[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [Peace] Illinois Civil LIberties Alert

[Al Kagan]

FYI, this is still in the process of discussion.  The Illinois 
Library Association is keeping up with the situation.

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>Subject: [Peace] Illinois Civil LIberties Alert
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>Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 18:22:17 -0600
>Status:  
>
>
>URGENT ACTION NEEDED - MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2001
>
>Troubling anti-terrorism legislation proposed in Illinois!
>
>Attorney General Jim Ryan has proposed a set of complex proposals 
>under the general heading of "anti-terrorism" legislation and is 
>trying to push them through the Illinois General Assembly in the 
>very short (six-day) veto session!  Not only is this not enough time 
>to deliberate on what is a very complex (60-page) proposal, but the 
>proposal also contains several measures that pose serious threats to 
>civil liberties. (See "Details" below.) These measures are too 
>important to be forced into law during an abbreviated veto session!
>
>Action Needed:
>
>1.  Call your state representative and state senator and urge them 
>to OPPOSE any effort to move the Attorney General's proposed 
>anti-terrorism legislation through the General Assembly during the 
>short veto session!
>
>To find your state representative's home office number, click on: 
><<http://www.legis.state.il.us/addresses/house_addresses.html>http://www.legis.state.il.us/addresses/house_addresses.html>. 
>
>To find your state senator's home office number, click on: 
><<http://www.legis.state.il.us/addresses/senate_addresses.html>http://www.legis.state.il.us/addresses/senate_addresses.html>.
>2.  If possible, please email ACLU Legislative Director Mary Dixon 
>at <<mailto:mdixon3 at attglobal.net>mailto:mdixon3 at attglobal.net> to 
>let her know you were able to contact your representative and/or 
>senator.  Her ability to lobby effectively is greatly increased by 
>knowing which legislators are hearing from their constituents. 
>
>Details:
>
>On October 16, 2001, Attorney General Jim Ryan announced a series of 
>proposals he argued are necessary to combat terrorism.  Congress 
>already considered and acted upon a series of far-reaching proposals 
>to expand the authority of federal law enforcement and intelligence 
>services to investigate and prosecute terrorism.  The Attorney 
>General's proposals are unnecessary.  There already is a role for 
>Illinois in combating terrorism.  State and local law enforcement in 
>Illinois already participate in a federal counter-terrorism task 
>force.  The resources of the federal government should continue to 
>be relied upon to lead the fight against terrorism. 
>
>The Attorney General has asked that the measures be considered and 
>approved by the General Assembly during its "veto" session - 
>scheduled for six (6) working days in November.  Proposals to expand 
>the death penalty, to expand law enforcement's capacity to wiretap 
>telephone conversations and review electronic correspondence, and to 
>broaden the definition of terrorism in our state are serious 
>measures that demand review, consideration and debate.  These laws 
>should not be forced through in a few days! 
>
>Specifically, we are concerned about these aspects of the 
>legislative proposals:
>
>First, the legislation ignores the fact that the State of Illinois 
>already has a strong, anti-terrorism statute.  That law, adopted in 
>1997, contains a number of criminal acts that are defined as 
>terrorism and has not - to our knowledge - ever been used in a 
>prosecution since its adoption.
>
>Second, the Attorney General's proposal expands the definition of a 
>"terrorist act' to include any violent act, or any act dangerous to 
>any type of property, that is intended to influence the policy of 
>government.  This overly broad definition could include the actions 
>of a person involved in civil disobedience that does minor damage to 
>property.
>
>Third, the Attorney General's proposal greatly expands the power of 
>law enforcement officials to monitor and record electronic 
>communications without meaningful judicial oversight.  The measure 
>as drafted allows law enforcement access to telephones or email 
>accounts that a target of a criminal investigation may use 
>infrequently, without being forced to ask a court for permission to 
>review and record communications from those sources.  This certainly 
>will increase the likelihood that innocent conversations, 
>attorney-client privileged material and business secrets are 
>monitored and recorded.  The bill also dramatically expands the 
>power of law enforcement officials to secretly record conversations 
>with a police officer or an informant, without prior authorization 
>from a court.  Currently, such secret recordings are allowed only if 
>"necessary for the protection" of the officer or informant.  The 
>Attorney General's proposal eliminates this limitation in every 
>investigation of a new anti-terrorism offense, which - as indicated 
>above - can include civil disobedience. 
>
>Finally, the Attorney General's proposal adds a murder committed in 
>connection with or as a result of an act of terrorism to the list of 
>aggravating factors making one eligible for the death penalty in 
>Illinois.  Most terrorism acts already are covered by the existing 
>aggravating factors - the murder of a fireman or policeman; the 
>murder of two or more persons in a cold and calculated manner; or, 
>the murder of persons as a result of hijacking an airplane, train, 
>ship, bus or other conveyance.
>
>
>For more information-
>Resources available on the ACLU website 
><<http://www.aclu-il.org/>http://www.aclu-il.org/>:
>*  Learn who your Representative is; 
>*  Find the phone number and address of your legislators;
>*  Join the ACLU.
>
>Thank you- 
>Your action can make a difference!
>
>The most dangerous element in any society is ignorance.
>		-Emma Goldman
>http://www.laird.com

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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