[Seattle-editorial] Alaska Legislators Say "No" to Abuses Under the PATRIOT Act

[Devon Abdallah]

> ACLU Press Release
> 
> 
> May 22, 2003
> Alaska Bars State Participation in Intrusive Federal Security Measures:
> Legislators Say "No" to Abuses Under the PATRIOT Act  
> ANCHORAGE - The Alaska Civil Liberties Union today applauded passage of
> House Joint Resolution 22 by the state legislature enforcing the
> protection of individual liberties for all Alaskans in the face of
> intrusive federal actions taken since 9/11. The pro-civil liberties
> resolution makes Alaska the strongest critic of the federal government's
> controversial USA PATRIOT Act and initiates policies prohibiting
> enforcement of the law at the state level.
> Alaska's resolution is the 114th of its kind to pass in a city, county or
> state jurisdiction around the country. Over 13 million Americans are now
> covered by these resolutions. Alaska's is the second statewide resolution.
> 
> "This resolution affirms the motto of Alaska, 'North to the Future,'" said
> Jennifer Rudinger, Executive Director of the AkCLU. "As a state, we have
> always led the Lower 48 in respecting and ensuring the individual rights
> of our residents under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This
> exceptionally strong resolution reflects our dedication to civil liberties
> and our deep-seated belief that Alaska - and America - can be both safe
> and free."
> The Alaska House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted the resolution,
> which has enjoyed strong bipartisan support since its introduction, with a
> 37 to 1 vote. The Alaska Senate passed it unanimously on May 20th, with a
> 19 to 0 vote. The Alaska resolution is one of the strongest to pass in the
> nation to date. House Majority Leader Rep. John Coghill (R-North Pole) and
> Rep. David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks) both played key roles in getting the
> resolution passed, as did Senator Johnny Ellis (D-Anchorage).
> The Alaska resolution explicitly prohibits state agencies from engaging in
> racial profiling and prohibits the use of state resources or institutions
> for the enforcement of federal immigration matters. It also bars state
> agencies from creating intelligence dossiers on the political, religious
> and social views of individuals and organizations, unless the information
> directly relates to an investigation of criminal activities. 
> Further, in the absence of reasonable suspicion of criminal activity under
> Alaska state law, it prohibits participation in investigations, detentions
> and surveillance as well as seizure of personal library, medical,
> financial, student and sales records, even when authorized by the PATRIOT
> Act. Additionally, the resolution calls upon the Alaskan Congressional
> delegation to work to correct sections of the USA PATRIOT Act and other
> measures that unduly restrict personal freedoms.
> The joint resolution is a direct response to the USA PATRIOT Act, the
> federal anti-terrorism bill that was rushed through Congress in the weeks
> after September 11, 2001, with little debate. Although some provisions in
> the bill are non-controversial, others expand government surveillance and
> law enforcement powers far beyond anything conceivably necessary to
> prevent terrorism or catch terrorists.
> "Security and liberty are not mutually exclusive, and while it is unclear
> how much safer the PATRIOT Act makes us, it clearly makes us less free,"
> said Rudinger. "Our own Congressman Don Young, one of the most powerful
> Republicans in Congress, called the USA PATRIOT Act the 'worst piece of
> legislation we ever passed.' Conservatives, centrists and liberals alike
> are wary of too much government power over our lives - this resolution
> affirms Alaskan's bipartisan commitment to protecting civil liberties."
> The text of the resolution can be found at:
> <http://www.legis.state.ak.us/pdf/23/Bills/HJR022C.PDF>
> For more on the resolutions initiative, go to:
> <http://www.aclu.org/safeandfree/resolutions>
>