Bill of Rights Defense Campaign

BILL OF RIGHTS Defense Committee - Working with communities to uphold the Bill of RightsWe the People
Working with communities to uphold the Bill of Rights
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Public Forums on Patriot Act

In 2003 Attorney General John Ashcroft directed all of the 93 U.S. Attorneys to launch efforts defending the U.S. Patriot Act in their respective regions. These efforts consist of holding community forums about the Patriot Act, to contact elected representatives who voted for Butch Otter's (R-ID) amendment withholding funding for so-called "sneak and peek" searches, and to report back to the Attorney General's office.

Prepare yourself to refute claims made by the Justice Department and your U.S. attorney. Read responses made by various organizations and individuals to these false statements.

See August 23, 2003, The Washington Post, Mr. Ashcroft's Foot Soldiers for more information about how Ashcroft is deploying U.S. Attorneys to lobby for the Patriot Act.

In July 2003, Ashcroft ordered U.S. attorneys to tell the Justice Department each time a federal judge skirts the sentencing guidelines against the wishes of prosecutors. See this article for more information.

Following is a list of dates of these public forums. If possible, organize locally turn out people defending freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

Schedule of Public Forums:

Louisiana--Kenner, August 25, 2003--article

Alabama--Mobile, August 27, 2003--article

Maine--Bangor, August 28, 2003--article

Idaho--Coeur d'Alene, August 29, 2003--article

California--Yreka, August 30, 2003--article

Georgia--Thomasville, September 2, 2003, 4-6 pm, Federal Courthouse, 404 Broad Street--article

Florida--Pensacola, September 2, 2003, article

Florida--Tallahassee, September 3, 2003, 7-8:30 pm, Tallahassee City Hall, 300 South Adams Street,
City Council Chambers. See this article about the citizens that showed up to ask tough questions.

Indiana--Indianapolis, September 3, 2003, see this article

Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh, September 16, 2003, 7:00 pm, Rodef Shalom Congregation on 5th Ave in Oakland. Debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh and the
Allegheny County Library Association. Representatives from the FBI, ACLU, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of PA will participate. See flyer for details.

Arizona--Phoenix, September 17, 2003, Two Renaissance Square, 40 N. Central Ave, Time unknown. Limited space available. Call Harriet Bernick, 602-514-7736 to get on the guest list. For more information, see this article.