can be both safe and free, as do the governing bodies of other 219 other local, county, and state jurisdictions, representing 26,931,608 residents, that have passed similar resolutions and ordinances reaffirming support for civil liberties and civil rights, and

WHEREAS the Tacoma City Council strongly opposes any unconstitutional acts against its residents under the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 or similar governmental acts;

Now, Therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TACOMA:

That the Council of the City of Tacoma will continue to defend the Constitution of the United States and take all necessary measures to ensure that the practices of the City protect those values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that we hold so dearly.