[North-NV-Greens] [Fwd: Sparks City Council condemns Patriot Act]

Tue Aug 23 06:10:03 PDT 2005

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Sparks City Council condemns Patriot Act
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 06:05:29 -0700
From: Bob Tregilus <bob at ocha.net>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Sparks City Council condemns Patriot Act

Alison Bath
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
8/22/2005 11:31 pm	
http://tinyurl.com/dlcsx

Sparks has become the second and largest Nevada city to support a
nationwide effort opposing the USA Patriot Act, which grants broad — and
some say unconstitutional — powers to law enforcement in fighting the
war on terrorism.

In a 3-0 vote, the Sparks City Council endorsed a resolution from the
Nevada Campaign to Defeat the Patriot Act which denounces sections of
the federal law. The group says the act allows unlawful search and
seizure, racial profiling, and illegal access to medical, financial and
library lending records.

Enacted by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the
Patriot Act broadens law enforcement powers related to investigating and
stopping potential terrorism in the U.S. and around the world.

Bob Tregilus, the group’s founder, said the vote affirms the council’s
belief in the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution and could
influence other cities and counties, such as Reno and Washoe County, to
do the same, Tregilus said.

“We are moving in the right direction,” Tregilus said. “Their decision
was in the public’s interest and they didn’t let ideology interfere in
their decision.”

After listening to dozens of speakers, some quoting the country’s
founding fathers and making parallels to George Orwell’s anti-communism
novel “Animal Farm,” council members Judy Moss, Phil Salerno and John
Mayer voted for the resolution. Councilmen Mike Carrigan and Ron Schmitt
were absent.

“We think we made an important statement,” said Richard Siegel,
president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada. “This is the
kind of thing that can be viewed as having some weight.”

Sparks joins Elko County and the city of Elko as the only Nevada
governments voicing support for the resolution. Nationwide, about 400
local governments also have endorsed the protest, Tregilus said.

Moss acknowledged the act was symbolic and would have little legal
impact. Sparks police could still assist federal authorities in
investigations conducted under provisions of the act.

“We are not going to make a difference (legally) but we are going to say
something and hopefully represent the people of Sparks,” Moss said.

At least two speakers disagreed. Pete Petersen, whose son is in the
military and serving in Afghanistan, urged the council not to take any
action, saying the issue was a federal not local concern.

“Your time and my tax dollars are far too precious to squander on things
that are not within the purview of the city council,” Petersen said.

But supporters said local government is the ideal place for citizens to
take their concerns and complaints.

“We can’t go to Washington,” said Janine Hansen of Sparks. “We need you
to stand up and protect us and our God-given constitutional rights. We
need your help in this battle.”

Resident Patricia Swain said the council’s decision makes her feel more
protected.

“I would feel so much safer in a community that supports my rights,”
Swain said.

Copyright © 2005 The Reno Gazette-Journal

---

Powered by 	

Click Here to Print 	
	 SAVE THIS | EMAIL THIS | Close

Patriot Act Opposed
Sparks
Koula Gianulias

>

The City of Sparks approved a resolution against the Patriot Act. That's
the massive federal law passed shortly after 9/11, to help fight
terrorism, which some argue takes away too many civil liberties.
> Sparks City Council voted three to zero to pass the resolution. 
Council Members Mike Carrigan and Ron Schmitt were absent.
> The resolution basically affirms the city's "strong opposition to 
terrorism," but "not at the expense of fundamental civil liberties,
rights, and freedoms."
> People who spoke in favor of the resolution said they're most worried 
about parts of the Patriot Act that allow searches without probable
cause....access to library, school and medical records.....and
detainment without a trial. They also shared concerns about racial and
religious profiling.
> Sparks becomes the second city in Nevada to pass a resolution like 
this. Elko passed one last year, and they join about 400 cities across
the country, that have now voted to oppose the law.

Find this article at:
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/1792107.html

---

<<Back
Sparks City Council Votes to Condemn Sections of Patriot Act
Aug 22, 2005, 10:47 PM

The Sparks City Council voted 3-0 on Monday to condemn sections of the
federal Patriot Act.

Members of the Nevada Campaign to Defeat the Patriot Act asked Council
members to affirm the Bill of Rights and oppose any provisions of the
Patriot Act that violate peoples' civil rights.

"We think we made an important statement," said Richard Siegel,
president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada. "This is the
kind of thing that can be viewed as having some weight."

Siegel, whose ACLU anchored a coalition of some 80 groups said he hoped
the vote would be heard by Nevada's delegation before Congress votes on
renewing the act in September or October.

Nearly 400 communities, including Elko, have passed resolutions asking
that the Patriot Act be revised to conform to the Constitution.

Among other things, the resolution opposes government efforts to collect
information about a person's library lending or research records, or
book and video store purchases.

Also forbidden are ethnic profiling or gathering information about a
person's political, religious or social views.

The grassroots campaign also hopes to encourage Reno and Washoe County
officials to adopt a similar resolution. Siegel said Lyon County also
would be approached.

Enacted by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, the Patriot
Act gives law enforcement broader powers to investigate terrorism.

All content © Copyright 2000 - 2005 WorldNow and KLAS. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service.

---

Click Here for SportsBuff.com!

Las Vegas Review Journal 	

Click Here to Print 	
	 SAVE THIS | EMAIL THIS | Close

Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Patriot Act faces council criticism
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Aug-23-Tue-2005/news/27091825.html

Vote is 3-0 as Sparks council condemns sections of law

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Sparks City Council voted 3-0 on Monday to condemn sections of the
federal Patriot Act.

Members of the Nevada Campaign to Defeat the Patriot Act asked Council
members to affirm the Bill of Rights and oppose any provisions of the
Patriot Act that violate peoples' civil rights.

"We think we made an important statement," said Richard Siegel,
president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada. "This is the
kind of thing that can be viewed as having some weight."

Siegel, whose ACLU anchored a coalition of some 80 groups said he hoped
the vote would be heard by Nevada's delegation before Congress votes on
renewing the act in September or October.

Nearly 400 communities, including Elko, have passed resolutions asking
that the Patriot Act be revised to conform to the Constitution.

Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said the agency
plans to turn its attention to the Clark County Commission, the Las
Vegas City Council and other local elected officials in Southern Nevada.

However, he said, the first priority is to educate local officials about
the Patriot Act before asking them to vote on a resolution like the one
approved in Sparks, and that a resolution may not be considered before
Congress considers renewing the act.

"The next step is educating people," Peck said. "Will it happen before
Congress acts? I don't know."

Among other things, the resolution approved in Sparks and Elko opposes
government efforts to collect information about a person's library
lending or research records, or book and video store purchases.

Also forbidden are ethnic profiling or gathering information about a
person's political, religious or social views.

The grass-roots campaign also hopes to encourage Reno and Washoe County
officials to adopt a similar resolution. Siegel said Lyon County also
would be approached.

Enacted by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, the Patriot
Act gives law enforcement broader powers to investigate terrorism.

Peck said even though a resolution may not be considered soon by
Southern Nevada officials, it's important that they know the effect of
the Patriot Act so that they can set policies on library cards, racial
profiling and other issues relevant to local government.

"Everyone in Southern Nevada wants us to be safe and secure, but safety
should be balanced against individual rights and freedoms, and the
Patriot Act, unfortunately, doesn't do a good job of balancing those,"
Peck said.

Review-Journal writer Frank Geary contributed to this report.

Find this article at:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Aug-23-Tue-2005/news/27091825.html

Click Here to Print 	
	 SAVE THIS | EMAIL THIS | Close
  Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article.