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Bit-by-bit, piece-by-piece, our precious civil liberties
are being whittled away
Warrantless Wiretapping • USA PATRIOT Act • National Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS) • Real ID Act, Military Commissions Act • No Fly and Selectee lists • Abuse of Material Witness Statute • National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) • Attacks on academic freedom • Monitoring of peaceful groups • Militarization of our police by the Department of Homeland Security • Coordinated nationwide crackdown on Occupy protests • Unrestrained excesses of local law enforcement • HR347-Federal Restricted Buildings Act • and much, much more.
Although these changes have been almost imperceptible, taken as a whole they put some of our most cherished freedoms in jeopardy. The cumulative effects of these actions has resulted in an America very different than the one we experienced a decade ago.
And now, here in Humboldt County, we are threatened with another assault on our First Amendment protections of freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to petition our government for redress of grievances. A new County protest ordinance is currently under development, which, if left unchallenged, will further restrict and criminalize our basic freedoms.
It is urgent that we form a coalition of local organizations and individuals who rely upon the First Amendment, and we need you to join us to stand up and shout out: enough!
Stand Up & Shout Out! — A Forum to Protect and Restore our First Amendments Rightswill be held on March 24, and is an important first step. The forum will begin with informational presentations by local experts and activists, followed by public testimony from those most affected by civil liberties restrictions, and will conclude with an opportunity to work with friends and neighbors to take concrete actions to protect and restore our precious freedoms. |
Humboldt Civil Liberties Defense Fund 