Besides the peace resolution, unanimously Santa Monica City Council
late last night also passed the following resolution:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AFFIRMING THE CITY'S STRONG
COMMITMENT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES, OPPOSING THE USA PATRIOT ACT AND
RELATED ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES, AND SUPPORTING UNABROGATED CITY
PROTECTION FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees all persons living
in the United States fundamental rights including freedom of
religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable
searches and seizures; due process and equal protection; and access
to counsel, presumption of innocence and a fair, speedy public trial;
and
WHEREAS, a great crime against humanity occurred on September 11,
2001, resulting in new federal laws and enforcement powers, including
the USA PATRIOT ACT signed by President George W. Bush on October 26,
2001; and
WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT ACT appears to weaken or contradict the
above-mentioned Constitutional rights; and
WHEREAS, Department of Justice interpretations of this Act and
Executive Orders under the Act appear to particularly target Muslims,
people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent and citizens of
other nations, thereby encouraging racial and ethnic profiling; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica proudly houses a diverse
population, including many citizens of other nations, whose
contributions to our community are vital to its character and
function; and
WHEREAS, the PATRIOT Act significantly expands the government's
ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and
educational records about individuals, lowers the burden of proof
required to conduct secret searches and telephone or internet
surveillances, increases federal law enforcement authority to obtain
library records and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of
monitoring or information requests; and
WHEREAS, our own Santa Monica Public Library Board has discussed
concerns regarding how our community might protect patrons' rights to
privacy and confidentiality while using City of Santa Monica public
facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has a history of providing
leadership in upholding Constitutional rights and preventing the
abuse of the civil rights of its residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica affirms its abhorrence for and
opposition to terrorism, but also insists that efforts to end
terrorism not be waged at the expense of fundamental civil rights.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica affirms its commitment to the
rights of all people, including those of various ethnicities and
citizenships, and to reasonable and proper expectations of individual
privacy when using community facilities such as our Public Library.
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica opposes any part of or
implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act, Justice Department directives
and Executive Orders which contravene the civil rights guaranteed by
the United States Constitution.
SECTION 4. The City Council affirms the existing legal responsibility
and policy of the City of Santa Monica to uphold the United States
Constitution and to scrupulously observe the civil rights and civil
liberties of individuals in the delivery of City services and the
execution of municipal obligations. Nothing in the USA PATRIOT Act
shall be interpreted as abrogating that responsibility or altering
that policy.
SECTION 5. The City Council calls upon all private citizens and
organizations, including residents, employers, educators and business
owners, to demonstrate similar respect for civil rights and civil
liberties, especially but not limited to conditions of employment and
cooperation with PATRIOT Act investigations.
SECTION 6. The City of Santa Monica calls upon United State
Representative Henry Waxman and United States Senators Barbara Boxer
and Dianne Feinstein to vigilantly monitor the implementation of the
USA PATRIOT Act and associated Orders, and to actively work for the
repeal of those sections of the Act and those Orders that violate
fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the United States
Constitution and its Amendments.
--
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Drop Bush, Not Bombs!
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"During times of universal deceit,
telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
George Orwell
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