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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2003)
15 rTTTTTWRTSnetys U ndermining and S pying An upcoming forum looks at how the Patriot Act affects minorities urn on A merica ? by M eg D aly “It’s been an honor to work with WILPF,” o deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and Besant says. “They’re an organization with a long an>und the world, to enhance history of women working for peace and justice." Bolles, who is also a member of WILPF, adds: law enforcement investigatory J1L tools, and for other purposes.” “We want to learn more about what our com This is the full title of what is commonly munities want. We want to get people talking known as the U SA Patriot Act. (The U SA, in and taking action.” this case, stands for "Uniting and Strengthening The forum presenters will discuss how the Patriot Act has changed laws governing issues America.”) Passed in October 2001 amid a flurry of dramatic—and some say hasty— actions taken such as privacy protections and surveillance in the wake of 9/11, the legislation vastly increased thresholds. They will also address what the leg islation means for citizens who protest or “kxik the U.S. governments surveillance powers and eroded important checks and halances, ostensibly suspicious” as well as the effect on non-U.S. cit in the name of fighting terrorism. izens residing here. Long has spoken about the act’s effect on library users, Blumenauer has Now in the pipeline is “Patriot Act 11,” draft been a staunch opponent of the act since its legislation from the Justice Department that early days, and Sadaat is versed in the law’s would grant additional sweeping surveillance powers to the government. An upcoming forum effect on queers. sponsored hy the Lesbian Community Project and One of the things that motivated Bolles to others will look at how queers and other minori hold this forum is her concern about the length ties are affected by the current and complexity of the act. law, and what to fear about the She doesn’t feel the media "I'm concerned that proposed additional legislation. have done an accurate job of some o f the provisions informing citizens and pro “I think we are moving viding adequate analysis. “It’s dangerously away from free o f the act will be applied like they’re trying to keep us dom of speech and expres sion," said Linda Besant, a to people who are doing ignorant," she says. member of the Lesbian Com- Besant sees an additional legitimate activities munity Project and a co-orga- reason for people to be well versed about the act: misinfor nizer of the forum. “I feel a that have nothing mation. “It’s important that need to he actively informed." to do with security — we not attribute things to the Besant and fellow LCP member Alyson Bolles have Patriot Act that aren’t part of like protesting" it,” she says, noting that mis been instrumental in planning the forum, which will feature — Linda Besant informed activism can weak human rights activist Kath en dissent. “The forum is a leen Sadaat, civil liberties expert Carolyn Long, way to get accurate information. Portland State University virtual reference “AnykxJy whose lifestyle or views are differ axirdinator Kim Willson-St. Clair and U.S. ent from the direction the country is going are Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. impacted,” Besant says. "I’m concerned that some of the provisions of the act will be applied to peo Bolles says she and Besant came up with the ple who are doing legitimate activities that have idea for the discussion when they attended a nothing to do with security— like protesting.” similar fomm in Vancouver, Wash. “The act was passed and is being implemented, hut people The American Civil Liberties Union filed the still don’t understand it. The more information first legal challenge to the act July 30, asserting we have about the Patriot Act, the better we that it violates constitutional protections against will he able to defend our civil liberties.” unreasonable searches and seizures as well as the rights to freedom of speech and association. Bolles and Besant teamed up with members of the Womens International League for Peace Among the six plaintiff groups is the Islamic Cen and Freedom to envision the discussion, thereby ter of Portland, or Masjed As-Saber, which oper addressing two goals of LCP’s long-range plan ates a mosque and school in the Rose City. ning— to hold a series of forums on the current According to the A C LU , the legislation created a new crime of “domestic terrorism”: political climate and to work in coalition with other groups. “The Patriot A ct transforms protesters into terrorists if they engage in conduct that ‘involves acts dangerous to human life’ to ‘influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.’ ” “How long will it be," the A C LU asks, “before an ambitious or politically motivated prosecutor uses the statute to charge members of controversial activist groups like Operation Res cue or Greenpeace with terrorism T’ Queers have particular reason for concern about the Patriot Act’s implications, Bolles says. “ Because many queers are politically active in securing our civil rights, we could be targeted for being activists. People are being imprisoned without charge, and that could impact other protesters." Bolles is also worried about how the law is affecting international students. "I think it’s a way of targeting minorities," she says of the Patriot A ct’s provisions that allow the govern ment to request library records without the patron being informed. Indeed, librarians have been some of the most vocal opponents to the new law. “Librari- aas are awesome,” Bolles says. “I think people might be surprised to learn how active librarian organizations are in protecting patrons’ privacy rights.” Willson-St. Clair, who works at PSU ’s Millar Library, adds: “The library profession has worked diligently not to marginalize populations. We are considered a safe space.” But that safe space is being eroded by the Patriot Act. Willson-St. Clair and others are working hard to protect patrons’ privacy as best they can. “We are conducting privacy audits to make sure we know where every bit of information is that we have stored about a patron— and that we keep only what is timely and pertinent.” Willson-St. Clair worries that her queer patrons could be targeted for their reading habits. “Profiling is what it is,” she says. She encourages citizens to support the Freedom to Read Act now before Congress. Librariaas are not alone in fighting invasion of privacy. The ACLU has not been shy about calling many provisions of the Patriot Act unconstitutional. Even more alarm has been raised about “Patriot Act II.” According to the A C LU , “the government would no longer be required to dis close the identity of anyone, even an American citizen, detained in connection with a tenor U .S. Attorney General John Ashcroft wants Congress to grant additional sweeping surveillance powers to the government investigation— until criminal charges are filed, no matter how long that takes.” The ACLU also notes that under the proposed law, “individuals engaged in civil disobedience could risk losing citizenship; their organization could be subject to wiretapping and asset seizure." These sorts of strictures are frightening to Besant. “I’m a liberal on every front,” she says. “ I’m worried that soon being a liberal won’t be OK on any front.” Bolles adds: “We need to do further organiz ing, and this forum is one step in many. I’m hop ing people who haven’t been involved in poli tics will come to the forum and will find ways to participate in civil rights activism, if that’s what they choose to do.” Willson-St. Clair is more blunt: “To become politically active is the best thing anyone in this country can do if they are interested in their freedom to read and their freedom of thought and speech." J H A forum on THE UNITING AND STRENGTHENING A merica P atriot A c t and T hose in the M inority will start at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 m the ballrcxrm on the second floor of Portland State University's Smith Memorial Center, 1825 S.W. Broadway. A $2-$4 donation is requested. For more information call 503-227-0605. MEG D aly is a Portland free-lance writer. coLouueu. Auto, Home, Life, Health & Business EADIE ADAMS REALTY "Your Independent Insurance Agency BANKER □ epb&b “For Your Palm Springs Place in the Sun” " insurance Elliott, Powell, B aden Me Baker, Inc. 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