2008 Woodie Awards
Patriot Act Goes to the Library
Librarians come to Bailey/Howe and tell of their resistance to the Patriot Act and the FBI
Jessica Bartlett Cynic Correspondent
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: News
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One would never think that four librarians from Connecticut would be the ones to resist a federal law. However, Peter Chase and George Christian were two such people. Pre-senting a lecture at the Bailey /Howe Library on March 20th, Chase and Christian discussed their personal confrontation with the Patriot Act.
After receiving a National Security letter from the FBI requesting information about one of their patrons, Chase and Christian, as well as two other Connecticut librarians, refused to comply. The letter they received was equipped with a gag order that, if broken, would land the four of them in prison for up to 5 years. The librarians were irate.
The Patriot Act, enacted by George W. Bush on Oct. 26, 2001 after the tragedy of September 11, entitles the FBI to confidential information without any judicial warrant. Initially meant to serve as a means to fight terrorism, with its ability to attain private information so easily, it has many questioning its constitutionality as well as its moral integrity.
The legislation has been sweeping. Its mission is to be "uniting and strengthening America to intercept terrorism." However, many see it as not only an infringement on their privacy, but also as a threat to their civil liberties.
These two Connecticut librarians wanted no part in it.
"They [the FBI] wanted us to sell our patrons out, in the dark of night. No one else would know about it," Peter Chase, one of the four librarians to give the lecture, said.
"They have the complete right to pry into anyone's life," added George Christian the other Connecticut librarian to attend the lecture.
Article 11-25 of the confidentiality records of the Connecticut Library contradicts the Patriot Act, stating, "personally identifiable information contained in the circulation records shall remain confidential."
Based on this, and its unconstitutional restriction on speech, the four librarians brought the matter to court as anonymous plaintiffs. Word of their resistance spread like wild fire, causing newspapers and magazines alike to question the identity of this "John Doe" Connecticut. Chase, although an authority on civil liberties as a chairman on the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the Connecticut Library Association, was unable to comment on the bill due to his gag order.
After receiving a National Security letter from the FBI requesting information about one of their patrons, Chase and Christian, as well as two other Connecticut librarians, refused to comply. The letter they received was equipped with a gag order that, if broken, would land the four of them in prison for up to 5 years. The librarians were irate.
The Patriot Act, enacted by George W. Bush on Oct. 26, 2001 after the tragedy of September 11, entitles the FBI to confidential information without any judicial warrant. Initially meant to serve as a means to fight terrorism, with its ability to attain private information so easily, it has many questioning its constitutionality as well as its moral integrity.
The legislation has been sweeping. Its mission is to be "uniting and strengthening America to intercept terrorism." However, many see it as not only an infringement on their privacy, but also as a threat to their civil liberties.
These two Connecticut librarians wanted no part in it.
"They [the FBI] wanted us to sell our patrons out, in the dark of night. No one else would know about it," Peter Chase, one of the four librarians to give the lecture, said.
"They have the complete right to pry into anyone's life," added George Christian the other Connecticut librarian to attend the lecture.
Article 11-25 of the confidentiality records of the Connecticut Library contradicts the Patriot Act, stating, "personally identifiable information contained in the circulation records shall remain confidential."
Based on this, and its unconstitutional restriction on speech, the four librarians brought the matter to court as anonymous plaintiffs. Word of their resistance spread like wild fire, causing newspapers and magazines alike to question the identity of this "John Doe" Connecticut. Chase, although an authority on civil liberties as a chairman on the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the Connecticut Library Association, was unable to comment on the bill due to his gag order.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
msfreeh
posted 3/27/07 @ 7:22 PM EST
if only Librarians had bought these books for their patrons
a species that hires bodyguards to protect it looses the ability to protect itself and is doomed to extinction
CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE F. (Continued…)
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