Milwaukee, WI Affirming the Protection of Citizens' Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 3/2/04
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/Reports/Temp/68200819352.pdf
Text:
Legislative File Number 031413 (version 2)
Substitute resolution affirming the protection of citizens' civil rights and civil liberties.
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee denounces terrorism and acknowledges that federal,
state and local governments have a responsibility to protect the public from terrorist
attacks and uphold: 1) freedom of speech, religion, assembly and privacy, 2) the right to
counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and 3) protection from unreasonable
searches, seizures and detention; and
Whereas, The members of the Common Council believe that there is no inherent
conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty -- Americans can be
both safe and free; and
Whereas, Federal, state and local governments should protect the public from terrorist
attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, but should do so in a
rational and deliberative fashion in order to ensure that security measures enhance the
public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee is grateful for the supreme sacrifice of military veterans
and law enforcement officers who have died in protecting this country's cherished rights
and liberties; and
Whereas, The U.S. Congress passed the USA Patriot Act on October 26, 2001 with little
debate, following the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001; and
Whereas, Sections of the USA Patriot Act and several Executive Orders, now threaten
fundamental rights and liberties, which are guaranteed by the Constitution of the State
of Wisconsin and the United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights; the sections of the
Act which threaten these human rights and liberties include:
* Section 213 which permits law enforcement to perform searches with no one present and to delay notification of the search of a citizen's home.
* Section 215 which permits the FBI Director to seek records from bookstores and libraries including books of patrons based on minimal evidence of wrongdoing and prohibits librarians and bookstore employees from disclosing the fact that they have been ordered to produce such documents.
* Section 218 which dilutes the "probable cause" requirement before conducting secret searches or surveillance to obtain evidence of a crime.
* Section 215, 218, 358 and 508 which permit law enforcement authorities to have broad access to sensitive mental health, library, business, financial and educational records despite the existence of previously adopted state and federal laws which were intended to strengthen the protection of these types of records; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee has a commitment to uphold the human rights of all
persons in Milwaukee and the free exercise and enjoyment of any and all rights and
privileges secured by our constitutions and laws of the United States, the State of
Wisconsin and the Charter of the City of Milwaukee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council
expresses its support of protection of citizens' human rights and civil liberties and
opposition to those provisions of the USA Patriot Act that threaten those rights and
liberties; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council recognizes the crucial distinctions
between:
:a) Legal and peaceful demonstrations and protests, which are protected by the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions and laws.
:b) Acts of protest involving civil disobedience or minor law infractions such as disorderly conduct.
:c) Acts of terrorism, which would involve serious threats or violence, such as kidnapping or serious bodily injury to a civilian population; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council affirms its commitment to uphold civil
rights and civil liberties and therefore expresses it opposition to: (a) investigation of
individuals or groups of individuals based on their participation in activities protected by
the First Amendment, such as political advocacy or the practice of religion, without
reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, and (b) racial, religious or ethnic profiling; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council calls upon Wisconsin's federal legislators
to monitor the implementation of the USA Patriot Act and related federal actions and to
actively work for the repeal of those sections of the USA Patriot Act that unduly infringe
upon fundamental rights and liberties as recognized in the U.S. Constitution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council urges Wisconsin's federal legislators to
support and co-sponsor the Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act) and
urges Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, chair of the House Judiciary Committee,
to schedule hearings on the SAFE Act; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee opposes any unfunded federal mandates
instructing local police to attempt to enforce the complex civil immigration laws of the
U.S. to the detriment of their primary law enforcement duties, as articulated by the
Boston Police Commissioner: "turning all police officers into immigration agents…will
discourage immigrants from coming forward to report crimes and suspicious activity,
making our streets less safe as a result"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee remains committed to the protection of
civil rights and civil liberties for all people and will uphold the constitutionally protected
rights of all people to peacefully express their political views without governmental
interference and that officers of the Milwaukee Police Department be trained consistent
with the above principles; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council opposes requests by federal authorities
that, if granted, would cause agencies of the City of Milwaukee to exercise powers or
cooperate in the exercise of powers in violation of any city ordinance or the laws or
Constitution of this State or the United States; and, be it
Further Resolved, That in order to assess the effect of antiterrorism initiatives on the
residents of the City of Milwaukee, the Common Council calls upon federal officials to
make periodic reports, consistent with the Freedom of Information Act; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee joins 43 million Americans, 250
communities in 37 states across the nation and the National League of Cities as of
February 24, 2004 in expressing concern that existing elements of the USA Patriot Act
threaten civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
Category:City Governments
Category:Civil Rights
Category:Resolutions
Category:Wisconsin