A MOTION affirming King County's abhorrence of, and opposition to, global terrorism, and its commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all King County residents.

            WHEREAS, King County's highly utilized waterways, large active port, major international airport, multiple bridges, access to military, dispatch and transport of hazardous waste into Hanford and proximity to the Canadian border make the region uniquely vulnerable to terrorism, and

            WHEREAS, King County has a diverse population whose contribution to the community are vital to its economy, culture and civic character, and

            WHEREAS, King County denounces terrorism and acknowledges that federal, state and local governments have a responsibility to protect the public from terrorist attacks and should ensure that any new security measures enhance public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties, and

            WHEREAS, King County is proud of its long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all its residents and affirming the fundamental rights of all people, and

            WHEREAS, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act (PL 107-56) on October 26, 2001, following the horrific attacks on America of September 11, 2001, and

            WHEREAS, many provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other related federal orders and measures may pose a threat to the civil rights and civil liberties of the residents of King County, particularly to those who are immigrants, are Muslim or are of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent, by potentially:

            A.  Reducing judicial supervision of telephone and Internet surveillance;

            B.  Expanding the government's power to conduct secret searches without warrants;

            C.  Granting power to the Secretary of State to designate domestic groups, including political and religious groups, as "terrorist organizations";

            D.  Granting power to the Attorney General to subject noncitizens to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime;

            E.  Granting the Federal Bureau of Investigation access to sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals without having to show evidence of a crime; and

            F.  Granting the Federal Bureau of Investigation the power to compel libraries and bookstores to produce circulation or book purchase records of their patrons and forbidding disclosure that such records have been requested and produced, and

            WHEREAS, the King County council believes that there is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of personal liberties, and

            WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of the state of Washington guarantee 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, for all people living in King County, and

            WHEREAS, the preservation of civil rights and civil liberties is a pillar of American society and is essential to the well-being of any democracy, and

            WHEREAS, the King County council believes that residents of this county and this nation can be both safe and free, and

            WHEREAS, over one hundred ninety-two cities, towns and counties and the states of Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for civil rights and civil liberties in response to the USA PATRIOT Act and other government policies that threaten these values;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

            That we:

            A.  Affirm King County's abhorrence of, and opposition to, global terrorism;

            B.  Affirm King County's commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all King County residents, and oppose those measures that infringe upon those civil rights and civil liberties or that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or 

enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, religion, ethnicity or immigration status; and

            C.  Resolve that King County opposes any unconstitutional acts against its residents under the USA PATRIOT Act, including invasion of privacy, expanded surveillance and denial of due process that may come from application of the USA PATRIOT Act.