MayDay! MayDay! Civil Liberties Under Attack! May 17, 2011

MayDay! MayDay! Civil Liberties Under Attack!
A SF Gray Panthers Program
Tuesday, May 17, 1 PM
Fireside Room, Unitarian Center
1187 Franklin Street (at Geary)

The extra-judicial killing of Osama Bin Laden has stimulated a flurry of right-wing radicals -- Cheney for one -- who now propose that torture be legalized. Congress is debating extension of the USA Patriot Act, for three years. The SF Gray Panthers will present a program on the Patriot Act and the Bill of Rights.

Hastily passed after 9/11, the USA Patriot Act is considered by many to be the greatest threat in decades to civil liberties and constitutionally-protected rights of free speech and protections against unwarranted searches and seizures. The Act was due to expire in February, but the Senate did not authorize renewal, so the Act was extended for debate until May 27.

The three most controversial sections of the Patriot Act are:
1) “Section 215,” allowing the government to seize records or “any tangible thing” from any person.
2) “Roving Wiretap” orders which do not have to specify the names or devices targeted.
3) a “Lone Wolf” provision which reduces legal protections for individuals alleged to be a threat.

SF Gray Panthers has opposed the USA Patriot Act from the beginning, hosting public informational meetings and participating in demonstrations against the Act. A list of Gray Panther articles on the Patriot Act is available at http://tinyurl.com/4yk7mdn .