WHEREAS, Congress passed the so-called USA PATRIOT Act (PL 107-56) on October 26, 2001, following the horrific attacks on America of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, many provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other related Federal orders and measures may pose a threat to the civil rights and civil liberties of the residents of King County, particularly to those who are immigrants, are Muslim or of Arab or South Asian descent, by potentially:

1. Reducing judicial supervision of telephone and Internet surveillance.
2. Expanding the government's power to conduct secret searches without warrants.
3. Granting power to the Secretary of State to designate domestic groups, including political and religious groups, as "terrorist organizations".
4. Granting power to the Attorney General to subject non-citizens to indefinite detention or deportation even if they have not committed a crime.
5. Granting the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) access to sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals without having to show evidence of a crime.
6. Granting the FBI the power to compel libraries and bookstores to produce circulation or book purchase records of their patrons, and forbidding disclosure that such records have been requested and produced; and

WHEREAS, King County is proud of its long and distinguished tradition of protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all its residents and affirming the fundamental rights of all people; and

WHEREAS, the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of the State of Washington guarantee all people living in King County freedom of speech, assembly and privacy, equality before the law and the presumption of innocence, access to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; and

WHEREAS, the preservation of civil rights and civil liberties is a pillar of American society and is essential to the well-being of any democracy, particularly during times of conflict when such rights and liberties may be threatened under false pretense of national security or patriotic zeal; and

WHEREAS, King County denounces terrorism, and acknowledges that federal, state and local governments have a responsibility to protect the public from terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, the King County Council believes that residents of this County and this nation can be both safe and free; and

WHEREAS, over a 155 cities, towns, and counties and the States of Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont have enacted resolutions reaffirming support for civil rights and liberties in response to the USA PATRIOT Act and other government policies that threaten these values

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL, THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE CONCURRING, THAT WE:

AFFIRM King County's abhorrence of, and opposition to global terrorism.

AFFIRM King County's support for the fundamental, constitutionally protected civil rights and liberties of all our residents, and oppose those measures that infringe upon such civil rights and liberties or that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, religion, ethnicity or immigration status.

RESOLVE that King County opposes any unconstitutional acts against its residents under the USA PATRIOT Act, including invasion of privacy, expanded surveillance, and denial of due process that may come from application of the USA PATRIOT Act.