Safe and Free

Throughout this country's history, the phrase "national security" has often been used as a pretext for massive violations of individual rights. The terrorist attacks on September 11 mobilized much of our country in the fight against terrorism. However, this wave of "anti-terrorist" activity, all in the name of national security, also launched one of the most serious civil liberties crises our nation has ever seen.

The USA PATRIOT Act and related government actions undercut many important checks and balances on government law enforcement and intelligence powers. Under this Act and other Administration actions that were taken without congressional involvement, the government can search your home without notifying you, can get a list of the books you have obtained from your library and your local bookstore and require your local librarian and bookseller to keep this hidden from you, can keep a file on how often you go to church, which churches you attend and the medications you use -- even if these activities have nothing to do with the fight against terrorism .

We should provide law enforcement with necessary tools to fight terrorism, but the USA PATRIOT Act and related government actions also gave the government many new powers that go beyond the fight against terrorism. Parts of the USA PATRIOT Act and other government actions take away checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that we are waging the war on terror to protect.

We must remember that an immutable characteristic of our nation is freedom. If we allow the interests of "national security" to take away our freedoms, we surrender what it is to be an American.

Background Documents and Reports

• May 26, 2005 >> ACLU Defends Milwaukee Peace Activist Facing Fine Over Iraq Travel Ban COMPLAINT pdf
• March 2, 2004 >> The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin hails the City of Milwaukee Common Council for adopting a resolution affirming civil rights and civil liberties. FULL STORY
• July 1, 2003 >> The Justice Department's Campaign to Mislead The Public About the USA PATRIOT Act PDF
• July 1, 2003 >> USA PATRIOT ACT One Page Summary PDF
• February 4, 2002 >> Crisis is Tense Time for Freedom of Expression: Remarks before Intellectual Freedom Institute PDF

Press Releases

• June 15, 2005 >> Legal Observer At Anti-War Protest Sues Milwaukee Police Over False Arrest FULL STORY
• May 26, 2005 >> ACLU Defends Milwaukee Peace Activist Facing Fine Over Iraq Travel Ban FULL STORY
• September 28, 2004 >> ACLU and American Conservative Union Launch New Ads, Right-Left Partnership Calls for No Expansions of Patriot Act FULL STORY
• September 9, 2004 >> ACLU of Wisconsin Presents on Civil Liberties Issues in Education at 2004 WEAC Statewide Convention FULL STORY
• August 23, 2004 >> ACLU of Wisconsin Defends Local Man Accused of Travel to Iraq FULL STORY
• May 26, 2004 >> ACLU Rejects Bush Administration Call to Remove PATRIOT Sunsets FULL STORY
• April 7, 2004 >> No-Fly Plaintiff’s Mistreatment Included Incident at Mitchell Field FULL STORY
• October 13, 2003 >> ACLU Asks City of Madison Mayor to provide details on the city's response to the USA PATRIOT Act FULL STORY
• October 24, 2001 >> Censorship, Detention, Surveillance: These Are The Times FULL STORY
• September 26, 2001 >> ACLU of Wisconsin encourages legislature to focus on ways to make us safer without damaging civil liberties FULL STORY
• September 23, 2001 >> Americans have to evaluate carefully "anti-terrorism" proposals that may have an impact on the civil liberties that protect our Freedom FULL STORY