(Let's hope this catches on in cities across America)
Denver Bows Out Of 'Patriot Act' And 'War On Terror'
3-22-2
DENVER - The local government here officially threw its lot in with
Portland, Ore. and a handful of other municipalities around the country,
passing a resolution Monday night discouraging police from enforcing new
anti-terror legislation if doing so would interfere with peoples' civil
rights.
A non-binding resolution passed by the city council in response to the
federal USA Patriot Act discourages Denver police from investigating
groups or individuals based on their country of origin or immigration
status. The resolution bars police from assisting in parts of the federal
government's anti-terrorism campaign.
Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie, who co-sponsored the resolution, said
the measure urges police not to go too far in the wake of Sept. 11.
"In this city, it's not a crime to have dark skin," she said.
"It's not a crime to be from a different country. It's not a crime
to express unpopular views."
The move comes a week after revelations that Denver police officials have
been keeping secret files on protest groups like Amnesty International,
anti-globalization protestors and the American Friends Service Committee,
a Quaker group.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which revealed that the files were
being kept, said the police department had some 3,200 files on
individuals and 208 files on organizations dating to about 1999.
Following the revelation, Mayor Wellington Webb reprimanded police
officials and said they had interpreted city policy too broadly.
Targeting some citizens for surveillance and ignoring others because of
their race or national origin didn't sit well with everyone on the
council, however. The resolution passed by a 7-4 margin after nearly two
hours of debate in front of a standing-room-only audience.
Among the opponents of the resolution was Councilman Ed Thomas, who said
the new police powers are needed for public safety and that it would
unnecessarily tie the hands of Denver police.
"If you think this is the last terrorist act in this country you are
sadly mistaken," said Thomas, a former police officer. "I think
it's inappropriate to not remember the people who died 9/11 and that's
exactly what we are doing."
Councilwoman Cathy Reynolds called the measure "poppycock," and
complained that people around the country would view Denver in a
"bad light" if it passed.
A handful of other cities, including Portland, Ore., have questioned the
scope of the USA Patriot law, which expands law enforcement's
surveillance and investigative powers in order to combat domestic and
international terrorism. Portland officials refused to help federal
authorities interview people about the terrorist attacks.
Although Denver's resolution doesn't have the force of law, supporters on
the council said Mayor Webb has indicated he likely will make it part of
the police operations.
The resolution was proposed by the All Nations Alliance, a group that
made a name for itself protesting the city's annual Columbus Day parade
as a celebration of genocide against Native Americans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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-InfoWarz
For Sale: Government Security
Cost: Your Constitution, Your Freedom, and Your Liberty.
Your Choice.
What will you leave to your posterity?
Liberty or a Police State?