RESOLUTION NO. R-01-2004
WHEREAS, the Village of Glencoe, a diverse community, has a long and distinguished history of upholding and protecting the fundamental rights and preventing the abuse of civil rights afforded to its residents; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Glencoe Human Relations Forum (hereinafter known as The Forum) shall be to promote and encourage mutual respect, cooperation and understanding between all people who live or desire to live, work, visit, or do business in the Village; and
WHEREAS, the United States Bill of Rights and Constitution guarantee all persons living in the United States these fundamental rights: freedoms of religion, speech and assembly; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection; access and right to counsel; and a fair and speedy trial; and
WHEREAS, a great crime against humanity on September 11, 2001 resulted in new federal laws and enforcement powers, including the USA PATRIOT Act (hereinafter known as the Act), signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001; and
WHEREAS, we believe the Act weakens and contradicts the above mentioned precious civil liberties and fundamental rights; and
WHEREAS, the Act significantly expands the federal government's ability to increase federal law enforcement authority to obtain a vast number of hereto for private documents including, (Section 215) ""any tangible things"" about ""any person"" from ""any business"", merely by asserting items are ""sought for"" an ongoing investigation. This applies to:
ATM's, credit reports and other financial records
Internet and telephone services
Library records
Sensitive medical, mental health, and educational records about individuals
Moreover, a permanent gag order prohibits the businesses, libraries, etc. from telling individuals that information on them has been provided to the government; and
WHEREAS, the Act lowers the burden of proof required to warantless searches and telephone or Internet surveillance; and
WHEREAS, the Act prohibits librarians from informing patrons about monitoring or information requests and would require local bookstores and libraries such as the Glencoe Public Library, which has never collected such information to begin to do so; and
WHEREAS, privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought and free association; personal and private information should not be examined or scrutinized by others; and
WHEREAS, the interpretations and applications of the Act (such as Section 802) and related Executive Orders encourage racial and ethnic profiling and the broad and vague definition of domestic terrorism may be used against activists exercising constitutional rights to assemble and dissent; and
WHEREAS, the preservation of fundamental rights and civil liberties is a pillar of American, as well as Glencoe society and is essential to the well-being of our democracy, particularly during times of conflict when such rights, especially those of immigrants and ethnic minorities, may be threatened, intentionally or unintentionally, under false pretense of national security or patriotic zeal; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement and security measures that undermine fundamental rights do irreparable damage to American institutions and values of equal justice and freedom that the residents of the Village of Glencoe wish to preserve.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF GLENCOE, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1. That the Village of Glencoe, which affirms the rights of all peoples, in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, opposes terrorism and demands that the efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of these fundamental rights and civil liberties.
SECTION 2. That the Village of Glencoe opposes unwarranted invasion of personal privacy and those measures that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, religion, ethnicity or immigration status.
SECTION 3. That the Village of Glencoe urges Congress to amend the USA PATRIOT Act and to refrain from passing any further legislation that violates or unduly limits the civil rights and liberties guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
Moreover, the Village of Glencoe urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to be vigilant in monitoring the implementation of the Act and any future egregious legislation.
SECTION 4. That the Village Clerk is hereby directed to communicate this Resolution to all Village Departments and employees, Illinois Congressional Delegation, all Human/Community Relations Commissions in the State of Illinois, the Governor and Attorney General of Illinois, the Illinois State Police, the United States Attorney General, and the President of the United States.
SECTION 5. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
/s/ Anthony J. Ruzicka
Village President
/s/ David A. Clark
Deputy Village Clerk
Adopted: January 15, 2004