Posted on 02/15/2006 10:37:53 AM PST by Born Conservative
Local opponents of the USA Patriot Act want State College Borough Council to join other cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in denouncing the national bill, which must pass a vote on March 11 to be extended.
A representative of the Centre Region Bill of Rights Defense Committee, which formed a year ago as one of 800 committees around the country, presented the resolution during Borough Council's work session last night.
Without any discussion or public comment -- despite the large citizen presence in the room -- the council chose to place the item on its voting agenda for next Tuesday's meeting.
Nancy Kranich, the committee's leader, said the resolution involves letting Congress know that the community has gone on the record in support of civil liberties.
A local resolution is important because it gives the American citizens an opportunity to stand and reaffirm how important freedoms are to all people, she said.
State College would be the 9th Pennsylvanian town to pass such a resolution. More than 394 cities across the country have passed similar acts, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Erie, York, Washington, D.C., New York City and Baltimore.
Craig Humphrey, Borough Council member, said the group is requesting "the borough approve a resolution which basically argues for a balanced handling of the issue of terrorism where people's individual rights are not infringed upon."
Humphrey said he would support a motion to pass the resolution.
"This is a very balanced, reasonable way to criticize the Patriot Act," he said.
The Patriot Act was passed in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 as a measure to assist federal law enforcement agencies in fighting terrorism. Civil rights groups have criticized the bill for its infringements upon civil liberties, such as lack of notification for searches and seizures and access to library records.
Local interest in the subject is evident by a petition conducted by the committee late last year. The group collected more than 700 signatures expressing concern about the issue nationally, but also calling for local action, Kranich said.
Congress has "really dropped the ball" with the Patriot Act because there is no public debate, records or information on the act, she said. No information exists because of a gag order that prohibits any information disclosure.
"The law is cloaked under a veil of secrecy," Kranich said.
The Patriot Act permits the government to search homes without informing the owners, to monitor phone calls, e-mails and Web sites and to take away property without a warrant, she said.
"The federal government's enhanced powers take away the constitutional checks and balances," Kranich added.
She said the local chapter of Bill of Rights Defense Committee is one of many groups that sprung up in conjunction with the anti-terrorism bills that were passed after September 11, 2001 and that Kranich said threaten civil liberties.
A former president of the American Library Association, Kranich said the committee is working to educate the public. Working together and amplifying individual voices as a community can make a difference, she said.
Elizabeth Goreham, Borough Council member, said she is delighted that the council will be taking a stand against the Patriot Act.
"It is a grassroots expression. The constitution and democracy begins here on a local level," she said.
Goreham said the resolution does not require any action by borough staff and is more philosophical support.
"This resolution is both appropriate and important," she added.
And, if a terrorist manages to hit her city, who do you think will be the first to howl about how the government failed to protect her?
A bunch of silly, self important clowns group pose.
Silly city council... trying to be more important than they are.
Nothing but a bunch of libs mouthing off. It's expected from a college town such as this.
"Thanking you for this kindly information." - OBL
Fine. All Homeland Security protections for these Pennsylvania towns should also be revoked. Let Al Qaeda have a field day there. It's just a bunch of blue state low lives anyway.
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