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On Monday, I had the pleasure of joining with many of our allies on Capitol Hill for a special reception launching our new television series, the ACLU Freedom Files. Produced by Robert Greenwald, a good friend and consummate filmmaker (you might know his other films: Outfoxed, Uncovered and Unconstitutional), Freedom Files tells the human stories behind the debate over our civil liberties.
Our first episode is titled "Beyond the Patriot Act," and the reception it received was nothing less than astounding. As the debate over the renewal of expiring provisions in the Patriot Act drives toward a final vote in the coming weeks, the ACLU's foray into broadcast television could not have come at a better time. We're telling the stories that people need to hear, and telling them in a way that people will listen.
I could not be more thrilled, and you -- our membership and our supporters -- have made all of this possible.
But, our work is not done, my friends. Congress will likely meet in a 'conference committee' in the next few weeks, where they will reconcile two competing Patriot Act reauthorization bills.
The bill passed by the House of Representatives is a disaster. It would make the entire Patriot Act permanent without any real reform to better protect civil liberties. The Senate bill, though not perfect, would be a genuine improvement over current law in some ways. It would, for instance, require a factual statement and some link between a suspected terrorist and personal records (including library, medical, tax or other records) before the government could use Section 215 to demand them secretly.
I mention library records in particular because of a new ACLU lawsuit that provides the best evidence yet that Patriot Act reform is essential for our constitutional democracy.
Although the decision has been stayed pending appeal by the government, a federal judge in Connecticut recently lifted the gag on our client, which will allow it to take part in the debate over the Patriot Act. Our client is a member of the American Library Association that retains records on Internet use and library borrowing, which was served with a "national security letter" by the FBI (issued without requiring any court approval or any specific and articulable facts connecting the records sought to a foreign terrorist) demanding it turn over patron records.
We are deeply heartened by the judge's decision. Libraries are an integral part of a healthy, free society. They allow Americans to better themselves through learning, allow the less fortunate access to things like the Internet and provide the tools we need to engage in robust debate over public policy. Before the government starts digging around in our reading habits, it ought to have a good reason.
Before I let you go, let me say this: your efforts are making a difference.
Few non-profits can muster the enthusiasm and courage among their membership that the ACLU inspires on a daily basis. House parties, action alerts, patch-through phone calls to lawmakers, even visits to Washington all combine to create a united and powerful voice for liberty on Capitol Hill. If we can keep the pressure up for just a few more weeks, we're in a good position to start bringing the Patriot Act in-line with the Constitution.
Please, as a personal appeal, keep it up.
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
P.S. If you can take a minute to ask five or more friends to join the ACLU's fight to protect freedom, we'll send you a free DVD of "Beyond the Patriot Act." All you have to do is use the link below.
Urge Congress to Reform the Patriot Act! Tell 5 Friends and Get a DVD:
http://action.aclu.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1922 Recommend this article...
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