Los Angeles is the latest city--and the largest one--to reject the Patriot Act:

"This is a huge victory for civil liberties," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. "Los Angeles is the largest city to pass a resolution in support of civil liberties and critical of the USA-PATRIOT Act. Angelenos should be proud that their City Council stands on the side of those who believe we can be both safe and free. Today’s resolution sends a clear message to those who assume that Americans will tolerate the erosion of our basic Constitutional rights."

The council voted 9 to 2 to adopt the resolution which seeks to “affirm the rights of all people… living within the City.” The resolution was spearheaded by Councilmember Jan Perry (D-District 9) and Assistant President Pro Tempore Eric Garcetti (D- District 13). The Civil Liberties Defense Coalition, a group of more than 50 local and national organizations, including the ACLU, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the National Council of LaRaza, had endorsed the resolution.

We think that L.A. choosing the day after Bush called for extending the Patriot Act to oppose it is a good omen. So far, more than 235 US communities representing over 30 million people have resolved to seek Patriot Act reform.

[comments now closed]