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: