"Dissent is patriotic,"
read the message gracing the speakers’ podium. Despite icy temperatures
and blustering winds, several hundred people who take that message
seriously gathered for a "Lunchtime Rally for the Bill of Rights"
outside City Hall last Tuesday. They were there to show their support
for City Council Resolution 909, which calls upon federal, state and
local officials and upon New York City agencies and institutions to
affirm and uphold civil liberties when prosecuting the war on terrorism.
They also urged a vote on this legislation before the City Council’s
current session ends later this month.
Resolution 909 was introduced by Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins
and already has 38 of the 51 Council Members signed on. It has
widespread support from the public, elected officials as well as a broad
coalition of more than 90 organizations. This includes the NAACP, the
American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee, DC 37, the New York Public
Library Guild, the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and the Greater
New York Labor-Religion Coalition.
The resolution addresses the excesses of the USA PATRIOT Act and the
ensuing presidential directives and FBI regulations which have seriously
undermined people’s Constitutional rights and freedoms. Acting under
these new police powers, law-enforcement officials can now detain anyone
without charges, monitor a person’s Internet activity without probable
cause; charge peaceful protesters with "domestic terrorism" for engaging
in civil disobedience, spy on First Amendment protected activities and
also obtain confidential information from library, medical or banking
records without any evidence that the "suspect" is involved in any
criminal activity.
"Resolution 909 is a reasonable and principled response to the
unprecedented expansion of executive powers in the last two years,"
stated Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil
Liberties Union, who performed the duties of MC at the rally. "It should
be no more controversial than the Bill of Rights. The City Council
should lead the nation in stating that our freedoms should not be
abandoned in the name of national security."
Calling him "Mr. 909," she then introduced Council Member Perkins,
who said he’s proud that so many councilmembers understand how
unpatriotic the PATRIOT Act is. He commented, too, that they need to get
it passed before the end of this legislative session because they don’t
want to wait until PATRIOT Act II joins this one and they have to fight
it as well.
The
resolution’s newest supporter in the City Council, Letitia James, made
it clear that she will be signing on immediately. "Today, I am proud to
stand with you who defend the democracy and freedom of all
individuals," she told the crowd. "I am proud to join my colleagues
because dissent is democracy. Dissent is freedom."
This resolution also has broad support from New York City
Congressional Representatives, including Major Owens, Edolphus Towns and
Charles Rangel.
Congressman
Jerrold Nadler, whose district includes Ground Zero, stated that this
country has a great tradition of defending civil rights. We also have a
terrible tradition where in most of the wars the US has fought, we have
trampled on civil liberties in the name of national security. "All these
actions hurt real people, and none of the actions, in the unanimous view
of historians later, helped national security in any way," he declared.
"We should learn from the past, but we don’t."
One
person who does seem to have learned something is Speaker Gifford
Miller, who, since the resolution was introduced last May, had not
declared his position on it. Because the decision of when to schedule a
vote on it is in his hands, he has received over a thousand letters from
city residents as well as one from members of the New York City
Congressional Delegation asking him to support this legislation and work
for its immediate passage before the Council adjourns.
Miller attended the rally and dispelled all doubt as to where he
stands on the resolution. "I love this country, I love the Bill of
Rights," he stated. "I believe that PATRIOT Act 1 and 2 undermine the
Bill of Rights, undermine what this country stands for, and we have to
send a clear message on behalf of the City of New York that we won't
stand for it. I look forward to working with the sponsors of Reso. 909
to get it passed as soon as possible."
Therefore, it looks like New York City will soon be joining the
growing number of cities and towns across the nation that have passed
similar legislation showing they value civil liberty over supposed
security.
