Suffolk NYCLU > PATRIOT Act

PATRIOT Act

Just 45 days after the September 11 attacks, with virtually no debate, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. Many parts of this sweeping legislation take away checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that we are struggling to protect. For example, without a warrant and without probable cause, the FBI now has the power to access your most private medical records, your library records, and your student records... and can prevent anyone from telling you it was done.

The Department of Justice is expected to introduce a sequel, dubbed PATRIOT II, that would further erode key freedoms and liberties of every American.

The ACLU and many allies on the left and right believe that before giving law enforcement new powers, Congress must first re-examine provisions of the first PATRIOT Act to ensure that is in alignment with key constitutional protections.

The best way to take a stance against the unconstitutional provisions of the PATRIOT Act is to become involved in a local Bill of Rights Defense Campaign; these campaigns work to pass local resolutions against certain provisions of the PATRIOT Act and have been successful in over 300 communities across the nation, from Alaska, to El Paso, Texas, to New York City. We now have a campaign in Suffolk County that offers many opportunities to become involved in the resolution effort and to learn more about the issue. Click here to go to the website!