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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2004
AMV welcomes LA City Council resolution against Patriot Act
January 21, 2004 – The American Muslim Voice welcomed a landmark resolution passed by the Los Angles City Council against provisions of the USA Patriot Act. The City Council of Los Angeles, with a 9-2 vote, today opposed the unconstitutional provisions of the USA Patriot Act, related to Executive Orders, and any legislation that would abridge the civil rights or liberties of individuals.
Welcoming the LA City Council resolution, the AMV Executive Director, Samina Faheem Sundas, said that the Patriot Act has failed to achieve its professed goal of apprehending terrorists.
“The law, which has threatened civil liberties of every American and even criticized by some lawmakers for its too broad and sweeping powers to the law enforcement agencies, has primarily targeted the Arab and Muslim communities.” Patriot Act is an invissible sword that is hanging over our heads. there are no checks and balances with that much power and can lead to misuse of that power.
The LA City Council vote indicates increasing disagreement with President Bush's last night's State of the Union address in which he claimed that the Patriot Act is an "essential tool" to fight terrorism. By passing the resolution, the second largest City Council in the nation joined over 239 communities and 3 states across the country to reaffirm it's commitment to civil liberties.
AMV encourages every American specially Arab and Muslim Americans to get involved in passing a resolution in your community. Please check our website for helpful hints for passing a resolution. www.amuslimvoice.org.
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