Opposition to U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT to Violate Human Rights

Opposition to U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT to Violate Human Rights

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees rights to everyone living in the United States, including temporary and permanent aliens as well as citizens; and

WHEREAS, these rights are threatened by the October 2001 U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT that includes provision for indefinite detention or deportation of non-citizens, even if they have not committed a crime; grants the FBI access to medical, financial, and educational records without a court order; creates a new crime, "domestic terrorism," which is so broadly defined it could apply to acts of civil disobedience; and

WHEREAS, the PATRIOT ACT includes Federal Executive Orders that establish secret military tribunals for terrorism suspects; permit wiretapping of conversations between federal prisoners and their lawyer; lift Justice Department regulations against covert, illegal counter-intelligence operations by the FBI; and limit the disclosure of public documents under the Freedom of Information Act; and

WHEREAS, despite the fact that this law and these executive orders particularly target foreign nationals and people of color, anyone in the U.S.A. could be affected even when acting and speaking legally in opposition to government policy; and

WHEREAS, this law has resulted in the detention and arrest of at least 2,000 Muslims, Arabs, and Southeast Asians in the United States without due process of law; and

WHEREAS, at the outbreak of WW II, the United States government interned 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, in just such a manner without semblance of due process of law; and

WHEREAS, after extensive investigation, a Presidential Commission in 1982 concluded that such internment was the result of "war hysteria, racial prejudice and a failure of political leadership," and

WHEREAS, a token monetary award and an apology signed by Presidents Bush (first) and Clinton on behalf of the U.S.A. was made to those affected as a result of this finding;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church go on record as opposed to the use of the U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT to violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution; and

Be it further resolved, that all members of the General Conference be encouraged to ask their elected representatives to work toward the repeal of those portions of the U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT that could be used to violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution; and

Be it further resolved, that the General Conference Secretary be directed to immediately forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, members of Congress; and

Be it further resolved, that the 2004 General Conference incorporate the language of this resolution into The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church.

ADOPTED 2004

See Social Principles, ¶ 164A, B, D, and F.