The American Civil Liberties Union’s California affiliates and the California Library Association have launched a campaign in support of legislation to rescind provisions of the USA Patriot Act, including those giving government the ability to view library and bookstore records.
”Several of the provisions in the Patriot Act go too far and increase the chances that innocent Americans will be swept into terrorism investigations by removing traditional checks and balances on law enforcement and oversight powers from the judiciary,” said ACLU of Northern California Executive Director Dorothy Ehrlich. “That is why we are launching this campaign today, to bring the Patriot Act back in line with the Constitution by urging our representatives to endorse the SAFE Act.” The Security and Freedom Ensured Act, introduced last year by Senators Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), would amend the Patriot Act to limit the use of surveillance and the issuance of search warrants; a companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Butch Otter (R-Idaho).
The ACLU and CLA recently placed a full-page advertisement in 12 alternative newspapers in the state with a headline reading, “Don’t you hate it when someone reads over your shoulder? Especially when that someone is the Justice Department.” The ad urges individuals to ask their legislators to support the SAFE Act.
“Your public library should be a ’safe’ haven where you can be assured that, whatever magazine you read, website you visit or book you check out, that information will be kept private,” said CLA President and San Francisco Public Library Director Susan Hildreth. “We support the SAFE Act so that libraries can continue to remain institutions of free expression and exploration of ideas.”
The campaign began the same week that Los Angeles approved a resolution criticizing portions of the USA Patriot Act. The measure, passed by the city council January 21—the day after President Bush called on Congress to extend the law in his State of the Union address—makes Los Angeles the largest of the more than 200 cities and towns on record as opposing the act.
Posted January 23, 2004.