PLEASE SEND A LETTER (AS FOLLOWS) TO THE KALAMAZOO CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE "PATRIOT ACT."  THE RESOLUTION IS SPONSORED BY THE TASK FORCE FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE ACLU OF MICHIGAN, THE AMERICAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE OF KALAMAZOO, AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

The Kalamazoo City Commission
241 West South Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Re: Community Resolution to Protect Civil Liberties

Dear Mayor and City Commissioners:

    This letter is written in support of the Community Resolution to Protect Civil Liberties as proposed by the Task Force for the Defense of the Bill of Rights. I (we) support the Community Resolution as a necessary tool to protect the civil rights of the residents of Kalamazoo. The Community Resolution is of particular importance to the population of Kalamazoo for the following
reasons:

    The USA PATRIOT Act, by expanding the definition of "terrorism," subjects political and religious organizations to surveillance, wiretapping, harassment, and criminal action for political or religious activity. By enacting the Community Resolution, the City will decline to expend City Resources for surveillance of individuals or groups based on activities protected by the First Amendment without further suspicion of criminal activity.

    The USA PATRIOT Act expands the ability of law enforcement to conduct secret searches of the residents of Kalamazoo. The City will refrain from voluntary compliance with federal requests for expenditure of City resources in the secret search of any resident of the City  whose property is the subject of the search.

    The Attorney General plans to enlist local law enforcement agents to enforce federal immigration laws. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety will be directed not to voluntarily engage in the enforcement of federal immigration laws, and the Community Resolution affirms the City Commission's strong support for the rights of immigrants.

    The USA PATRIOT Act permits the detention of a person without charge and denies the right to counsel under such circumstances. Under the Community Resolution, the City will decline to expend City resources, including use of city personnel, for the detention of individuals without charge and without access to an attorney.

    The Community Resolution urges the members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation to actively seek the revocation of sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, or any other federal legislation, order or directive which limits or violates the fundamental rights and liberties of persons as found in the United States and Michigan constitutions, and to restore the checks and balances inherent in our constitutional tradition.

    I would like to impress upon the City Commission the need to take a stand against the USA PATRIOT Act and other federal policies that curtail the civil rights of the residents of Kalamazoo.  I urge the City Commission to enact the Community Resolution as soon as possible.

    Sincerely,

    BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS