Civil Liberties
From Wiscopedia
Contents |
[edit] Where do Progressives Stand?
- Support efforts to preserve civil liberties both in our community and abroad.
- Participate in city wide campaigns protecting freedom of speech, even hateful speech, and promote alternative ways to confront offensive speech within the community.
- Know your constitutionally granted rights and freedoms in order to know when your civil liberties are at risk.
[edit] Hot Topics
[edit] Patriot Act & Homeland Security
Since the passing of the Patriot Act, civil liberties have taken a beating. Racial profiling, unwarranted search, seizure and arrest, and prolonged detentions have taken place under the guise of Homeland Security. According to the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch the post 9-11-01 climate led to the United States Justice Department holding 70 men, all but one Muslim, “under a narrow federal law that permits the arrest and brief detention of `material witnesses’ who have important information about a crime” . This report states that half the men were never presented before a court or jury, 13 were apologized to, and a “handful” were charged with terror-related crimes.
[edit] Free Speech
Also a consequence of increased Homeland Security and the Patriot Act is the increase of profiling and surveillance of non-violent protest activities.
[edit] General
Besides preservation of free speech and protection from legal overreaction, groups dealing with civil liberties have been working to defend the separation of church and state, abortion rights, GLBT rights, and monitoring international violations of the United States in regards to detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and other international detention facilities.
[edit] In the News
[edit] Facts and Statistics
[edit] Sources
This article incorporates text from Colopedia.org through a prior agreement with the content creators.
