White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Bill of Rights Defenders Organize

WPCNR GRASS ROOTS REPORTER. From Bill of Rights Defense Campaign. June 22, 2003: About forty people sat in a discussion circle at the White PlainsPublic Library Wednesday night, expressing their concerns about the loss of civil liberties since 9-11 under the USA PATRIOT Act. Representatives from 14 communities and several cosponsoring organizations attended the organizing meeting of the Westchester Bill of Rights Defense Campaign (BORDC) under the sponsorship of the Westchester Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Wesley Stromberg, head of the local effort, recounted how it got started. At the Chapter's annual meeting in March, Attorney Udi Ofer, project director of the BORDC for New York State, spoke about how the USA PATRIOT Act curtails a number of civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

Nationally, 127 cities and towns and three states have passed resolutions opposing the infringement of rights in the name of national security. The decision was then made to launch a petition drive to persuade the County and local governments to pass similar resolutions.

Provisions allowing for searches without notification, indefinite detention, and holding immigration hearings in secret were among those raising concern. The issue creating the most comment was section 215, which authorizes federal agents to demand library and bookstore records and prohibits librarians and booksellers from informing anyone whose records had been searched.

Attendees were urged to support Hr 1157, the Freedom to Read Protection Act sponsored by Congressman Sanders of Vermont.

Several people spoke on the need to reach out and educate the public on the content and deleterious effect of the act, as well as its possible successor, the Domestic Security Enhancement Act, also known as Patriot Act II.

Other committee actions included setting goals for the number of signatures and a time for completion of the petition drive and establishing a number of sub-committees to work on particular phases of the campaign. Further information is available from the NYCLU Westchester Chapter office at 2 William St.,Room 200, White Plains 10601, or by calling the Chapter at (914) 997-7479.


Create an account		The White Plains Daily Internet Newspaper...Founded 2000 A.D....


			Designed and hosted by WestchesterInternet.com