Civil Rights and the Patriot Act

Not since the McCarthy era in the 1950s have civil rights been threatened as much as they have since the Bush administration took over and had John Ashcroft appointed to Attorney General.  This section has been established to help keep citizens informed.

The Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee and the national Bill of Rights Defense Committee web sites provide a very good introduction to the problems with this act and is an excellent place to start learning what you should know.  These web sites should be read and studied by all citizens concerned with living up to their responsibilities as such.

Summary of How the USA Patriot Act (UPA) and Homeland Security (HS) can destroy our rights:

Law enforcement may wiretap your phone and Internet communications without a court order (UPA)

People may spy on others if "in the national interest." (HS)

Law enforcement may enter your home, conducting secret searches and taking photos without evidence of criminal activity, and without telling you until they choose to inform you.  (UPA)

Under mere "presumption of guilt" you, your car and your records may be searched.  (HS)

Law enforcement may search medical, financial and educational, library records and bookstore purchases.  Record keepers may not divulge the search under penalty of prosecution.  (UPA)

Trace Internet activity without court order; credit card search without notice. (HS)

Immigrants indefinitely detained on authority of the Attorney General.  (UPA)

Anyone may be jailed for 30 days without charges, and without a phone call.  (HS)

Domestic terrorism, a new, broadly defined crime, can apply to peaceful protesters.  Women in Black, who silently held vigils for Middle East peace, was named a potential terrorist group by the FBI.  (UPA)

If you are as concerned about these threats to your civil rights, the civil rights of your friends, family and children, then check the links above and on our related links page to become more fully informed.  Then act as a citizen and get involved.

An important point to note about this issue is that it is one on which progressives and conservatives strongly agree.  Among the more outspoken conservatives are Phyllis Schafly, Bob Barr and William Safire.

Read the article by Stuart Taylor, Jr in the National Journal:  Ashcroft and the Post-9/11 Arrogance of Power.

See page of links to articles about Alberto Gonzales who has been nominated to be Attorney General to replace John Ashcroft.

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"If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are." Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg