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The following resolution was approved by the 2004 General Conference of
The United Methodist Church.
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253. Opposition to U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT to Violate Human Rights
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees rights to everyone
living in the United States, including temporary and permanent aliens as
well as citizens; and
WHEREAS, these rights are threatened by the October 2001 U.S.A. PATRIOT
ACT that includes provision for indefinite detention or deportation of
non-citizens, even if they have not committed a crime; grants the FBI
access to medical, financial, and educational records without a court
order; creates a new crime, "domestic terrorism," which is so broadly
defined it could apply to acts of civil disobedience; and
WHEREAS, the PATRIOT ACT includes Federal Executive Orders that
establish secret military tribunals for terrorism suspects; permit wiretapping
of conversations between federal prisoners and their lawyer; lift
Justice Department regulations against covert, illegal counter-intelligence
operations by the FBI; and limit the disclosure of public documents
under the Freedom of Information Act; and
WHEREAS, despite the fact that this law and these executive orders
particularly target foreign nationals and people of color, anyone in the
U.S.A. could be affected even when acting and speaking legally in
opposition to government policy; and
WHEREAS, this law has resulted in the detention and arrest of at least
2,000 Muslims, Arabs, and Southeast Asians in the United States without
due process of law; and
WHEREAS, at the outbreak of WW II, the United States government
interned 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of whom were
American citizens, in just such a manner without semblance of due process of
law; and
WHEREAS, after extensive investigation, a Presidential Commission in
1982 concluded that such internment was the result of "war hysteria,
racial prejudice and a failure of political leadership," and
WHEREAS, a token monetary award and an apology signed by Presidents
Bush (first) and Clinton on behalf of the U.S.A. was made to those
affected as a result of this finding;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the 2004 General Conference of The
United Methodist Church go on record as opposed to the use of the U.S.A.
PATRIOT ACT to violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States
Constitution; and
Be it further resolved, that all members of the General Conference be
encouraged to ask their elected representatives to work toward the
repeal of those portions of the U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT that could be used to
violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution;
and
Be it further resolved, that the General Conference Secretary be
directed to immediately forward a copy of this resolution to the President of
the United States, members of Congress; and
Be it further resolved, that the 2004 General Conference incorporate
the language of this resolution into The Book of Resolutions of The
United Methodist Church.
ADOPTED 2004
See Social Principles, ¶ 164A, B, D, and F.
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