1. Resolution adopted by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
2. Proposed city resolution
3. Act now!  Sign our petition!

RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, immediately following the 9-11 terrorist attack Congress acted to implement the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Adequate Tools," generally referred to as the USA Patriot Act with overwhelming support by the Congress including members of the San Mateo County delegation voted for the measure;

WHEREAS, the USA Patriot Act, H.R. 3162, a 342-page law that makes sweeping changes to more than 15 different statutes including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) was enacted in just 45-days after the tragic events of September 11 and the complex provisions were enacted without interagency review and suspending the normal thorough public hearing process;

WHEREAS, The "Patriot Act" expands federal powers to search and conduct surveillance. Ostensibly, the measure was enacted to enhance domestic security against terrorism. The Patriot Act expands surveillance procedures, monitoring of international money exchanges, removes obstacles to investigating terrorism, provides for increased information sharing capabilities among law enforcement and created a counter terrorism fund;

WHEREAS, the USA Patriot Act increases the authority of the Attorney General to detain and deport non-citizens with little or no judicial review; and the Attorney General and Secretary of State are also given the authority to designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations and deport any non-citizen who belongs to them. Increases the penalties of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act; and defines computer crimes as "cyber-terrorist" terrorist attack and offense and increases surveillance capabilities and expands the federal government's powers to eavesdrop and have access to financial and computer records as "tools to track terrorists;"

The measure expands the federal government's power to eavesdrop and have access to financial and computer records as "tools to track terrorists."

WHEREAS, several of the surveillance provisions of USAPA expire on December 31, 2005.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors support the enactment of H.R.1157, "Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003," to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to exempt bookstores and libraries from the Patriot Act and requires the Attorney General to regularly provide information to the appropriate congressional oversight committee on the numbers of letter of request for information that have been made; and support the 2005 sunset date contained in H.R. 3162.

Board of Supervisors web site

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WHEREAS the City/Town of ____________  acknowledges that all human beings are endowed with fundamental, unalienable rights and liberties, and that respect for these liberties is essential to the maintenance of a free and democratic society;

WHEREAS the City/Town of ____________  has a long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil liberties and rights of its citizens;

WHEREAS the City/Town of ____________ is concerned about the threat posed by certain provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act and a number of Federal Executive orders issued since September 11th to the following fundamental, constitutional rights:

• The rights to free speech, assembly, and association, and freedom of religion;
• The right to privacy;
• The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury;
• The right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings;
• The right to equal protection under the law; and
• The right to protection against unreasonable searches and seizures;

1. It is committed to preserving the civil liberties and rights of all the people of ____________;
2. It opposes any federal measures that threaten constitutional rights and liberties;
3. Officials of the City/Town of ____________ are hereby urged, to the extent legally permissible, not to cooperate or participate in actions which appear to violate constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties;
4. It supports the expiration date of the USA Patriot Act on December 31, 2005 as specified in the Act;
5. It pledges its support for the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157), which will exempt libraries and booksellers from provisions of the USA Patriot Act detrimental to free speech and privacy;
6. The City Manger’s office shall send copies of this resolution to all city departments, the Governor and the Attorney General of the State of California, the President and the Attorney General of United States of America, and shall call upon our congressional representatives, Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Representatives Tom Lantos and Anna Eshoo, to actively work for the repeal of any parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security Act, or any other federal acts and orders that threaten liberty.

Download sample city resolution: Adobe Acrobat (PDF); Microsoft Word (DOC)

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Do you feel strongly about this issue?  Let your voice be heard!  Sign our petition today!  Just download the endorsement form, sign your name,  and fill out the requested information.  Then mail it to the address given or fax it to (650) 349-5223.  Here's what you'll be signing:

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned that our federal government has taken actions that have seriously eroded the liberties and freedoms that are at the very core of the American way of life.  Given these concerns, we support the grassroots and community efforts to pass resolutions in support of our civil liberties and civil rights.  We hereby endorse the resolution campaign of the San Mateo County Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

Download the endorsement form: Adobe Acrobat (PDF); Microsoft Word (DOC)

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