After the tragedy of 9/11 we did not heed Benjamin Franklin who famously wrote, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Instead, there were substantial infringements on our civil liberties in the name of security. Since then, advocates for civil liberties have fought what appears to be a losing battle in protecting civil liberties. To continue and enhance that effort the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU-VA) joined with the Richmond Peace Education Center to hold a one-day community forum in Richmond, Virginia, on September 17, 2016. The forum explored how the events of September 11, 2001, and policy decisions in its aftermath have changed the direction of our society.
The “Strengthen America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001” (the so-called USA Patriot Act) was signed into law with little debate or review only 43 days after the September 11, 2001, attacks. It provided sweeping power to government agencies to monitor the personal habits of not only suspected terrorists, but anyone residing in the United States, or U.S. citizens residing in other countries. Critics of the Patriot Act warned that these extraordinary surveillance powers would be used to investigate political dissent or low-level offenses rather than terrorism. Their fears were soon vindicated. A 2007 report by the Inspector General of the Justice Department found “widespread and serious abuse” of authority by the F.B.I. under the Patriot Act. Many of those FBI cases involved people with no clear connection to terrorism.
Long before the Patriot Act, the ACLU had established itself as an unrelenting supporter of civil liberties. I am pleased to be a member of the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia, which is a private, non-profit organization that promotes civil liberties and civil rights for everyone in the Commonwealth through public education, litigation, and advocacy. The ACLU is known for its litigation. It is estimated that the ACLU is involved in over 20 percent of the cases that go before the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to litigation, we also educate the public, inform the media, lobby legislators, organize grassroots activists, and disseminate information about our constitutional freedoms through our membership and volunteer chapters.The Richmond Peace Education Center (RPEC) dedicates itself to building just, inclusive, and nonviolent communities through education and action. Significantly, for 12 years RPEC has operated the Richmond Youth Peace Project, a youth-led activity aimed at transforming Richmond’s culture of youth violence.
I agree with Adria Scharf of RPEC who says a reassessment of the war on terror is long overdue. “Since 9/11, our country has prosecuted a multi-trillion dollar war on terror with no deadlines and no exits; undercut civil liberties; expanded government surveillance; and militarized policing. These activities have made us less safe, less free, and poorer, and have inflicted deep damage to our democracy and our values.”
The forum included speakers from the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the national ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Cato Institute, the NAACP, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research, a retired military officer, a Muslim civil rights activist, and individuals who had family members killed or injured in the NYC twin towers and the war in Iraq. My next post will report on some of the discussions of these speakers as well as action items from the forum.