PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

On Monday, April 26 the Pittsburgh City Council passed the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign's long-awaited resolution to protect civil liberties in the city. Pittsburgh joins 295 other communities around the country that have passed similar resolutions opposing the USA PATRIOT Act.

Among other things, the resolution requests that the Mayor direct Pittsburgh's Police Department to refrain from establishing general surveillance networks; conducting surveillance of individuals or groups based on their participation in First Amendment activities; using racial profiling; collecting information about the political/social/religious views, associations or activities of individuals and groups; or encouraging members of the general public to spy on their neighbors.

The City Council also passed a weaker resolution that ambiguously "affirms the Council's abhorrence of terrorism, support of law enforcement, and support of civil rights."

[ Full Text of Resolution | List of Communities that have Passed Resolutions | PBORDC Web Site | DOJ PATRIOT Act Site | AP article ]