Cities Fight Federal Snooping
Cities across the country are passing resolutions to counteract new Federal snooping legislation. Oakland, California, is now the 20th city to pass a resolution barring employees, including librarians and policemen, from collaborating with federal officials who try to use their new power to investigate residents.
The Patriot Act was rushed through Congress a month after 911 and many people fear it will fundamentally and permanently restrict Americans’ legal rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution. The act allows the government to secretly monitor political groups, seize library records and tap phones and Internet connections. The federal government says it needs the expanded powers in order to prevent terrorist attacks.
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