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Ashland passes Anti-Patriot Act resolution
Thursday, February 20, 2003 | No comments posted.
ASHLAND (AP) - The city council unanimously passed a resolution directing police to consider a person's civil liberties before cooperating with federal and state authorities acting under the USA Patriot Act.
"This is one of the strongest (anti-Patriot Act resolutions) passed anywhere in the country," said Paul Copeland of the Ashland Patriots, the group that created the resolution. "We have reason to be concerned what happens when you give the government too much power."
The act gives the federal government broad powers to use wiretaps, eavesdropping, searching and a wide range of other information-gathering techniques in the fight against terrorism.
The Ashland resolution seeks to:
n Ensure people who are arrested have access to legal counsel.
n Limit the collection of surveillance information on individuals or groups unless related to a criminal investigation.
n Eliminate targeting of people based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin or other attributes
n Require notice be given before executing a search warrant in the city.
n Keep police from participating in "any federal clandestine program which encourages" people to spy on their neighbors.
The resolution also directs the city administrator to request annual reports from the government on Patriot Act-related activities, including the names of residents arrested by federal authorities, the number of search warrants executed, extent of electronic surveillance, the extent to which political or religious meetings are monitored, and the number of times school, library or bookstore records have been scrutinized in the city.
About 15 residents spoke in favor of the ordinance, and only two were opposed.
"The Patriot Act is federal law. I don't feel it's the duty of the Ashland City Council to direct the police department not to participate," Paul Mensch said at Tuesday's meeting.
But when the resolution won approval, the 50 or so people in the audience gave the council a standing ovation.
"I'm extremely proud of our citizens," Councilman Don Laws said. "I'm really pleased that this whole thing has been brought up."
"This is one of the strongest (anti-Patriot Act resolutions) passed anywhere in the country," said Paul Copeland of the Ashland Patriots, the group that created the resolution. "We have reason to be concerned what happens when you give the government too much power."
The act gives the federal government broad powers to use wiretaps, eavesdropping, searching and a wide range of other information-gathering techniques in the fight against terrorism.
The Ashland resolution seeks to:
n Ensure people who are arrested have access to legal counsel.
n Limit the collection of surveillance information on individuals or groups unless related to a criminal investigation.
n Eliminate targeting of people based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin or other attributes
n Require notice be given before executing a search warrant in the city.
n Keep police from participating in "any federal clandestine program which encourages" people to spy on their neighbors.
The resolution also directs the city administrator to request annual reports from the government on Patriot Act-related activities, including the names of residents arrested by federal authorities, the number of search warrants executed, extent of electronic surveillance, the extent to which political or religious meetings are monitored, and the number of times school, library or bookstore records have been scrutinized in the city.
About 15 residents spoke in favor of the ordinance, and only two were opposed.
"The Patriot Act is federal law. I don't feel it's the duty of the Ashland City Council to direct the police department not to participate," Paul Mensch said at Tuesday's meeting.
But when the resolution won approval, the 50 or so people in the audience gave the council a standing ovation.
"I'm extremely proud of our citizens," Councilman Don Laws said. "I'm really pleased that this whole thing has been brought up."
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