The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“CHICAGO SAYS REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2066-E2067 on Oct. 16, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CHICAGO SAYS REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT
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HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the record a resolution passed by the City Council of Chicago calling on Congress to actively work for the repeal of sections of the PATRIOT Act that
``violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments.'' This resolution was passed on October 1, 2003.
I supported this resolution and I want to thank Aldermen Helen Shiller, Joe Moore, Freddrenna Lyle, and Ricardo Munoz for introducing it. I would also like to recognize and thank the City Council of Evanston and the President and Board of Trustees of Wilmette for passing similar resolutions.
I voted against the PATRIOT Act two years ago and I continue to remain skeptical of its effectiveness at keeping us safe. I believe the PATRIOT Act violates our civil liberties, our right to due process, and unnecessarily targets immigrants. Therefore, I am pleased to join with the Chicago City Council in affirming the rights of all people living within Chicago and the country and in saying that we must repeal the PATRIOT Act.
The following is the resolution passed by the City Council of the City of Chicago:
Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and Related Executive Orders
Whereas, the City of Chicago houses a diverse population, including citizens of other nations, whose contributions to the community are vital to its character and function; and
Whereas, the United States Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights including: freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection to any person; equality before the law and the presumption of innocence; access to counsel in judicial proceedings; and a fair, speedy and public trial; and
Whereas, the USA PATRIOT Act signed by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001, in the opinion of many American, contains a number of provisions that undermine the above mentioned rights and which fundamentally alter our civil liberties without increasing our security; and
Whereas, examples of the provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and Executive orders that may undermine the constitution and the rights and civil liberties of Chicago residents include:
A significant expansion of the government's ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals; and lowers the burden of proof required to conduct secret searches and telephone and Internet surveillance
Giving law enforcement expanded authority to obtain library records, and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of monitoring or information requests
Giving the Attorney General and the Secretary of State the power to designate domestic groups, including religious and political organizations, as ``terrorist organizations''
Granting the Attorney General the power to subject citizens of other nations to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime
Authorizing eavesdropping on confidential communications between lawyers and their clients in federal custody
Limiting disclosure of public documents and records under the Freedom of Information Act; and
Whereas, the Department of Justice interpretations of this Act and these Executive Orders particularly target immigrants, including Hispanics, people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent and citizens of other nations, thereby potentially encouraging racial profiling by law enforcement and the unintended consequence of increase in hate crimes by individuals in our community; and
Whereas, almost 200 other cities throughout the country have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for civil rights and civil liberties in the face of government policies that threaten these values, and are demanding accountability from federal agencies regarding the use of these new powers; now therefore be it
Resolved, That the City of Chicago joins the almost 200 other U.S. cities and affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, and also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of the fundamental civil rights and liberties of the people of Chicago, the United States and the World; and be it further
Resolved, That the City of Chicago affirms the rights of all people, including United States citizens and citizens of other nations, living within the City in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution by lawfully resisting every effort to erode those rights and protections including: freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection to any person; equality before the law and the presumption of innocence; access to counsel in judicial proceedings; and fair, speedy and public trial; and be it further
Resolved, that the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago call on our United States Representatives and Senators to monitor the implementation of the U.S. Patriot Act and the Orders in furtherance thereof and actively work for the repeal of only those sections of the Act and those orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the US Constitution and its Amendments by sending a copy of this resolution to the Illinois delegation to Congress.
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