Maine community condemns Patriot Act

MOUNT VERNON – Voters in this small, central Maine town have joined other cities in Maine, and more than 150 across the nation, that have passed resolutions condemning the USA Patriot Act.

Saturday’s vote made the community of 1,440 residents the first in Maine to approve a resolution against the Patriot Act at a town meeting. Waterville, Portland and Bangor have passed similar resolutions through their city officials.

The state Legislature also passed a resolution in March urging Congress to ensure that the federal anti-terrorism law doesn’t compromise civil liberties. Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont lawmakers also have passed anti-Patriot Act measures.

The Patriot Act, passed by Congress weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, expands the government’s ability to use wiretaps, monitor e-mail and conduct searches in its fight against terrorism.

The law has encountered sharp criticism by civil libertarians, librarians and other groups in addition to elected bodies.

In California, the cities of Santa Cruz and South Pasadena formally declared their opposition to the Patriot Act. Santa Cruz is also the first local government in the country to pass a resolution asking Congress to look into impeaching President Bush over his handling of the war in Iraq.

Tonasket, Wash., which is near the border with Canada, passed a resolution expressing support for the constitutional rights of its 1,000 residents and opposition to the Patriot Act.

Across the country, the city of Paterson, N.J., was poised to pass a similar resolution.

The Paterson resolution was notable because as many as six of the Sept. 11 hijackers either lived or spent time there shortly before the 2001 attacks. The city also is home to many ethnic Arabs and Muslims.

Eight other New Jersey communities passed anti-Patriot Act resolutions.

Librarians in Skokie, Ill., and Killington, Vt., were among those posting signs to warn patrons their reading habits may be scrutinized without their knowledge under the anti-terrorism law.

Appleton, Wis., and Multnomah County, Ore., librarians passed policies to inform patrons of the potential for secret surveillance. Leaflets carrying that message were handed out in Calais, and library computer logs were shredded in Santa Cruz, Calif.

The town of Arcata, Calif., passed an ordinance making it illegal for librarians to comply voluntarily with the USA Patriot Act.

Attorney General John Ashcroft has traveled to cities throughout the country to defend the Patriot Act, saying the law has made possible a series of terrorism arrests.

Ashcroft contends that Americans broadly support the law, citing opinion polls and lopsided votes in favor when the measure passed Congress. Justice Department officials also say the opposition is being generated by a vocal minority that has spread false impressions of the law.

At Saturday’s town meeting in Mount Vernon, which is 20 miles northwest of Augusta, Christopher Dumaine said he’s concerned that the law could be misused.

“Someday, somebody will use those laws against us,” Dumaine warned.