BTL:Left-Right Coalition Resists President Bush's Call to Renew USA Patriot Act.

by Between the Lines' Scott Harris Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 at 10:37 AM
betweenthelines@snet.net BETWEEN THE LINES c/o WPKN Radio 89.5 FM Bridgeport, Connecticut

Interview with Charlie Mitchell, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris

Left-Right Coalition Resists President Bush's Call to Renew USA Patriot Act

Interview with Charlie Mitchell, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, conducted by Scott Harris

In his State of the Union address delivered to the nation on Jan. 20, President Bush called on Congress to renew key provisions of the USA Patriot act set to expire next year. Bush stated that the Patriot Act provided the tools needed by law enforcement to protect Americans from future terrorist attacks.

But more than two years after Sept. 11 and quick congressional passage of the Patriot Act, a grassroots coalition of civil liberties advocates from across the political spectrum have been increasingly critical of the legislation that they assert weakens protections embodied in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Among the provisions of the Act that most concern activists are Section 215, which allows the FBI to collect evidence and private records without judicial review.

Around the country more than 230 local governments -- and three state legislatures -- have passed resolutions condemning the Patriot act. Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Charlie Mitchell, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, who explains why the ACLU and other groups oppose the president's call to make the USA Patriot Act a permanent part of American law.

Contact the ACLU by calling (212) 549-2500 or visit their Web site at: www.aclu.org

Related links:



Center for Constitutional Rights at www.ccr-ny.org

Bill of Rights Defense Committee at www.bordc.org

"Federal Court in Los Angeles Declares Key Provision of the USA PATRIOT Act Unconstitutional," Center for Constitutional Rights, Jan. 26, 2004

"Critics Charge that FBI Spying on Peace Groups Chills Free Speech,"Between The Lines interview with Barbara Olshansky, attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending 12/12/03

"Patriot Act Expansion Moves Through Congress," by Jim Lobe, OneWorld.net, Nov, 21, 2003

"Federal Court Upholds Secret Detentions; Another Victory for White House Measures Eroding Civil Liberties," Between The Lines interview with the ACLU's Arthur Spitzer, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending July 4, 2003

"Critics Say White House Successor to USA Patriot Act Threatens Further Erosion of Civil Liberties," Between The Lines interview with Nancy Chang, Center for Constitutional Rights, conducted by Scott Harris, week ending Feb. 28, 2003

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

http://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

*

"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

betweenthelines@snet.net

*

Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions

http://www.squeakywheel.net/

*

©2004 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.

**

Original: BTL:Left-Right Coalition Resists President Bush's Call to Renew USA Patriot Act.