This is to certify that at a meeting of the Court of Common Council, May 12, 2003, the following RESOLUTION was passed, as amended.

WHEREAS,  The City of Hartford is proud of its long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and liberties of its residents; and

WHEREAS,  The preservation of civil rights and liberties is essential to the well-being of a democratic society; and

WHEREAS,  The City of Hartford has a diverse population, including immigrants and students, whose contributions to the community are vital to its economy, culture and civic character; and

WHEREAS,  Federal, State and local Governments should protect the public from terrorist attacks such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, but should do so in a rational and deliberative fashion to ensure that any new security measure enhances public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and

WHEREAS,  The Hartford Court of Common Council supports the premise that there is no inherent conflict between National security and the preservation of liberty; and

WHEREAS,  Some Federal policies adopted since September 11, 2001, including provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56) and related executive orders, regulations and actions that raise concerns over the loss of fundamental rights and liberties; and

WHEREAS,  New Legislation has been drafted by the Bush Administration entitled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA) (also known as PATRIOT II) which contains a multitude of new and sweeping law enforcement and intelligence gathering powers, many of which are not related to terrorism, that would severely dilute, and could undermine, many basic constitutional rights, as well as disturb our unique system of checks and balances; now, therefore, be it 

RESOLVED,  That the Mayor and Hartford Court of Common Council:

1.                  Affirms their strong support for the fundamental constitutional rights and its opposition to Federal measures that infringe on civil liberties; and

2.                  Strongly supports the rights of immigrants and opposes measures that singles out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based on their Country of origin; and

3.                  Calls upon the law enforcement officials working within City and outside boundaries to continue to preserve residents' freedom of speech, religion, assembly; privacy; rights to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings; and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; and to not engage in nor permit detentions without charges or racial profiling in law enforcement; and

4.                  Affirms the privacy rights and intellectual freedoms of it's residents and supports librarians, booksellers and other communications dealers in protecting those rights; and 

5.                  Directs the Town Clerk to transmit a copy of this resolution to our United States Senate and Congressional representatives, Governor John G. Rowland, President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft.   

Attest:
Daniel M. Carey,
City Clerk.

Copies to:  City Manager, Corporation Counsel, Mayor Perez, State Delegation, Governor John G. Rowland, President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft.