Resolution of the General Assembly of the Town of Ward Expressing the Commitment of the Town of Ward to Civil Rights

WHEREAS, following the attacks on America of September 11, 2001 the Congress passed the USA Patriot Act (PL107-57) on October 26, 2001; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of the USA PATRIOT ACT expand the authority of the federal government to detain and investigate citizens and non-citizens and engage in electronic surveillance of citizens and non-citizens; and

WHEREAS, many people throughout communities across the nation, including Ward, are concerned that certain provisions in the USA Patriot Act threaten civil rights and liberties guaranteed under the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Ward is committed to the protection of civil rights and liberties for all people as expressed in the United States and the Colorado Constitutions;

Section 1. The Town of Ward has been, and remains, firmly committed to the protection of civil rights and civil liberties for all people.

Section 2. The Town of Ward affirms the following principles:

(1) Every person has the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure,
(2) Neither stops nor arrests may be made without establishing reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed,
(3) Every person has the right to free speech and freedom of association as provided for under the First Amendment of United States Constitution and court opinions thereon.
(4) Every person has the right to free speech and freedom of association as provided for under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and court opinions thereon.

Section 3. The Town of Ward Affirms its commitment to humans and civil rights, and to unbiased policing. The Town of Ward firmly adheres to the principle that no law enforcement agency, or other Town agency, may profile or discriminate against any person solely on the basis of ancestry, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender variance, marital status, physical or mental disability, or religion, nor shall Town of Ward agencies assist other agencies in practices that violate these policies.

Section 4. The Town of Ward affirms its strong opposition to terrorism, but also affirms that any efforts to end terrorism not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights an liberties of the people of Ward, the United States and the World.

Section 5. Upon passages by the General Assembly of the Town Clerk shall send copies of this Resolution to President George W. Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Senator Wayne Allard, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Representative Mark Udall and Governor Bill Owens.