Fw: [ NOLA_C3_Discussion] Louisiana's Fight to Stop the Patriot Act Expansion Begins Now

[Guest guest]

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>>Good Morning Everyone!

>>

>>The newest threat to our democracy comes to us not from foreign soil, but

>>from our very own federal government. As you may know Pat Roberts,

>>Republican of Kansas, introduced a revised Patriot Act that makes

>>permanent

>>many of the most egregious 4th amendment attacks on our democracy

>>currently

>>being waged by the executive branch. Provisions of the new bill allow for

>>sneak-and-peak and wiretap searches of private homes, email, US Mail,

>>medical and library records without proper court review or even probable

>>cause.

>>This newest sneak attack on our 4th amendment right to be free of

>>government

>>intrusion on our personal lives without probable cause or judicial

>>oversight

>>comes as many are rallying to rid us of the provisions of the Patriot Act

>>that conflict with Constitutional protections. Seven full

>>states—including

>>the “red” states of Alaska, Idaho, Colorado and Montana—and more than 380

>>communities in 43 states, have passed resolutions calling for Patriot Act

>>reform.

>>

>>I urge you to read carefully the information below and use it defend our

>>country from this attack from within - contact your local senators and

>>representatives and take immediate action to restore balance to our

>>democracy, and ensure that power remains safely in the hands of the

>>people.

>>

>>Thanks for your time, and for all the hard work you already do to keep our

>>country both safe and free!

>>

>>Tory E. Pegram

>>Development and Public Education Associate

>>ACLU of Louisiana

>>PO Box 56157

>>New Orleans, LA 70156-6157

>>office: 504.522.0744 fax: 504.522.0618

>>www.laaclu.org / www.aclu.org

>>tpegram

>>

>>

>>

>> The Fight to Stop the Patriot Act Expansion Begins Now

>>

>> The debate around the Patriot Act is approaching a

>>crucial

>>moment of decision. Will we sit back while the Bush Administration

>>sacrifices our liberty, or will we answer freedom's call and help Congress

>>bring the Patriot Act in line with the Constitution?

>>

>> There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws

>>that

>>threaten your fundamental freedoms by giving the government the power to

>>access to your medical records, tax records, information about the books

>>you

>>buy or borrow without probable cause, and the power to break into your

>>home

>>and conduct secret searches without telling you for weeks, months, or

>>indefinitely.

>>

>> Some of these flawed provisions are set to expire at

>> the

>>end of the year. But President Bush wants to make them permanent, and the

>>House and Senate have been holding hearings in preparation for votes that

>>are expected this June and July.

>>

>> We must not permit this power grab to go unchecked. We

>>have less than two months to stop the Bush Administration's Patriot Act

>>expansion plans.

>>

>> You have an important role to play in the fight. Your

>>Members of Congress are accountable to you, their constituent. Many of

>>them

>>know that the Patriot Act needs to be fixed, not expanded. And if they

>>have

>>the courage of their convictions, they won't give in to this latest Bush

>>Administration power grab. But they've got to hear from every American

>>who

>>knows that the Patriot Act erodes our fundamental privacy and due process

>>rights.

>>

>> Defend the Constitution and your own fundamental

>>freedoms

>>by urging Congress to reject an expansion of the Patriot Act.

>>

>> In the coming weeks we'll be asking for your help to

>>stop

>>these efforts to increase secret government surveillance and search

>>powers.

>>The Patriot Act imposes restrictions on your privacy that no democratic

>>and

>>free society should tolerate. We need you to use your power as a

>>concerned

>>citizen to stop the government from stripping away your rights.

>>

>> The Patriot Act's extreme powers do not have to be a

>>fact

>>of life. We can make sure many of its infamous provisions expire at the

>>end

>>of this year. We have an opportunity to stop Congress from expanding

>>secret

>>government surveillance and removing proper checks and balances.

>>

>> What can you do?

>>

>> Refuse to Surrender Your Freedom right now by clicking

>>here to send an email to your Members of Congress. Tell them you oppose

>>the

>>Patriot Act's expansion.

>>

>> Next week we are going to be asking you to call to your

>>Members of Congress on this issue. Together we are going to " light up the

>>phones " in Congress and make our voices heard.

>>

>> What can you do if you really care about this issue?

>>

>> Want to help organize local events or work with

>>organizers

>>to raise awareness about the Patriot Act? Fill out this form and let us

>>know

>>how you'd like to get more involved.

>>

>> You can also support the ACLU's work on this issue. By

>>becoming a member or making a donation, you help us pay for ads and other

>>public education materials that help raise awareness about this critical

>>issue. Please give your support now.

>>

>> Have you talked to your friends and neighbors about the

>>Patriot Act? Check out our talking points and issue materials and learn

>>more about how to share your concern with others and mobilize your local

>>community or your friends online.

>>

>> How does all this help?

>>

>> We know that there is widespread opposition to Patriot

>>Act. When we speak out and communicate this opposition to our elected

>>officials, they notice. Members of Congress from across the political

>>spectrum have their own doubts about the Patriot Act and in light of the

>>growing bipartisan opposition, these leaders will see that they cannot

>>support this flawed legislation.

>>

>> Public outcry has helped us stop legislation and other

>>government actions in the past. It is up to us to use our power again.

>>Just

>>last month the Senate Intelligence Committee responded public pressure by

>>holding an unplanned public hearing on the Patriot Act. We must keep

>>pushing

>>for Congress to make the right choices.

>>

>> Through public pressure and aggressive lobbying, we are

>>going to put such pressure on Congress that they will be forced to stop

>>attempts to expand the Patriot Act. What the Patriot Act needs is the

>>common sense and reasonable fixes the ACLU has endorsed, not expansion.

>>

>> Every Member of Congress will be able to vote on this

>>issue. Your action will help us stop the Patriot Act's expansion. Click

>>here

>>to write your Members of Congress today.

>>

>> http://action.aclu.org/patriotactsunsets

>> June 9th, 2005

>>

>> Urge your Members of Congress to Stop Expansion of the

>>Patriot Act

>>

>>

>> Recent Success Stories

>> In hundreds of communities across the country,

>> concerned

>>residents are taking a stand to prevent the erosion of their freedoms

>>under

>>the PATRIOT Act. Local resolutions, such as one passed in Sitka Alaska,

>>have

>>called attention to this issue and Congress is taking notice. >>Learn more

>> Forward this email to your Friends!

>> Tell Your Friends about the ACLU Action Center today!

>>

>>

>> Help the Defense of Civil Liberties!

>> a.. Click here to become a Card-Carrying Member today!

>> b.. Tell your friends.

>> c.. Visit the ACLU's Action Center and get active.

>> If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up

>>for

>>the ACLU's National Action Network.

>>

>>

>>