Civil Disobedience Could Bring Death Penalty

News and Opinion for Democrats Against Bush -- Part II

Civil Disobedience Could Bring Death Penalty

"The new death penalty provision is not needed: antiterrorism laws already provide for capital punishment. And it is worded so vaguely that it could be used against people with no ties to international terrorism, including domestic political protesters..."

--New York Times

New York Times

September 22, 2003

Patriot Act, Part II

The complete article may be purchased online from the New York Times archives at-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D1FFB355E0C718EDDA00894DB404482

Excerpt--

... President Bush spoke out last week in favor of a three-point plan for expanding the law. Patriot Act II would give the government broad powers to seize documents and force testimony without a court order, expand use of the death penalty and make it harder to be released on bail. None of these tools are necessary to fight terrorism, and each threatens to infringe on the civil liberties of Americans. ...

The new death penalty provision is not needed: antiterrorism laws already provide for capital punishment. And it is worded so vaguely that it could be used against people with no ties to international terrorism, including domestic political protesters...

The administration is acting as if it does not have the legal powers it needs to fight terrorism, when it does. The drive to roll back civil liberties is a threat to freedom and a distraction. The administration would better use its energy on more effective law enforcement strategies to keep us safe.

ACLU Massachusetts

THE USA PATRIOT ACT:
A CIVIL LIBERTIES BRIEFING

To read the complete article, click here-- http://www.aclumass.org/legal/USApatriotact.html

Excerpts--

... * The Act eliminates much of the judicial oversight established in the 1970s after revelations that the US and FBI were spying on over half a million Americans during and after the McCarthy era, and opens the door widely to new possibilities of abuse. ...

* Americans engaged in civil disobedience or another form of protest activity might be charged with "domestic terrorism" if violence erupts ...

... * An executive order [was] signed by President Bush on November 13th to establish military tribunals under the Department of Defense to try suspected terrorists. These tribunals would conduct secret trials, and would be able to impose the death penalty. The accused could be convicted by two-thirds of the members of the military commission present at the time of the vote, with a final decision on the sentence being taken by the President or Secretary of Defense.

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http://www.aclu-mass.org/legal/USApatriotact.html

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