City of Stamford Resolution to Protect Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights
The City of Stamford notes with growing concern that the erosion and violation of civil liberties is taking place under certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security Act, and other actions of the federal government of recent years. In particular, the detention of persons without charge; denial of detained persons’ right to counsel; expansion of authority to conduct unregulated electronic surveillance of lawful activities; limiting access to public documents; expanded information gathering about persons without any demonstrated evidence of criminal behavior; the threat of secret military tribunals; the unregulated ethnic profiling of individuals; and the threatening public statements by the U.S. Attorney General regarding legal public opposition to these policies.
WHEREAS the City of Stamford is proud of its long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and liberties of its residents;
WHEREAS the City of Stamford has a diverse population, including legal immigrants and students whose contributions to the community are vital to its economy, culture, and civic character;
WHEREAS the preservation of civil rights and liberties is essential to the well-being of a democratic society;
WHEREAS the City of Stamford believes that there is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty – Americans can be both safe and free;
WHEREAS the City of Stamford has concerns about some of the provisions of the federal USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56);
WHEREAS many other communities throughout the country have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of government policies that threaten these values;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF STAMFORD
1. AFFIRMS its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights and its opposition to federal measures that infringe on civil liberties;
2. AFFIRMS its strong support for the rights of legal immigrants and oppose measures that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based on their country of origin.
3. Directs the Town Clerk to transmit a copy of this resolution to our United States Senate and Congressional representatives, Governor Jodi Rell, President George W. Bush, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
We, the undersigned citizens of the City of Stamford, hereby present this petition requesting the Board of Representatives to adopt the attached resolution (in substantial form) pertaining to the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act, Homeland Security Act, and Executive Orders that violate and restrict our civil liberties.