Statement Expressing Concern About
Recent Erosions of Civil Liberties
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) believes in upholding the civil rights and liberties of all people. For over 350 years, Quakers have relied upon a single standard of Truth, discerned when our hearts and minds are open to the Inward, Divine Light. We bear witness to this Truth through our testimonies and traditions, which support freedom of expression, free exercise of religion, and equal treatment under the law - civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. In addition, because there is Òthat of GodÓ in all people, we believe everyone has the ability to discern and witness to the Truth. Therefore, we view free speech as inherent to our ability to practice our faith.
However, through congressional legislation and presidential or other executive branch actions, our government is now taking away legal protections assured by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We are deeply concerned that these actions further a climate of fear, infringe on individual rights, and inhibit inquiry and dissent. We feel this curtailment of liberty might be used to abuse, harass, and falsely imprison racial, religious, and ethnic minorities, as well as those who choose to speak out.
For example, the PATRIOT Act was passed by Congress with little in-depth scrutiny of its possible consequences. Executive branch actions have occurred with almost no notice by the general public. Yet, according to legal experts, under the PATRIOT Act, the U.S. government can now search peopleÕs homes and businesses while they are away without letting them know, perhaps for months, that the search took place. And recent executive actions, pursued without even the passage of legislation, allow the FBI to conduct secret surveillance of any U.S. religious, political, or civic group even if there is no suspicion that the organization is engaged in wrong-doing. These are just two examples of the many erosions of civil liberties stemming from the PATRIOT Act and recent federal government initiatives.
Now the draft of new legislation has been unveiled that would further increase the governmentÕs ability to intrude into peopleÕs private lives and take away fundamental rights. We understand this draft bill, called the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 (or ÒPatriot Act IIÓ), creates new death penalties. It also would increase the federal governmentÕs ability to search homes and wiretap phones, conduct secret arrests, and strip people of their U.S. citizenship for support of organizations labeled as ÒterroristÓ even if the support was for lawful, humanitarian activities. Non-citizens could be deported or indefinitely imprisoned without judicial appeal.
We need to speak out. The Atlanta Friends (Quaker) Meeting urges our elected officials, at all levels, to work for the repeal of the PATRIOT Act and to oppose the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 and other curtailments of civil liberties, and to make sure the implications of any such proposed laws are fully explored and revealed to the public.