--- WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE US PATRIOT ACT ---


Some of the fundamental changes to Americans' legal rights by the Bush administration and the USA Patriot Act after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks:

Freedom of association:  To assist terror investigation, the government may monitor religious and political institutions without suspecting criminal activity.

Freedom of information:  The government has closed once-public immigration hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges and has encouraged bureaucrats to resist public-records requests. "Sensitive" information has been removed from government Web sites.

Freedom of speech:  The government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any other records if they tell anyone the government subpoenaed information related to a terror investigation.

Right to legal representation:  The government may monitor conversations between attorneys and clients in federal prisons and deny lawyers to Americans accused of crimes.

Freedom from unreasonable searches:  The government may search and seize Americans' papers and effects without probable cause to assist terror investigation.

Right to a speedy and public trial: The government may jail Americans indefinitely without a trial.

Right to liberty:  Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them. "Enemy combatants" have been held incommunicado and refused attorneys.

Source: The Seattle PI (9/28/2003)

 

--- WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ---

 

Amendment I:  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment IV:  The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V:  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI:  In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

 

--- WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT ---

 

See the reverse and www.scn.org/ccapa/

--- WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT ---

 

The US Supreme Court will be ruling on two critical Patriot Act related cases sometime this summer (thus time is of the essence):

 

 

Please considering contacting the nine justices to let them know what your opinions are regarding the Patriot Act:

 

The Supreme Court of the United States  

One First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20543

Phone: 202–479–3211

 

·        Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist

·        Associate Justice John Paul Stevens

·        Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

·        Associate Justice Antonin Scalia

·        Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy

·        Associate Justice David Hackett Souter

·        Associate Justice Clarence Thomas

·        Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

·        Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer

 

For additional information regarding how the US Patriot Act affects your basic liberties, see http://www.scn.org/ccapa/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- Brought To You By Concerned Citizens Against the Patriot Act (CCAPA) ---

 

www.scn.org/ccapa/  |  ccapa@scn.org