Portage will consider whether to call for a repeal of sections of the
USA Patriot Act, a step taken in October by the city of Kalamazoo.
Representatives of the Task Force for the Defense of the Bill of
Rights, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, asked the Portage
City Council Tuesday to oppose portions of the USA Patriot Act.
The council listened to the requests then referred the matter to the
city attorney for a report by Feb. 10.
The task force says portions of the 2001 anti-terrorism law are
unconstitutional and violate civil rights. The group said parts of the
act give law-enforcement agencies unnecessary latitude to investigate
people in the name of fighting terrorism, particularly in the use of
surveillance, searches and arrests.
"We are you," said James Rodbard, president of the
Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
"This is a coalition of conscience."
The city of Kalamazoo was asked earlier this year for the same
resolution but delayed action for several months until voting in early
October to support civil liberties but to defer to the courts on
constitutional questions about the USA Patriot Act.
A compromise was eventually hashed out between the Kalamazoo City
Commission and the citizens group. The vote was 5-2, with commissioners
Al Heilman and Mary Balkema opposing the resolution.
Portage councilman Terry Urban said he supports much of what Rodbard
and several others asked for but has trouble with the proposed
resolution's wording that "we oppose voluntary compliance with
federal laws, directives and orders."
"I personally believe the Patriot Act has gone too far, but I
cannot support the way this is written," said Urban, who made the
motion to have the city attorney study the proposed resolution.
Councilwoman Margaret O'Brien said she was also for free speech and
civil rights but was concerned with the city getting involved in what is
essentially a federal issue.
"This might best be left in the hands of legislators and the
Supreme Court," said O'Brien, echoing points Heilman and Balkema
had made in Kalamazoo.
Others disagreed, though, calling portions of the Patriot Act
unconstitutional and an infringement on civil rights.
"We are concerned that some of our basic rights are being
threatened," said Susan Nelmes, president of the Greater Kalamazoo
League of Women Voters.
"Passage of this resolution would send a positive message to
many groups that you support them," said Alexandria Osborne, a
member of the executive committee of the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee. "This is a serious matter for all of
us."
Tom Haroldson can be reached at 388-8545 or tharoldson@
