News

[ 10/01/2003 ]
The next ABORDC meeting will be at Spider House - Sunday, October 5th at 6:30. See the schedule page for more info.

[ 9/26/2003 ]
Austin Texas City Council passed the resolution opposing the Patriot Act Just after 11pm on Thursday night. The council voted 4-0 in favor of the resolution.

[ 9/22/2003 ]
Upcoming City Council Meeting info for Sept. 25th - This is the day we've been waiting for so don't miss it!

[ 8/24/2003 ]
**Update on the resolution** The vote on the resolution has been postponed again. The next Council meeting for the resolution will be Thursday, Sept. 25th at 6:00pm.

Updated resolution! We've posted the council's official proposed resolution. Click here!

We have received a document containing some post-9/11 costs for Austin's homeland Security compliance. See your tax dollars at work.

[ 8/09/2003 ]
City Council Meeting - continued discussion of Patriot act and possible vote on resolution.
Click here for the agenda (see items #28)
Go to City Council on Thursday, August 14th at 10:00 A.M. to support the resolution, it's very important!
City council meets at the LCRA Headquarters, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd in the Hancock building board room. Click here for a map

[ 8/05/2003 ]
Resolution makes Austin City council Agenda! Thursday 8/7/2003 Click here for the agenda (see items #37 and #48)

Congressman Ron Paul Applauds Congressional Restrictions on Patriot Act

[ 4/30/2003 ]
A huge victory: Hawaii Legislature Becomes Nation’s First to Pass Pro-Civil Liberties Bill

[ 4/29/2003 ]

Recent Patriot Act Activity:

Patriot raid
An example of the USA Patriot Act in action

Recent Anti-Patriot Act activity:

Is the USA PATRIOT Act Hurting Our Rights?

City Council votes to consider joining opposition to federal Patriot Actl

City asks for U.S. review of Patriot Act

[ 4/2/2003 ]

Town Hall Meeting Huge Success! Between 300-400 people from all sides of the political spectrum turned out for the meeting. Panelists included:

• Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman
• Jim Hightower
• Ahmad Zamer of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
• Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project
• George Humphrey, author of Common Sense – an Intro to the Dangers of the New World Order
• Geoffrey Neale, Chairman of the Libertarian Party
• Mac Mckaskle of the ABORDC
• Representatives from NAACP, ACLU, City of Austin’s Human Rights Commission
• and a special presentation by Alex Jones

[ 4/1/2003 ]

Latest draft petition: Petition to Austin City Council [PDF]

We have just confirmed that the city of Austin has spent $16 million on homeland security measures since 9/11. While promises were made to reimburse such expenditures, we are now finding out that the federal government is backing out of this. This means that Austin taxpayers will have to foot the bill. We will post more on this as we get details.

We're just getting started so there isn't a lot to report yet. Our town hall meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st. Find out more on Schedule page.

Now that a war with Iraq is well under way, it's even more important now to defend the Bill of Rights. As rhetoric and talk of terrorist attacks continue, civil liberties will continue to be at risk.

Bill Moyers interviews Nat Hentoff: Transcript

Cities Urge Restraint in Fight Against Terror: New York Times

69 cities have passed resolutions to protect civil liberties. Check here for current local efforts