document

Community Resolution for Mount Vernon, ME

Document Date: June 12, 2004

Mount Vernon Resolution

Calling for the Revision of the USA PATRIOT Act and
Re-Affirmation of our Civil Liberties
(Henceforth known as the Mount Vernon Resolution)

WE, the citizens of Mount Vernon, Maine, wish to make it known that,

WHEREAS, in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the United States Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56: the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act”) which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26,2001 and passed un-debated and largely un-read by Congress; and

WHEREAS many Residents of Mount Vernon and other communities across the nation are concerned that the USA PATRIOT Act threatens our Civil Liberties as guaranteed in both the USA and Maine State Constitutions by
> Significantly expanding the Definition of “Terrorism” to include ordinary Citizens Exercising their First Amendment Rights in Dissent
> Greatly expanding the Government’s ability to conduct secret searches (Section 213)
> Giving law enforcement officials broad access to sensitive medical, mental health, library, business, financial, educational, and other records about individuals, without having to first show probable cause or evidence of a crime, and prohibiting the disclosure to the subject of this investigation
> All but eliminating judicial supervision of telephone and internet surveillance (Sec.216)
> Authorizing the OLA to spy on U.S. Citizens (Sections 203 and 901)
> Granting broad power to the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to designate domestic groups as “terrorist organizations” (Section 411)
> Allowing the attorney General to subject non-citizens to indefinite detention or deportation without due process of the Law AND

WHEREAS the Town of Mount Vernon is committed to Protecting and Upholding the Civil rights of all persons in Mount Vernon as expressed in the U.S. and Maine Constitutions,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the town of Mount Vernon affirms the Civil Rights granted to all its residents, U.S. citizens and citizens of other nations alike, in accordance with the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Citizens of Mount Vernon urge the Selectmen and all Town Officials and Agents to continue to uphold the Constitutional guarantees of
> Respecting and protecting our Freedom of Speech, Religion, Assembly, and Privacy
> Recognizing the Right to Counsel and Due Process in judicial proceedings
> Protecting against unreasonable search and seizure, whether physical or digital

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Mount Vernon urges Maine’s Congressional Delegation to monitor the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act and associated orders and rules that violate the rights guaranteed by the USA and Maine’s own Constitution, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk communicate this Resolution to Maine’s Congressional Delegation, the Governor and Attorney General of Maine, the local US Attorney’s Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Chief of the Maine State Police, with copies sent to our Congressional Representatives, Attorney General Ashcroft, and President George W. Bush

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