Diverse group works to keep Patriot Act out of Idaho

[Judi Lynn]

Sunday 08-03-2003

Diverse group works to keep Patriot Act out of Idaho

Put pacifists, gun-rights advocates, pro-choice supporters and anti-abortion activists in a room and try to find a political viewpoint they all agree on.
It could take a while.

But bring up the USA Patriot Act — a national law, designed to fight terrorism, that critics contend erodes basic civil liberties — and they may start nodding in agreement.

Such is the case with the Boise Patriots, a group whose diverse members hope to keep the Patriot Act from being implemented in Idaho.

“It may only be when our core civil liberties are under attack that we´ll see such a groundswell of activism come out of the woodwork,” said Jack Van Valkenburgh, executive director of ACLU-Idaho. “I don´t think we´ve ever had an issue that´s brought such a broad cross-section of groups together.” (snip/...)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/story.asp?ID=45828