American Civil Liberties Union : Bethel, AK Resolution

There has never been a more urgent need to preserve fundamental privacy protections and our system of checks and balances than the need we face today, as illegal government spying, provisions of the Patriot Act and government-sponsored torture programs transcend the bounds of law and our most treasured values in the name of national security.

Bethel, AK Resolution (11/21/2003)

City of Bethel, Alaska
Resolution #03-34

A RESOLUTION OF THE BETHEL CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES; REQUESTING IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF FEDERAL MEASURES THAT MAY INFRINGE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES

WHEREAS, the preservation of civil rights and liberties as guarded by the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights is essential to the well-being of our democratic society; and

WHEREAS, federal, state and local governments should protect the public from terrorist attacks such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001 and should do so in a deliberate fashion to ensure that any new securities measures will public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and

WHEREAS, in light of the horrific act of terrorism against the U.S. citizens and numerous other nationalities on September 11, 2001, it was a natural response on the part of the government to take actions to prevent such acts of terrorism in the future; and

WHEREAS, there is growing concern across the nation that language in the U.S. PATRIOT Act has expanded the government's power to use eavesdropping, surveillance, access to financial and computer records and other tools to tack terrorist suspects in ways that were not fully understood by the public or elected officials at the time of its enactment; and

WHEREAS, the intent of this resolution is not to undermine the efforts of our elected officials to protect its citizens, nor to criticize the valiant men and women in law enforcement or military service, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Bethel City Council requests members of the U.S. Congress to immediately re-examine the US PATRIOT Act that it passed in October 2001, amending any portion of it that infringes upon the civil rights of US citizens. This sweeping legislation required intense public review and comment before it was passed and enacted.

BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that the Bethel City Council urges Congress not to re-authorize any provision in the US PATRIOT Act or enact the propose US PATRIOT Act 2 without thorough public review of these Acts.

PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2003, BY A VOTE OF 6 IN FAVOR AND 0 OPPOSED.

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