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Urging the City Administration to demonstrate Philadelphia's strong commitment to civil liberties by continuing and strengthening the City's protection of the Constitutional rights of all persons in our City, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, and urging our Congressional Delegation to vigilantly monitor the implementation of the USA Patriot Act and to actively work to repeal the Act or those sections of the Act and those Orders, rules and regulations issued under the Act, that violate the fundamental rights and liberties of persons protected by the United States Constitution and its Amendments.
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WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia recognizes that a threat to any one person's Constitutional rights is a threat to the rights of all; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has been and remains committed to the protection of civil rights and liberties for all residents; and
WHEREAS, The Declaration of Independence of the United States, which was written in Philadelphia, holds as self-evident that all people are created equal and are endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and
WHEREAS, The United States Constitution guarantees all persons living in the United States certain fundamental rights including freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection; and access to counsel, presumption of innocence and a fair, speedy public trial; and
WHEREAS, A great crime against humanity occurred on September 11, 2001, resulting in new federal laws and enforcement powers, including the USA Patriot Act signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001; and
WHEREAS, The USA Patriot Act which was written to respond to the attack on our nation, weakens, contradicts and undermines the basic constitutional rights outlined above. The Act, a 342 page document, was hastily enacted in six weeks without public hearings,...
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