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Broward Bill of Rights Defense Coalition

Broward Civil Rights Activists, Religious Leaders and Immigrant Advocates
Form Coalition Urging Repeal of Anti-Civil Liberties Provisions of the
USA PATRIOT Act

December 17, 2002

FT. LAUDERDALE ? In a move to protect liberty, a group of concerned civil rights activists, religious leaders and immigrant advocates in Broward County today announced the formation of a non-partisan coalition that will work to persuade the Broward County Commission to pass a resolution protesting federal measures that violate civil liberties.  

"The Bill of Rights is under attack and it's time for us to take local action to defend our freedoms," said Alan Scheib, a board member of the Broward County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the organizations the joined with other local community groups to form the Broward Bill of Rights Defense Coalition (BBoRDC).

The coalition argues that provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act ? including unprecedented government power to spy on religious and political institutions, prosecute librarians if they tell anyone that the government checked library records as part of a terror investigation, detain hundreds of people without charges and monitor federal prison jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients ? violate fundamental rights and liberties.

Members of the BBoRDC will lobby Broward County Commissioners over the next few weeks to go on the record against repressive legislation passed in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The group will meet at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 18 at 3801 S. Ocean Drive (A1A) in Hollywood to outline steps to heighten public awareness.  The community meeting is open to the public.

"We're very concerned about the threat posed by the War On Terrorism to our founding principles and freedoms in the guise of 'national security'," said Ammal Elhaddad of Network of Arab American Professionals of Florida. "These actions do not enhance our security in any meaningful way. What is clear, is that the governmental actions have caused needless fear, suffering and uncertainty especially within the Muslim community and other minority groups whose members have been unfairly stigmatized."

 "Furthermore, these actions by the Executive and Legislative branches of our government increase the chances that individuals and organizations simply exercising their constitutional rights as citizens will be labeled as terrorists," added Elhaddad. "The potential consequences are frightening."

The major actions undermining the Bill of Rights are:

  • The USA Patriot Act, hastily passed by Congress in October 2001.
  • Executive Orders by the Bush Administration
  • The Homeland Security Act, passed by Congress in November 2002.

Over the past several months, fifteen cities, towns and counties across the country, including Madison, WI; Ann Arbor, MI; Boulder, CO; Carrboro, NC and Northampton, MA, have passed resolutions supporting the Bill of Rights and reaffirming the need to protect it. More than 30 other localities around the country are considering similar actions.

The coalition 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, and Citizens for Democracy.

For additional information about the BBoRDC, the meeting, or speakers, contact Alan Scheib at 954-217-2958.

2003 Press Releases