WHEREAS:

Many sections of the USA Patriot Act violate the basic civil rights and liberties of individuals guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, specifically the First and Fourth Amendments; and

WHEREAS:

Privacy is essential to the exercise of free speech, free thought, and free association; and

WHEREAS:

The great American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union has a long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and liberties of its members, greatly values the Bill of Rights, and holds that the suppression of ideas undermines a democratic society; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME values the richness of the diverse population of our members and those we serve and is offended by the targeting of any particular racial, ethnic, cultural, political, religious or other group in government investigations; and the USA Patriot Act disproportionately affects the poor and unemployed and people of certain ancestries; and

WHEREAS:

Sections 214-216 of the USA Patriot Act, Homeland Security Act and the Revised Attorney General Guidelines to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other related measures assault civil liberties and expand the authority of the federal government to seize library, bookstore, financial, and health records with a court order obtained from a secret court, and allows the government to force libraries to turn over patron records, but makes it illegal for librarians to tell anyone about such searches, except for their attorney; and

WHEREAS:

The USA Patriot Act and other measures undermine labor's right to organize, create other union-busting tactics, and hinder labor's fight against anti-immigrant attacks, expand the government's ability to detain anyone based on mere suspicion, allow secret investigations, searches, and surveillance of telephone and internet usage of citizens and non-citizens without proof of criminal activity, and define people engaged in political protest as "domestic terrorists."

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME affirms its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights of all citizens and immigrants; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME opposes any use of governmental power to suppress the free and open exchange of knowledge, information, and ideas and the singling out of individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based on their country of origin, ethnicity, religion, or affiliation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME strongly condemns and opposes any current and future legislation that erodes privacy, limits information access, infringes on civil liberties and constitutional rights, or that allows the searching of an individual's personal information and records based on country of origin, ethnicity, religion or affiliation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge all elected officials at all levels to monitor federal anti-terrorism tactics and work to repeal provisions of the USA Patriot Act and other laws and regulations that infringe on civil rights and liberties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees joins the four states and the hundreds of municipalities that have passed resolutions calling for the repeal of the provisions of the USA Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act and other measures which violate fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will send a letter to Senator John Kerry and other candidates informing them of our position on this issue.

SUBMITTED BY:

Roy Stone, President and Delegate
Ruth Seid, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2626, Council 36
California

David Rader, Delegate
Juan Martinez, President
AFSCME Local 843, Council 28
Washington