Bill Of Right Defense Committee

BORDC Action Alert

November 30, 2004

• 9/11 Intelligence Reform: Stop Anti-Immigrant/Refugee Provisions from Becoming Law
• Ideas for Observing Bill of Rights Day (December 15)

9/11 Intelligence Reform: Stop Anti-Immigrant/Refugee Provisions from Becoming Law

Please take 30 seconds to send an automated email or fax message: Visit the Human Rights First link below and send an automated message urging the White House and key Congressional leaders to keep provisions that would hurt immigrants and refugees out of the 9/11 legislation: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/refugees_911bill_whitehouse. You may also let the conferees know that you favor the strong civil liberties board called for in the Senate bill, to ensure government accountability. Feel free to forward the link to friends and colleagues. (Go online for more information on the Status of 9/11 Intelligence Reform.)

Or, if you prefer to call, feel free to use these suggested talking points from the Rights Working Group, the National Immigration Forum, and BORDC:

Need to evaluate existing laws and policies first.
Since September 11th, we have seen new legislation like the USA PATRIOT Act and various executive orders and policies that have been found to violate fundamental rights and standards of fairness. Congress has not had a sufficient opportunity to evaluate how new powers have been used or misused or to fix the problems. It needs to take a longer look at these instead of further expanding powers and denying more people their rights.

There is national opposition to increased surveillance, racial and ethnic profiling, denial of rights.
Across the country, in 43 states and the District of Columbia, more than 350 communities and states have passed resolutions condemning parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, executive orders, policies that rely on surveillance without probable cause, detentions without charges or access to an attorney, racial and ethnic profiling, increased government secrecy, first amendment activities being treated as a crime called "material support," and lack of judicial and legislative oversight. Please make sure that all the sections that expand these laws are stricken from the bills.

I want you to keep the anti-immigrant provisions pushed byRep. Sensenbrenner out of the intelligence reform bill

The Senate-led compromise already contains border security measures; the additional provisions pushed by Rep. Sensenbrenner are extreme and were not part of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. I want you to enact the real recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, not the agenda of House immigration restrictionists. We need comprehensive immigration reform-not non-solutions that will only drive people further underground and cause panic in immigrant communities.

I support retaining a strong civil liberties board, as called for in the Senate bill, to ensure government accountability.

Whom to call:

• White House at (202) 456-1111
• Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) at (202) 225-2976
• Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) at (202) 225-4401 and Rep. Harman (D-CA) at (202) 225-8220
• Sen. Collins (R-ME) at (202) 224-2523 and Sen. Lieberman (D-CT) at (202) 224-4041
• Your own senators and representative: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Ideas for Observing Bill of Rights Day (December 15):

The Bill of Rights was meant to ensure basic rights during times of war and times of peace, regardless of who is in power. In order to ensure its future, we must keep using the First Amendment and speaking out when the rights of citizens and noncitizens are threatened.

In 1941, 150 years after the first 10 amendments were ratified, President Franklin Roosevelt declared December 15 Bill of Rights Day. Now, many communities around the country observe the day. BORDC invites you to celebrate and exercise the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Some ideas for celebrating the day include:

• Download BORDC's Bill of Rights bookmarks in English or Spanish. Print 6 bookmarks on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock for an inexpensive, educational handout to distribute to your local schools and libraries.
• Entertain holiday shoppers with street theater, or include a short play or video as part of a local civil liberties forum. Visit our recommended resources page for suggestions and links.
• Read the Bill of Rights in front of city hall or other public place. Invite local elected officials to participate.
• Encourage your local government to officially proclaim December 15 Bill of Rights Day.
• Form a Bill of Rights Defense Committee in your community.

Nancy Talanian, Director
Bill of Rights Defense Committee

Web: www.bordc.org
Email: info@bordc.org
Phone: 413-582-0110