|
|
Become
a Mentor!
|
| Share
your exper-iences Go
> |
| |
|
Legal
Intern
|
| Learn
about how to apply for internship at ADC's Legal Department |
| Learn
more >> |
|
 |
|
ADC Disappointed in Bush Call for Renewal of Patriot Act
Washington, DC, January 21 - - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee(ADC) today voiced its disappointment in President George W. Bush's request, during last night's State of the Union Address, for Congress to renew certain controversial and sunsetted provisions of the USA Patriot Act.
ADC reiterated that, while some parts of the Patriot Act may be effective tools to combat terrorism, some provisions set to expire in 2005 should be permitted to do so. It was Congress's intent for certain temporary provisions to expire in 2005 in order to preserve core American freedoms and liberties. A specific example of a sunsetted provision which should not be renewed is Section 215 of the Act.
In late July, ADC and several other organizations, filed a legal challenge to Section 215 of the Act. Section 215 allows, among other things, FBI agents to access any individual's bank, library or medical records without that individual knowing about this breach of privacy. The bank, library, or doctor would not be allowed to inform anyone, thereby preventing any challenge of the infringement in a court of law.
Prior to the Patriot Act, access to people's information required probable cause and was subject to judicial oversight, but these safeguards have been eliminated by Section 215. Attorney General John Ashcroft's assertion that controversial Section 215 powers have not been used calls into question both the constitutionality and the need for such far-reaching invasions of privacy.
ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, "While we, like all Americans, are committed to the security of our country, President Bush's request for Congress to renew these un-American provisions of the Patriot Act is extremely disappointing." Former Congresswoman Oakar continued, " It is unacceptable for the government to be looking over everybody's shoulder when they go on the internet, and snooping into the library, medical and banking records of ordinary Americans." She concluded, "there is no justification for renewing such provisions which, by the Attorney General's own assertion have not been used, or, as we assert in court, have been used in secrecy and without disclosure."
Read the Legal Complaint by ADC online in PDF format:
http://adc.org/PDF/patriotIIchallenge.pdf
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| |
|
DONATE
|
| Your
donation will help ADC defend civil rights and combat discrim-ination.
Go
>> |
|
|
 |
 |
