>Denver Bows Out Of 'Patriot Act' And 'War On Terror'
>
>3-22-2
>
>DENVER - The local government here officially threw its lot
>in with Portland, Ore. and a handful of other municipalities
>around the country, passing a resolution Monday night
>discouraging police from enforcing new anti-terror
>legislation if doing so would interfere with peoples' civil
>rights.
>
>A non-binding resolution passed by the city council in
>response to the federal USA Patriot Act discourages Denver
>police from investigating groups or individuals based on
>their country of origin or immigration status. The
>resolution bars police from assisting in parts of the
>federal government's anti-terrorism campaign.
>
>Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie, who co-sponsored the
>resolution, said the measure urges police not to go too far
>in the wake of Sept. 11.
>
>"In this city, it's not a crime to have dark skin," she
>said. "It's not a crime to be from a different country. It's
>not a crime to express unpopular views."
>
>The move comes a week after revelations that Denver police
>officials have been keeping secret files on protest groups
>like Amnesty International, anti-globalization protestors
>and the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group.
>
>The American Civil Liberties Union, which revealed that the
>files were being kept, said the police department had some
>3,200 files on individuals and 208 files on organizations
>dating to about 1999. Following the revelation, Mayor
>Wellington Webb reprimanded police officials and said they
>had interpreted city policy too broadly.
>
>Targeting some citizens for surveillance and ignoring others
>because of their race or national origin didn't sit well
>with everyone on the council, however. The resolution passed
>by a 7-4 margin after nearly two hours of debate in front of
>a standing-room-only audience.
>
>Among the opponents of the resolution was Councilman Ed
>Thomas, who said the new police powers are needed for public
>safety and that it would unnecessarily tie the hands of
>Denver police.
>
>"If you think this is the last terrorist act in this country
>you are sadly mistaken," said Thomas, a former police
>officer. "I think it's inappropriate to not remember the
>people who died 9/11 and that's exactly what we are doing."
>
>Councilwoman Cathy Reynolds called the measure "poppycock,"
>and complained that people around the country would view
>Denver in a "bad light" if it passed.
>
>A handful of other cities, including Portland, Ore., have
>questioned the scope of the USA Patriot law, which expands
>law enforcement's surveillance and investigative powers in
>order to combat domestic and international terrorism.
>Portland officials refused to help federal authorities
>interview people about the terrorist attacks.
>
>Although Denver's resolution doesn't have the force of law,
>supporters on the council said Mayor Webb has indicated he
>likely will make it part of the police operations.
>
>The resolution was proposed by the All Nations Alliance, a
>group that made a name for itself protesting the city's
>annual Columbus Day parade as a celebration of genocide
>against Native Americans.
>
>The Associated Press contributed to this report
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