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ACLU & AMV urge you to fight the Patriot Act
Please join us (Sanjeev Berry, ACLU San Jose Director & Samina Faheem Sundas, Founding Director AMV) for an evening of letter writing campaign to our congressmen and brain storming session regarding the USA Patriot Act!
Why: To have fun and letter writing campaign to our congressmen, to urge them to bring the Patriot Act back in line with the U.S. Constitution.
When: Thursday May 26th
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Where: 120- Park Ave, Palo Alto, Ca 94306 (my home)
Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP at samina_faheem@yahoo.com
Phone: 650-387-1994
Urge Congress to bring the Patriot Act
back in line with the U.S. Constitution
Three years after the passage of the USA Patriot Act, the movement to fix this overly broad and UN-American piece of legislation has gained incredible momentum. Hundreds of communities have formally opposed the USA Patriot Act in conservative and liberal regions across the country. Many Republicans and Democrats in Congress have called for reforms.
2005 is a critical year in this battle. At the end of this year, several invasive Patriot Act powers will automatically expire – or “sunset” – unless Congress renews them. President Bush has already called for making these sections of the USA Patriot Act permanent.
In addition to their efforts to preserve the powers already in the Patriot Act, President Bush and some in Congress may try to expand the Patriot Act even further. They have already attempted to do so several times. On occasion, they have succeeded.
The parts of the Patriot Act that will automatically expire at the end of 2005 include the infamous Section 215. Section 215 gives the FBI the power to get library records, financial statements, or “any tangible thing”-- so long as it is claimed to be for a terrorism investigation. If Congress does nothing, Section 215 and others like it will expire at the end of 2005.
Please write your members of Congress and urge them to oppose any attempts to expand the USA Patriot Act. Also urge Congress to allow many of the Patriot Act’s controversial provisions to “sunset” at the end of this year.
Write a letter to Congress today!
Sample letter:
The Honorable ____________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable ____________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator / Representative ____________:
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose any attempts to expand the USA Patriot Act. I also urge you to allow many of the controversial provisions of the law to end, or “sunset,” at the end of this year.
Though Congress moved too quickly to approve the USA Patriot Act, I believe Congress was wise to make several invasive Patriot Act powers expire at the end of 2005. These powers include Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which gives the FBI access to “any tangible thing” with only minimal judicial oversight. I do not believe that the government should be allowed to indiscriminately investigate personal records.
I believe that many provisions of the Patriot Act violate fundamental American values and that it should not be extended or expanded. The Constitution and its Bill of Rights emphasize the need for checks and balances on government agents and limits to their power. The Patriot Act violates these checks and balances by rolling back key judicial oversight and giving law enforcement significant new powers that go beyond the war on terrorism.
Once again, I strongly urge you to oppose any attempts to expand the USA Patriot Act, and to allow many aspects of the law to “sunset” this year
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this very important matter.
Regards,
Your name
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