Letter Printed in the Montclair Times

Being Patriots at home
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Montclair residents would have been proud of their neighbors on Sunday, Feb. 1. More than 150 of us filled to overflowing our Public Library meeting room to hear more about the dangers of the Patriot Act. First we listened to a panel of experts voice their concerns; next we expressed our own deep reservations; and finally, we encouraged our own Township Council to oppose the Act. We want all of its provisions to sunset before 2006.

On the panel, Ann Beeson of the ACLU and Jeff Fogel of the Center for Constitutional Rights, both current or former Montclair residents, stated the government already had sufficient surveillance tools to fight terrorism. Rather, these provisions were added and utilized primarily to prevent legal dissent.

The Act allows the government to surreptitiously collect information about us - medical histories, e-mails, phone calls, library usage, etc. -- without our knowledge. We can even be declared enemies of the government without citizen rights.

Then Larry Hamm of the People's Organization for Progress eloquently read portions of the Bill of Rights itself, which he dramatically contrasted with what the government was attempting to achieve.

Mayor Robert Russo said the Township Council would seriously consider passing an anti-Patriot Act initiative. Let's join the Montclair Campaign to Defend Civil Liberties and make sure our town follows the scores of cities large and small that have taken such a step to truly protect our freedoms.

HANK FRUNDT

Montclair

 

Montclair Campaign to Defend Civil Liberties