As of April 29, 97 U.$. communities in 24 states had passed resolutions opposing pieces of the USA Patriot Act (USAPA). One city, Arcata, CA, passed an ordinance saying it will not enforce certain clauses of the act. The resolutions are statements of opinion by the city councils; only Arcata's ordinance has the force of law.(1)
Most of the resolutions call for the repeal of the unconstitutional elements of the USAPA, rather than of the act as a whole. So the city councils oppose the parts of the USAPA that contradict the Bill of Rights -- like "sneak and peek" search warrants, 7-day detentions without charge for non-citizens, and subpoenas of email transmissions of "suspected terrorists -- but they support increased funding and staffing of police agencies and the INS.(2) The San Francisco resolution, one of the most extreme, calls for the repeal of the Patriot Act. But it also affirms the city's opposition to "terrorism," and says that we can fight terrorism without sacrificing civil liberties.(1)
With all their weaknesses, these resolutions are heartening to activists working to defend our civil liberties and our right to organize. This is exactly the sort of reform battle that is worth fighting for. Opposing fascist restrictions on speech is central to our organizing efforts -- MIM has always had to reckon with censorship in prisons,(3) now we have a blanket threat on the outside to deal with as well.
A growing contingent of radicals, including MIM, is working to block the Patriot Act II's passage into law and to repeal the USA Patriot Act. Both laws place immigrants at the mercy of police and immigration authorities. But unlike its predecessor, Patriot Act II would target activists for surveillance, secret arrest and potential expatriation or extradition. If you care a whit about civil liberties, you need get out and get angry now, before you lose your right to demonstrate it. Sign the petition to block Patriot Act II, and join the campaign to stop this heinous legislation.
Notes:
1. http://anon.user.anonymizer.com/http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=11256&c=206
2. http://www.prisoncensorship.info/archive/etext/agitation/civlib/
3. http://www.prisoncensorship.info/archive/etext/agitation/censor/