home > resources > archive ACLU of Utah Activist Email Newsletter: August 2004 In this issue: FBI Dragnet Targets Muslims and Arabs Utah Ponders New Electronic Voting System We Need Some ACLU Volunteers on Election Day Unconstitutional - Film Showing in SLC Innocence and the Death Penalty - Speaker comes to SLC Campaign to Defeat Utah’s Discriminatory Marriage Amendment Dispatches from Guantanamo Action: Stop Congress from Repeating the Mistakes of the PATRIOT Act FBI Dragnet Targets Muslims and Arabs Recently, Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced that the FBI would launch a new round of dragnet-like interviews in Arab and Muslim communities nationwide. This latest effort appears to be a resurrection of a similar program attempted in 2001 and 2002, in which the FBI questioned more than 8,000 Muslim and Arab men. The questioning did not yield a single arrest of a suspected terrorist. The ACLU of Utah has updated a flyer giving Muslim and Arab American communities in Utah information about their basic rights when confronted by FBI questioning. Also listed is contact information for attorneys who have indicated a willingness to advise or even accompany people during interrogations. The ACLU has updated its "Know Your Rights" pamphlets, which are now available in Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Farsi, Somali, English and Spanish. The English version is on line. Others will be available soon. If you would like a copy of one of the other languages please call 801-521-9862 ext 101 or email aclu@acluutah.org Click here for more information >> Utah Ponders New Electronic Voting System This past month, the issue of electronic voting has gained prominence in Utah as a commission was convened with the task of reviewing and recommending a new system of electronic voting machines that would ultimately replace the paper ballot system. The right to vote, and to have ones vote accurately and fairly counted, is fundamental to our democracy. The ACLU of Utah opposes the adoption of direct recording electronic (DRE) voting until a system is devised that is secure, reliable, accurate, accessible, transparent and makes possible a full and independent audit of all election results. Click here to read the ACLU of Utah’s policy on electronic voting >> We Need Some ACLU Volunteers on Election Day Join a Statewide Effort to Monitor Polling Places on November 2 The national ACLU office is organizing an effort to avoid or minimize problems with voting during the November elections. As part of that effort, the ACLU of Utah, in collaboration with the Disability Law Center, needs volunteers to monitor polling places on November 2. Volunteers will be looking for incidents of voter intimidation, vote suppression, or election mistakes. We will prepare specific questions and give you a brief training on the issues of importance to us. If you are interested in participating, please contact Stephanie Peterson at aclu@acluutah.org. We especially need help in areas outside of the Wasatch Front area. Unconstitutional -- Film Showing in SLC Join the Grassroots Theatre Network and Dani Eyer of the Utah ACLU for a private screening of "Unconstitutional". This is a new documentary on the USA Patriot Act by Robert Greenwald. Tuesday, September 14 7 pm - 9 pm Tower Theater 876 East 900 South, Salt Lake City Tickets are $20 Includes wine and hors d”oeurves before the film Click here for more details and to purchase tickets >> Innocence and the Death Penalty -- Speaker comes to SLC Hear it from Juan Melendez who lived the ultimate nightmare. As an INNOCENT man sentenced to death, he spent nearly 18 years on Florida’s death row before his exoneration and release in January of 2002. Mr. Melendez is a uniquely dynamic and exceptional speaker. His legal case highlights the pervasive problems that exist in the death penalty system, such as its unreliability and its unfair and unequal application to people of color and the poor. His story of injustice is so powerful that it profoundly impacts people all across the political spectrum. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear Juan’s inspirational story of human resilience, courage, faith and forgiveness. Wednesday, September 22, 2004 6 pm - 9 pm Union Theater in the Olpin Student Union Building at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City Juan Melendez’s speaking engagements in Utah are sponsored by: the ACLU of Utah, Utah People for Peace and Justice, Utah Coalition of La Raza, Public Interest Law Organization, University of Utah Law School Minority Law Students’ Caucus, Utah Minority Bar Association Click here for more information >> Other public speaking events featuring Juan Melendez: Monday, September 20, 7:00 p.m. at the Utah State Labor Union Center, 2261 South Redwood Rd., Salt Lake City. Contact Frank Cordova, Utah Coalition of La Raza, 801-446-9067 Tuesday, September 21, 6 pm, University of Utah Law School. Wednesday, September 22, 12 pm, BYU Law School. Campaign to Defeat Utah’s Discriminatory Marriage Amendment Today we look back with disbelief at a time when many Americans did not tolerate marriage between Catholics and Protestants or between people of different races. Unfortunately, our laws continue to treat unequally people of the same gender who commit to a lifetime intimate relationship. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that gay and lesbian couples "are entitled to respect for their private lives," and that they may form "intimate," "personal," and "enduring" relationships and "still retain their dignity as free people," there are those who wish to continue to discriminate and further wish to enshrine that discrimination into our state constitution. Allowing same-sex couples to marry will not harm different-sex married couples in any way, nor will it jeopardize or undermine the institution of marriage. To the contrary, the institution of marriage will be strengthened and revitalized by ending an arbitrary and prejudicial restriction that excludes and stigmatizes thousands of loving and committed couples and their families. Opposition to granting same-sex couples the protections afforded by marriage often comes from religious beliefs. But if same-sex couples were allowed to marry, it would not require a single person to change his or her personal beliefs or a single church to act in a way that is contrary to religious tenets. Civil rights need not be in conflict with religious beliefs, and no church could ever be required to conduct a marriage it cannot sanction. The state, however, is not a religion, and it has an obligation to ensure that all citizens are treated equally. Utah’s proposed constitutional "Amendment 3" will not only deny recognition of a same-sex committed legal relationship but it will potentially call into question many, many contractual arrangements entered into by any unmarried couple including, for example, pension arrangements, health insurance, hospital visitations and inheritance. We must carefully examine this proposed amendment and thoughtfully address the complex legal issues raised and real and devastating effect it would have on the thousands of members of our community and society, and families they have lovingly built. The ACLU of Utah is a member of the newly formed Dont Amend Alliance that is working to inform the public about the dangers of this amendment. If you would like to help in this effort, please contact Ruth Hackford-Peer at (801) 746-1314. The office is located at 175 West 200 South Suite 2006. The web address is www.dontamendalliance.com. If you do volunteer, please send an email to Stephanie Peterson at aclu@acluutah.org to let us know what you”re doing. Any effort will make a difference in this important election. Dispatches from Guantanamo This past week, ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero, went to the Guantnamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba to attended the first preliminary hearings taking place. These are part of the new system of military commissions set up by President Bush. Click here to read Anthony’s daily dispatches from Guantanamo >> Action: Stop Congress from Repeating the Mistakes of the PATRIOT Act Members of Congress are currently holding hearings and considering rapid action on the recommendations issued by the 9/11 Commission in early August. While the Commission’s report contains beneficial analysis and recommendations, there are also proposals that, if enacted, would have a long-lasting and negative impact on the privacy and freedoms of future generations of Americans. Click here to get more information and to take action >> Return to top of page

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