As part of his ludicrous publicity tour for the so-called "Patriot Act", and its proposed sequel, the "Victory Act", Attorney General John "Big Bro" Ashcroft will be appearing tomorrow at Faneuil Hall. The Boston stop of this farcical 'roadshow' (and what a show it is) is particularly ironic, considering that this town is considered by many to be the 'birthplace' of the very freedoms that he is attacking.
"On Tuesday morning, Attorney General John Ashcroft will be speaking in Boston's historic Faneuil Hall to promote the controversial Patriot Act.
The ACLU of Massachusetts and the Bill of Rights Defense Committee have organized a demonstration to show the broad public sentiment against this threat to our freedoms. They are asking all supportive people to attend with signs.
Faneuil Hall is known as "the cradle of liberty" because of the courage displayed there by American revolutionaries like Samuel Adams. In 1771, he insisted: "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.... It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men."
I hope you can join us on Tuesday morning.
WHAT: Demonstration to demand the protection of our basic civil liberties, and counter Attorney General John Ashcroft, speaking in the latest installment of his stealth Patriot Act road show.
Ashcroft is currently touring the nation, with a focus on states contested in the presidential election, as part of a public relations campaign to shore up the Patriot Act. The tour comes as increasing numbers of Americans are challenging the Administration's assault on basic freedoms and as Congress considers numerous bipartisan measures to prohibit implementation of aspects of the Patriot Act.
The Attorney General also seeks to build support for passage of the expansive sequel, dubbed Patriot II, and the VICTORY Act. His speeches will be given before audiences of law enforcement officials and are closed to the public. Even the schedule of the tour is being kept a secret until the last minute. All of this seems designed to prevent Americans from showing their opposition to attacks on civil liberties.
Don't let the Justice Department's secrecy prevent the free expression of opposition to the Patriot Act. Sign up now to attend the demonstration countering Ashcroft's claims.
Thanks for insisting that security is attainable without sacrificing our freedom.
Go here for more information on the hostile "acts", and if you're not in Boston, keep an ear to the ground for future Ashcroft appearances. Tell him exactly where he can stick his 'patriotic' plans, and eventually, his career plans as well.
