Ashcroft Stop In NYC; 'Crass Politicking' Says People For the American Way

[Khephra]

Press release

Ashcroft Patriot Act Tour Stop In New York City; 'Crass Politicking' at Site of National Tragedy, Says People For the American Way

9/9/03 10:30:00 AM


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To: City Desk

Contact: Tarek Rizk or Nathan Richter, 202-467-4999; both of the People For the American Way Foundation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Attorney General John Ashcroft's traveling roadshow promoting the USA PATRIOT Act stops in New York City today, two days before the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and as sentiment is rising across the country - and across party lines - that the Ashcroft Justice Department is dangerous to civil liberties in America.

People For the American Way Foundation released a report today titled "Two Years After 9/11: Ashcroft's Assault on the Constitution." The report outlines the Ashcroft Justice Department's dangerous tactics in the war on terrorism, its disturbing civil rights record, its participation in the administration's judicial nomination strategies, and its attacks on the First Amendment, the role of career prosecutors and judicial independence.

"Ashcroft's stop here today is a cynical attempt to take advantage of the anniversary of a brutal national tragedy and to blunt the criticism the Justice Department has been receiving for months," said Deni Frand, executive director of the New York Office of People For the American Way. "The people of New York deserve better than John Ashcroft's crass politicking and the Justice Department's reckless assault on our constitutional rights."

In a misleading speech kicking off his tour last month, Ashcroft sounded a familiar refrain: the act is needed to prosecute the war on terrorism and remains within the bounds of the Constitution. While the Justice Department's new pro-PATRIOT Web site says the Act made only "modest, incremental changes in the law," there is a growing bipartisan consensus that the sweeping powers granted in the law must be reevaluated. More than 150 states and localities have passed resolutions resisting the PATRIOT Act's excesses.

"America needs an attorney general who will stand up to terrorists but will also stand up for the Constitution," said Ralph G. Neas, president of People For the American Way Foundation. "Unfortunately, John Ashcroft has proven all too willing to undermine Americans' constitutional rights and liberties. History has taught us that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. This is our moment to take a stand."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=114-09092003

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New Report Details Attacks on Civil Liberties and on Civil Rights Protections


John Ashcroft’s Assault on the Constitution

Under the direction of Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Department of Justice has undermined the constitutional rights of all Americans as it has prosecuted a war on terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to a new report released today by People For the American Way Foundation. At the same time, Ashcroft has continued to press his ideology into practice at the Justice Department, reversing the department’s position in civil rights cases, launching a campaign to threaten the independence of federal judges and second-guessing prosecutors on death penalty cases.

Download the report now.


http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=12025