Could someone please relay this to 'activism' -- we still don't have a
(clear_?_) link to Activism on the front page.
Horst.
Forwarded message from Hope Marston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -----
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 21:38:44 -0700
From: Hope Marston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: Hope Marston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Oregon anti-UPA Resolution
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY
Dear Endorsers and Supporters of Bill of Rights Defense Committees,
Oregon has not passed a resolution defending our liberties YET .. but WITH
YOUR HELP, WE WILL HAVE A RESOLUTION IN OREGON IN A FEW WEEKS. This will
take a small commitment of your time, but it is worth it! Oregon could well
become the fourth state in the nation to take a stand against the UPA
(U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act) and other post 9/11 violations of our liberties.
We have begun contacting legislators in Salem, and we will be meeting with
State Senators and State Representatives at their offices in Salem starting
this Monday July 28. Already a few legislators have expressed excitement
about the resolution, despite the consuming budget battle in Salem. We
think this may be due in part to recent setbacks that John Ashcroft's
Justice Department has suffered:
1.. The Inspector General's report of physical and psychological abuse of
many Muslim detainees after 9/11,
2.. The passage of an amendment in the House of Representatives that would
prevent funding for one of the most egregious parts of the UPA, the
so-called "sneak and peek" searches by the FBI (searches of private
residences and businesses without a warrant showing probable cause of
criminal activity, and delaying notification of the search perhaps
indefinitely).
The House of Representatives' amendment, introduced by Republican Butch
Otter of Idaho, passed on Wednesday, Jul 23 by a vote of 309-118, and is the
FIRST TIME SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 that any part of the draconian restrictions of
the UPA have been repudiated by Congress. This is the first crack in the
John Ashcroft juggernaut. We know there is broad support for action against
some parts of the UPA right now. And here in Oregon, we suspect politicians
may well be looking for some way to publicly distance themselves from John
Ashcroft, who made himself an unpopular figure among Oregonians by ignoring
"Death With Dignity," passed by the people of Oregon. Put all this together
and it could spell a BIG WIN for all of us who care about our Bill of
Rights. This is where we need help.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS IN SALEM NOW, AND TELL THEM YOU SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE so called "USA PATRIOT Act.".
We have a tremendous window of opportunity now that we must take advantage
of, because the Legislature is nearing the end of its session, and is not in
session next year (the Oregon Legislature only convenes every other year).
If we are unable to grasp this opportunity now, we will be forced to conduct
a ballot initiative campaign, gathering signatures well into next year, and
attempt to win at the ballot box in November 2004, a very costly and time
consuming process.
SUPPORTIVE LEGISLATORS HAVE TOLD US WE CAN PULL THIS OFF, IF WE PUSH HARD IN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.
So we need your HELP NOW to deluge the Legislature with PHONE CALLS AND
EMAILS to support the resolution against the so-called "USA PATRIOT" Act.
In addition, if you want to set up a personal appointment to talk to your
legislator in person in Salem, we will send our experienced committee
members with you to help make the case for the resolution. Just let us know
when and we'll be there. If you need contact information for your
legislators, go to www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm.
WE NEED YOUR HELP OVER THE NEXT TWO or more WEEKS. We want to make Oregon
the 4th state, after Hawaii, Alaska, and Vermont, to condemn the UPA and
take a firm stand to defend our constitutional liberties. We have carefully
drafted the resolution to include our primary concerns about the UPA, and
modeled it after the successful resolutions in those other 3 states. You
can read the full text of the resolution at
www.lanerights.org/stateresolution.htm
Thank you for your help towards making Oregon the 4th state to take a stand
against the UPA, and building nationwide momentum toward REPEALING THE UPA!
Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Peter Chabarek 541 688-8270
541 579-5843
Hope Marston 541 683-5634
Brian Michaels 541 687-0578
----- End forwarded message -----
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