RESOLUTION NO. 3-044
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE TO PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES
WHEREAS, the City of Pacific Grove is committed to protecting the civil rights and liberties of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pacific Grove has a unique population, including immigrants, students and working people, whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function; and
WHEREAS, fundamental constitutional rights are essential to the preservation of a just and democratic society; and
WHEREAS, several new laws, regulations, and executive orders issued during the past year including the adoption of certain provisions of the USA Patriot Act may threaten these constitutional rights and liberties, including: Freedom of speech and religion; Right to privacy; Right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings; Right to equal protection before the law; and Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; and
WHEREAS, thirty years ago this November, California voters overwhelmingly adopted a Constitutional right to privacy to protect against a ""proliferation of government snooping and data collection [that] is threatening to destroy our traditional freedoms"";
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Affirms its strong support for the fundamental constitutional rights and its opposition to the provisions of the USA Patriot Act that infringe on important civil liberties.
2. Affirm its strong support for the constitutional rights for immigrant communities in Pacific Grove and oppose racial profiling and scapegoating of immigrants.
3. Calls upon our United States Representatives and Senators to monitor the implementation of the Patriot Act and Orders cited herein and actively work for the repeal of the Act and those orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the United States Constitution and its amendments.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Pacific Grove this 20th day of August, 2003, by the following vote:
AYES: Costello, Fisher, Gasperson, Goldbeck, Renz, Schenk, Stidham
NOES: None
ABSENT: None