Resistance to Patriot Act Gaining Ground

[DUreader]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0120-02.htm


Foes organizing in communities
by Thanassis Cambanis

More than two centuries ago, the patriots of Brewster shut down the Colonial courts on
Cape Cod in one of the first acts of resistance against the tyrannical rule of King George
III.

Now, deliberately evoking its Revolutionary history,
Brewster Town Meeting has formally condemned the
antiterrorist USA Patriot Act, united against the laws of a
different leader named George.

While the act is largely symbolic -- federal law
enforcement agencies, not local governments, enforce the
Patriot Act's new search, seizure, and detention provisions -- the grass-roots opposition
has forged an unlikely alliance of people angry at Washington's domestic handling of
the war on terror. In Brewster, anger at the Patriot Act has drawn together libertarians,
an antitax group, and a Unitarian congregation, as well as a more traditional coalition of
civil libertarians and antiwar activists.

A similar story has already played out in 16 Massachusetts communities, and 16 more,
including Salem, Waltham, Watertown, Gloucester, Beverly, and Bedford are preparing
measures against the Patriot Act this spring.

[Wwagsthedog]

1. Just want to make a couple of points

Brewster was not incorporated as a town until 1803.. http://www.town.brewster.ma.us/ .. It was established from one of the surrounding towns of Dennis, Orleans or Harwich on Cape Cod. When I see errors like this, I question the rest of the writer's info.

The people of Barnstable County (Cape Cod), MA are fairly contratian when it comes to politics. JFK lost the county in the 1960 elections.

As far as the Patriot act is concerned, we need more towns, cities and states to unite against enforcement but most won't because they want more Washington money to be poured into them to fight the "war on terrorism" or the "war on drugs".

[DUreader]

2. To be fair it says "patriots of Brewster" not the town of...

I would guess it was called Brewster before the paperwork was filed, no?

[Wwagsthedog]

3. Not really

<snip>

BREWSTER was set off from Harwich and incorporated as a town February 19, 1803. From 1747, when Harwich was divided into parishes, until the division in 1803, it was known as the north precinct or parish of Harwich. It is situated on the north side of the Cape, and is bounded east by Orleans, south by Harwich, west by Dennis, north by Cape Cod bay, and covers an area of about twenty-four square miles.

<snip>

http://capecodhistory.us/Deyo/Brewster-Deyo.htm

Lots of place names (villages) like West Brewster, Brewster's Mill, East Brewster but alas, no Brewster by itself until 1803. All towns (except maybe Provincetown) on Cape Cod consist of villages, many with their own zip codes.

Thanks for your query. It made me go back to my roots a bit to be sure of my facts and history. Time really flys. BTW, if you read the link, my middle name is Crosby.

[Mari333]

4. This is what we are aLL submitting to OUR town council

and its a small town in Michigan.....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Proposed resolution for presentation to the South Haven City Council:


Whereas, the City of South Haven has a long and distinguished history of protecting civil rights and civil liberties when liberties are threatened; and

Whereas, the City of South Haven is home to a diverse population, whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function; and

Whereas, the City of South Haven has with gratitude for their supreme sacrifice memorialized those in the Armed Forces who died in battle protecting these same cherished rights and liberties; and

Whereas the City of South Haven has been committed to upholding the human rights of all persons in South Haven and the free exercise and enjoyment of any and all rights and privileges secured by our constitutions and laws of the United States of America and the State of Michigan; and

Whereas, several acts and orders recently enacted at the Federal level, including sections of the USA Patriot Act and several Executive Orders, now threaten these fundamental rights and liberties:
? Freedom of speech
? The right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings
? Protection from unlawful searches and seizures
All guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Michigan and the Constitution of the United States and its Bill of Rights; and
Therefore, we the City Council of South Haven, Michigan, acting in the spirit and history of our community, do hereby request that:
? Local law enforcement continue to preserve residents’ right to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and privacy; rights to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings; and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures even if requested or authorized to infringe upon these rights by federal law enforcement acting under new powers granted by the USA Patriot Act or orders of the executive branch.
? Federal and state law enforcement officials acting within the City work in accordance with the policies of the South Haven Police Department, and in cooperation with the Department, by not engaging in or permitting detentions without charges or racial profiling.
? The U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and State Police report to the City Council regularly and publicly the extent to and manner in which they have acted under the USA Patriot Act, new Executive Orders, or COINTELPRO-type regulations, including disclosing the names of any detainees held in Michigan or any South Haven residents detained elsewhere;
? Our United States Congressman and Senators monitor the implementation of the Act and Orders cited herein and actively work for the repeal of the parts of that Act and those Orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the Constitutions of the State of Michigan and the United States.

[DarkSim]

6. Mind if i submit that to my City council?

I wont submit anything untill i have you're permission. Ill check back on this thread.

Great request.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Meanwhile George the dumbass wants to renew the damn thing.

:mad: :argh: :grr: