Community Resolution for Oak Creek, CO

Whereas, many people throughout communities across the nation including the Town of Oak Creek are concerned that provisions of the USA Patriot Act threaten our Constitutional rights; and

Whereas, the United States Constitution guarantees all persons living in the United States fundamental rights; and

Whereas, The USA Patriot Act signed by President Bush on October 26, 2001, has a number of provisions that contradict the above mentioned rights. Examples of the provisions that violate the constitutional rights of the citizens of Oak Creek are as follows:

Significantly expands the government’s ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records.
Lowers the burden of proof required to conduct secret searches and telephone and internet surveillance.
Gives law enforcement expanded authority to obtain library records and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of monitoring or information requests.
Gives the Attorney general and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups, including religious and political orgnaziations, as “terrorist organizations”.
Authorizes eavesdropping on confidential communications between lawyers and their clients in federal custody.
Limits disclosure of public documents and records under the Freedom of Information Act.

Now, therefore Be It Resolved that:

The Town of Oak Creek affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, but also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of the citizens of the United States;

And Be It Further Resolved that:

The Town of Oak Creek affirms the rights of all citizens in accordance with the United States Constitution;

And Be It Further Resolved that:

A. The Town of Oak Creek affirms that following principles: (1) every person has the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, (2) neither stops nor arrests may be made without establishing reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed, (3) every person has a right to equal protection under the law and the right to not be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and (4) every person has the right to free speech and freedom of association as provided for under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and court opinions thereon.

B. No employee or representative of the Town of Oak Creek may provide or discriminate against any person solely on the basis of ancestry, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender variance, marital status, physical or mental disability or religion.

C. The staff is directed to send copies of this Resolution to President George W. Bush, Attorney Genderal Ashcroft, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, U.S. Representative John Salazar, Governor Bill Owens, State Senator Jack Taylor, State Represenative Al White and the Routt County Commissioners.

Let It Be Further Resolved that:

The Town of Oak Creek calls upon all citizens to demonstrate similar respect for our constitution.