Home » News & Events » News Archive » 2003 Press Releases
Broward County Commission to Consider Resolution Protecting Civil
Rights
of County Residents
Resolution Seeks Disclosure of Names of Broward Detainees
January 10, 2003
FT. LAUDERDALE ? Local Broward County activists concerned that the federal government's fight against terrorism has gone too far will testify at a public hearing Tuesday to urge county commissioners to pass a resolution protecting civil liberties.
"This movement in support of the Bill of Rights is gaining momentum nationwide and it's time for the Broward County Commission to take a stand on behalf of the rights of all Broward County residents" says Alan Scheib, a board member of the Broward County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and spokesperson for the Broward Bill of Rights Defense Coalition (BBoRDC)
On January 14, the Broward County Commission will consider whether to add Broward County to the growing list of cities and counties that have expressed concern about the loss of fundamental rights and liberties that many believe have been jeopardized by the USA PATRIOT Act and other congressional and executive measures passed in the aftermath of 9-11.
The public hearing to discuss the proposed resolution will be at 10 a.m. January 14 in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 South Andrews Avenue in Ft. Lauderdale. Prior to the commission meeting, there will be a demonstration in support of the resolution at 9:15 a.m. outside the governmental center.
The resolution, drafted by the Broward County Human Rights Board and supported by a wide variety of community organizations, affirms "that any efforts to end terrorism should not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of the people of Broward County and the United States."
Coalition members are particularly concerned about the impact of national security measures on members of Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities who have faced the brunt of the immigrant backlash stemming from policies implemented by the Justice Department in the past year.
"This country is founded upon equal rights and respecting civil liberties and we're now coming together to voice our concerns that an attack on any group or community is an attack on all of us," said Nidal Sakr, Chairman of the March for Justice, one of the organizations that endorsed the draft resolution.
The proposed resolution, endorsed by 15 local community groups in Broward, states that the Broward County Commission "calls upon the United States Attorney's Office, the Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and local law enforcement authorities to publicly disclose the names of any federal detainees suspected of terrorism held in Broward County."
The draft resolution also lists a series of provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and ensuing executive and administrative orders that may violate the constitutional rights of Broward County residents, including measures that:
- Reduce judicial supervision of telephone and Internet surveillance;
- Expand the government's ability to conduct secret searches without warrants;
- Grant power to the Secretary of State to designate domestic groups as "terrorist" organizations;
- Grant power to the Attorney General to subject non-citizens to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime;
- Grant the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) access to sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals without any evidence of a crime; and
- Grant the FBI the power to compel libraries and bookstores to produce circulation or purchase records of their patrons and forbids disclosure that such records have been requested and produced.
"Government actions over the past year have targeted people of Middle Eastern descent and members of the Muslim community by unfairly stigmatizing and isolating hardworking immigrants who live, work and pay taxes in this community," said Ammal Elhaddad of Network of Arab American Professionals of Florida. "We're calling upon our elected officials to support this resolution and safeguard the rights of immigrants in Broward County."
If the resolution passes, Broward County ? with a population of approximately 1.7 million ? becomes the largest community to pass a resolution protesting federal measures that violate fundamental rights and liberties. Last month, Oakland, Ca. became the 19th city to pass a resolution supporting the Bill of Rights and reaffirming the need to protect it. Others include: Madison, WI; Ann Arbor, MI; Boulder, CO; Carrboro, NC and Northampton, MA. More than 30 other localities around the country are considering similar actions.
Officially formed last month, the BBoRDC includes the following member organizations: The Broward County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters of Broward County, The March for Justice, Community Outreach Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Humanists of Broward County, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Broward Antiwar Coalition, Network of Arab-American Professionals of Florida, Hispanic Unity, Broward Citizens for Peace and Justice, Broward Green Party, Citizens for Democracy, Libertarian Party of Broward County, Foundation for Social Justice and South Florida Human Rights Council.
For additional information, contact:
BBoRDC: Alan Scheib, Broward Bill of Rights Defense Coalition, (954) 217-2958
ACLU: Alessandra Soler Meetze, Communications Director, 305-576-2337 ext. 16
