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Sarasota florida pressures opposing law Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031006/NEWS/310060368/1060http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031006/NEWS/310060368/1060
Article published Oct 6, 2003
Patriot Act protest scheduled for park
An alliance wants the city of Sarasota to join with others in opposing the law.
SARASOTA -- A group of local activists plans to ask the city today to join a national protest movement against the counterterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act.
The Sarasota Alliance for Voter Education -- whose nine members include the Libertarian Party, Green Party, Democratic Club, and the American Civil Liberties Union -- wants the City Commission to pass a resolution opposing the act. The Alliance plans to hold a rally in Five Points Park and present its case during the commission's meeting.
"(This) is apparently the worst piece of legislation in the history of the United States," said Viola Bernstein, coordinator for the Alliance.
"The administration really needs to know that there are a lot of cities out there … including Sarasota that have real questions about the validity of the Patriot Act."
About 156 communities across the country, including Broward and Alachua counties in Florida, have passed similar resolutions, Bernstein said. She said the ACLU initiated the protest movement to help build its case against the legislation.
The resolution advocates the "repeal (of) those sections of the USA Patriot Act … which limit or violate fundamental rights and liberties."
Some of the sections cited give federal officials the power to designate political and religious groups as "terrorist organizations," indefinitely detain citizens classified as "enemy combatants," and conduct secret property searches.
"I don't like giving my government too (many) gray areas," said Commissioner Danny Bilyeu, who put the resolution on today's agenda. "I think they need some power, but I think they need checks and balances, too."
One of the most controversial sections of the Patriot Act mentioned in the resolution grants the FBI access to records from library and bookstore customers, as well as individual medical, financial, and educational files.
In an effort to discredit critics, Attorney General John Ashcroft said recently that the Justice Department has never used its power to demand records from libraries and bookstores.
The City Commission cannot pass the resolution today. If the commissioners vote in favor of it, the city attorney would draft another version to be placed on a future agenda, according to Mayor Lou Ann Palmer.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. today at City Hall, 1565 First St. The Sarasota Alliance for Voter Education's protest rally will begin at 5 p.m. in Selby Five Points Park, across from the Selby Public Library on First Street.
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