home > resources > archive ACLU of Utah Activist Email Newsletter: September 2004 In this issue: Stop the Expansion of the USA PATRIOT Act Fighting For Marriage: an ACLU Online Toolkit Utah Voter Rights and Responsibilities ACLU of Utah Files Suit Challenging Sign Ordinance Local Event: Freedom of Expression Festival Stop the Expansion of the USA PATRIOT Act: Contact Senator Hatch and Representative Cannon Under the guise of implementing the recommendations of July’s 9/11 Commission Report, Attorney General John Ashcroft and his allies in Congress are aggressively pursuing legislation that goes far beyond what the commission proposed and infringes on the rights of Americans and foreign guests. Late last Friday, the House of Representatives introduced the latest and most alarming version of this type of legislation. If passed, the “9/11 Commission Implementation Act” (H.R. 10) would expand the USA PATRIOT Act, create what amounts to a national identification card, and drastically curtail basic fairness in our immigration system. This bill is currently before the House Committee on Government Reform – of which Utah Congressman Chris Cannon is a member – and this committee may have the power to remove the bill’s most offensive provisions. In the senate, the leading legislation is the Collins-Lieberman “National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004” (S. 2845), which closely mirrors the 9/11 Commission’s findings, and at the present time, does not contain provisions from the draft “PATRIOT II” legislation leaked from the Justice Department last year. As a senior senator, Senator Orrin Hatch can help stop those who want to amend this bill on the floor to expand the PATRIOT Act. Senator Hatch and Representative Cannon are key figures in these debates and can influence the outcome of both of these bills. They need to hear from you! Click here to read more about H.R. 10 and to send an action alert to your representative. To contact Senator Hatch, call (801) 524-4380 or email him from his website. To contact Representative Cannon, call (800) 571-2971 or email him at cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov. View the advertisement running in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News urging Senator Hatch not to expand the PATRIOT Act. Fighting For Marriage: an ACLU Online Toolkit On Monday, the national ACLU launched Fighting For Marriage, an online resource designed to give local activists the tools they need to defeat proposals such as Utah’s Amendment 3, which would write discrimination into our State Constitution. The toolkit provides practical advice and resources designed to make the case for, and counter arguments against, marriage equality. Some of the resources included in the toolkit are: talking points in support of marriage equality and against anti-gay relationship amendments; successful lobbying strategies; arguments for countering opponents’ rhetoric; resources to aid in building local coalitions to defeat anti-gay amendments; ideas for community mobilization; and advice on how same-sex couples can protect their relationships. The toolkit will be especially helpful for those who are fighting to defeat Utah’s discriminatory marriage amendment. Learn more about the toolkit and the resources it provides. Utah Voter Rights and Responsibilities The right to vote and to have one’s vote accurately and fairly counted is as fundamental a right as we have in this country. In order to empower you as a voter and help you avoid problems at the polls, the ACLU of Utah has compiled information on relevant state election laws that detail your rights and responsibilities as a voter. Check out the ACLU of Utah Voter Empowerment Sheet and other important information. ACLU of Utah Files Suit Challenging Sign Ordinance On September 14, the ACLU of Utah filed a complaint in Federal District Court challenging as unconstitutional a Draper City ordinance that impermissibly places durational time limits on political campaign signs according to the content of the signs. In part, the ordinance prohibits the display of many candidates’ signs on private property more than thirty days prior to the general election. The suit called for an immediate temporary restraining order to prohibit Draper from enforcing the ordinance because it unconstitutionally interferes with free expression and political speech as defined by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Utah Constitution. Less than 48 hours after the complaint and request for an injunction were filed, Draper City agreed not to enforce the offending ordinance between September 15 and November 2, 2004, Election Day. All other issues in the suit are reserved for further consideration and resolution at a later date. Click here to find out more about the case and to read a copy of the complaint. Local Event: Freedom of Expression Festival This Friday, October 1 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., the ACLU of Utah will join Mayor Rocky Anderson and KRCL 90.9 FM at the Freedom of Expression Festival. The nonpartisan and free event will take place at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City (400 South 200 East) and will feature a “soapbox” forum where political candidates and citizens can share their perspectives and platforms. The festival will feature music from The Debbie Graham Band, The Motherless Cowboys, Chubby Bunny, and The Tolchock Trio. For more information about the Freedom of Expression Festival, contact Ryan Tronier at (801) 363-1818 or at ryant@krcl.org. Visit the ACLU of Utah information table while you are there! Return to top of page

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