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Port Orford group believes in 'We the People'
By Susan Chambers, Staff Writer
Monday, May 17, 2004 | 1 comment(s)
PORT ORFORD - Residents here have the chance to vote on reaffirming their civil rights in the election Tuesday.
Measure 08-41 reads, "Reaffirms citizens' civil rights; may prohibit cooperation with Patriot Act."
The Port Orford Bill of Rights Defense Committee, after a failed attempt to get the Port Orford City Council to adopt a resolution against the Patriot Act, decided to take the issue to the voters.
"It's our belief that Oregon's south coast is a bastion of true patriots," an early press release said last year, when the group tried to convince the City Council to adopt the resolution.
Though that attempt failed, it didn't deter the group's efforts. The Port of Port Orford passed a resolution in October 2003 opposing the USA Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act - both passed after the terrorist attacks in 2001, which give federal officials greater authority to track communications, close borders and create new crimes, penalties and procedural efficiencies for use against domestic and international terrorists.
Critics contend they go too far.
The Port Orford BORDC, led by resident Nella Reed Abbott, has as its purpose, "to insure the protection and preservation of the constitution and the Bill of Rights," according to its press release. "This work is beyond politics."
And the makeup of the Port Orford group is testament of the non-partisan nature of the issue. Abbott said the group has members from the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Republicans and conservative and liberal Democrats.
"I don't like to be labeled," Abbot said. "I'm an issue person."
The Port Orford activist, passionate about defending her civil rights and visibly excited about the ballot measure, has the company of other residents, including Foncy Prescott, Paula Cracas and George Welch - who also have worked hard to get the issue before the people and on the ballot.
Their efforts already have spilled over the city's boundaries to Bandon, where another Bill of Rights Defense Committee has formed.
"Our goal is to educate people about the Patriot Act - which is the same as saying we're defending the Bill of Rights," Bandon BORDC member Bob Fischer said.
The Bandon group's attempt at getting the City Council to pass a resolution against the Patriot Act also failed.
"We couldn't get the votes," Fischer said, "but it was quite interesting. Local volunteer firefighters and veterans as far away as Coos Bay argued passionately about passing it."
The Bandon group was established about a year ago, Fischer said, and members demonstrated in front of Bandon City Hall.
The reaction was negative at first, Fischer said, but that has changed. The original goals also changed slightly, though many of the issues are intertwined with current events.
"I think people are realizing that the things the critics of the (Iraq) war were saying has come true. We are bogged down in Iraq. We are losing troops every day. There is no exit strategy. And it's horribly expensive," Fischer said, pausing.
Then he continued: "And there's no point to it. We were lied to. It's really all about oil ... and projecting U.S. power."
The support of the BORDC committees - and municipalities' support against the Patriot Act - around the country is growing. In November 2003, three states and 209 cities and counties passed resolutions against the Patriot Act. By the middle of May, those figures had increased to four states and 314 cities and counties.
Abbott contends that regardless of the war, regardless of the other issues with the current administration, "We need to stick together on the Bill of Rights," she said.
"This is what I believe," Abbott said, her hands resting on a picnic table in her yard. "This next election is the American people's last chance to save the democracy we have known."
When asked if she believes the measure will pass, her grin turns to a smile, as if she's keeping a secret.
"I think it's going to pass," Abbott said quietly, but very seriously. "I think Port Orford folks have chosen to live here because of the beauty of nature, the open space and the freedom."
---
On the Net:
Bill of Rights Defense Committee:
http://www.bordc.org
Measure 08-41 reads, "Reaffirms citizens' civil rights; may prohibit cooperation with Patriot Act."
The Port Orford Bill of Rights Defense Committee, after a failed attempt to get the Port Orford City Council to adopt a resolution against the Patriot Act, decided to take the issue to the voters.
"It's our belief that Oregon's south coast is a bastion of true patriots," an early press release said last year, when the group tried to convince the City Council to adopt the resolution.
Though that attempt failed, it didn't deter the group's efforts. The Port of Port Orford passed a resolution in October 2003 opposing the USA Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act - both passed after the terrorist attacks in 2001, which give federal officials greater authority to track communications, close borders and create new crimes, penalties and procedural efficiencies for use against domestic and international terrorists.
Critics contend they go too far.
The Port Orford BORDC, led by resident Nella Reed Abbott, has as its purpose, "to insure the protection and preservation of the constitution and the Bill of Rights," according to its press release. "This work is beyond politics."
And the makeup of the Port Orford group is testament of the non-partisan nature of the issue. Abbott said the group has members from the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Republicans and conservative and liberal Democrats.
"I don't like to be labeled," Abbot said. "I'm an issue person."
The Port Orford activist, passionate about defending her civil rights and visibly excited about the ballot measure, has the company of other residents, including Foncy Prescott, Paula Cracas and George Welch - who also have worked hard to get the issue before the people and on the ballot.
Their efforts already have spilled over the city's boundaries to Bandon, where another Bill of Rights Defense Committee has formed.
"Our goal is to educate people about the Patriot Act - which is the same as saying we're defending the Bill of Rights," Bandon BORDC member Bob Fischer said.
The Bandon group's attempt at getting the City Council to pass a resolution against the Patriot Act also failed.
"We couldn't get the votes," Fischer said, "but it was quite interesting. Local volunteer firefighters and veterans as far away as Coos Bay argued passionately about passing it."
The Bandon group was established about a year ago, Fischer said, and members demonstrated in front of Bandon City Hall.
The reaction was negative at first, Fischer said, but that has changed. The original goals also changed slightly, though many of the issues are intertwined with current events.
"I think people are realizing that the things the critics of the (Iraq) war were saying has come true. We are bogged down in Iraq. We are losing troops every day. There is no exit strategy. And it's horribly expensive," Fischer said, pausing.
Then he continued: "And there's no point to it. We were lied to. It's really all about oil ... and projecting U.S. power."
The support of the BORDC committees - and municipalities' support against the Patriot Act - around the country is growing. In November 2003, three states and 209 cities and counties passed resolutions against the Patriot Act. By the middle of May, those figures had increased to four states and 314 cities and counties.
Abbott contends that regardless of the war, regardless of the other issues with the current administration, "We need to stick together on the Bill of Rights," she said.
"This is what I believe," Abbott said, her hands resting on a picnic table in her yard. "This next election is the American people's last chance to save the democracy we have known."
When asked if she believes the measure will pass, her grin turns to a smile, as if she's keeping a secret.
"I think it's going to pass," Abbott said quietly, but very seriously. "I think Port Orford folks have chosen to live here because of the beauty of nature, the open space and the freedom."
---
On the Net:
Bill of Rights Defense Committee:
http://www.bordc.org
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