CITY OF FERNDALE
RESOLUTION
Moved by Councilwoman Weber, supported unanimously, to adopt the following Resolution:
The City of Ferndale is proud of its long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and liberties of its residents-essential to the well being of a democratic society; and
In 1927, the Charter of the City of Ferndale was established ""?to promote the peace, health, safety, contentment and general welfare of all its people?""; and
Federal, state and local governments should protect the public from terrorist attacks such as occurred on September 11, 2001, but should do so in a rational and deliberative fashion to insure that any new security measures enhance public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and
The Mayor and Council of the City of Ferndale believe that here is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty - people in Ferndale can be both safe and free; and
The People of Ferndale have honored and memorialized our armed forces, citizens and non-citizens alike, who have fought and sometimes died in battle protecting cherished and inalienable rights and liberties; and
Federal policies adopted since September 11, 2001, including the USA PATRIOT Act signed into law on October 26, 2001, and related Executive Orders, Regulations and Actions, in the opinion of a growing number of citizens and citizen groups, contain a number of provisions that undermine our constitutional rights and fundamentally alter our civil liberties, without increasing our security - undermining the right to counsel, the right to a jury trial and the rights of immigrants.
THEREFORE, the City of Ferndale joins over 215 U.S. Cities and governmental units in opposing terrorism and affirming that any efforts to end terrorism should not be waged at the expense of the fundamental civil liberties of the people of Ferndale, the United States and the world.
FURTHER, that the City Clerk transmit a copy of this Resolution to Michigan's U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Representative Sander Levin, urging them to monitor anti-terrorism tactics, repeal the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other laws and regulations that infringe upon fundamental rights and liberties.
FURTHER, that the City Clerk transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Granholm, Attorney General Cox and appropriate members of the State, accompanied by a letter urging them to ensure that State anti-terrorism laws and policies are implemented in a manner that does not infringe on civil rights and liberties.