A resolution for the City of Santa Monica to go on record opposing a possible pre-emptive war with Iraq was added to the agenda of the Santa Monica City Council in only the last few days. It was not expected to pass. MANY people from the community showed up and spoke eloquently for the impact a war would have on our city. Among those who spoke were many impassioned Santa Monica high school students. The resolution PASSED 5 to 7!!!!

Also, there was a resolution affirming Santa Monica's commitment to civil liberties and supporting unabrogated City protection for Constitutional rights in response to the Patriot Act. IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY!!!

And, if that weren't enough, there was a request that the Council adopt a resolution urging the full legal recognition of same-sex marriages under California law and THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY!

Strike a night for democracy!

Peace,
Tanna Moontaro

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AFFIRMING THE CITY'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO CIVIL LIBERTIES, OPPOSING THE USA PATRIOT ACT AND RELATED ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES, AND SUPPORTING UNABROGATED CITY PROTECTION FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution guarantees all persons living in the United States fundamental rights including freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; protection from unreasonable searches and seizures; due process and equal protection; and access to counsel, presumption of innocence and a fair, speedy public trial; and

WHEREAS, a great crime against humanity occurred on September 11, 2001, resulting in new federal laws and enforcement powers, including the USA PATRIOT ACT signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001; and

WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT ACT appears to weaken or contradict the above-mentioned Constitutional rights; and

WHEREAS, Department of Justice interpretations of this Act and Executive Orders under the Act appear to particularly target Muslims, people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent and citizens of other nations, thereby encouraging racial and ethnic profiling; and

WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica proudly houses a diverse population, including many citizens of other nations, whose contributions to our community are vital to its character and function; and

WHEREAS, the PATRIOT Act significantly expands the government'S ability to access sensitive medical, mental health, financial and educational records about individuals, lowers the burden of proof required to conduct secret searches and telephone or internet surveillances, increases federal law enforcement authority to obtain library records and prohibits librarians from informing patrons of monitoring or information requests; and

WHEREAS, our own Santa Monica Public Library Board has discussed concerns regarding how our community might protect patrons1 rights to privacy and confidentiality while using City of Santa Monica public facilities; and

WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has a history of providing leadership in upholding Constitutional rights and preventing the abuse of the civil rights of its residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica affirms its abhorrence for and opposition to terrorism, but also insists that efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of fundamental civil rights.

SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica affirms its commitment to the rights of all people, including those of various ethnicities and citizenships, and to reasonable and proper expectations of individual privacy when using community facilities such as our Public Library.

SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica opposes any part of or implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act, Justice Department directives and Executive Orders which contravene the civil rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

SECTION 4. The City Council affirms the existing legal responsibility and policy of the City of Santa Monica to uphold the United States Constitution and to scrupulously observe the civil rights and civil liberties of individuals in the delivery of City services and the execution of municipal obligations. Nothing in the USA PATRIOT Act shall be interpreted as abrogating that responsibility or altering that policy.

SECTION 5. The City Council calls upon all private citizens and organizations, including residents, employers, educators and business owners, to demonstrate similar respect for civil rights and civil liberties, especially but not limited to conditions of employment and cooperation with PATRIOT Act investigations.

SECTION 6. The City of Santa Monica calls upon United State Representative Henry Waxman and United States Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to vigilantly monitor the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act and associated Orders, and to actively work for the repeal of those sections of the Act and those Orders that violate fundamental rights and liberties as stated in the United States Constitution and its Amendments.

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sent by Leone Hankey, Coalition For World Peace:

By a 5 -2 vote about 12:45 a.m. this morning, the Santa Monica City Council passed the following resolution:

Proposed RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SANTA MONICA OPPOSING UNITED STATES PREEMPTIVE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ

WHEREAS, the government has estimated that a war would cost from 60 to 200 billion dollars, not including a post-war occupation, resulting in less federal funding for education, health care, transportation, job training, housing, and environmental concerns in a time of increasing need for residents of Santa Monica; and

WHEREAS, at $100 billion, as calculated by the National Priorities Project, a war will cost the State of California at least $10.1 billion in individual income taxes, and the City of Santa Monica $36.1 million, at a time when the state already suffers from at least a $25 billion deficit, further decreasing available funds to support local needs; and

WHEREAS, as of February 11, 2003, more than 70 United States cities and counties, along with the Maine Senate and Hawaiian House of Representatives, have taken a stand against a preemptive military action against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, a war is expected by the CIA to provoke terrorist attacks within the United States, putting Santa Monica lives at grave risk and generating emergency responses by local hospitals and other emergency personnel that will tax local resources; and

WHEREAS, a war would likely result in a loss of visitor and tourist dollars, an important source of Santa Monica City revenue; and

WHEREAS, a war would result in military casualties, including United States and, likely, Santa Monica service men and women. Additionally, a war would result in widespread environmental destruction; and

WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has sought to promote nonviolence among its young people;

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