Resolution of
the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
Condemning the Passage of the 2011 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes provisionsfor the indefinite military detention of US citizens
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Whereas, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law by President Obama on 12/31/11 included provisions allowing for indefinite military detention of US citizens classified or labeled as terrorist suspects without trial - provisions that shred the Bill of Rights - after amendments protecting US citizens were explicitly defeated, and;
Whereas, the President's signing statement insisting he does not intend to use such authoritarian powers does not alter the fact that the provisions allowing such powers are in this law and may later be used by him or future presidents, and;
Whereas, these provisions are the latest and worst yet of the continuing assault on our Civil Liberties and perhaps, the most dangerous for, as the Bill of Rights Defense Committee has said, "Under separate government powers expanded by the PATRIOT Act, non-violent dissent is increasingly classified as terrorism, soÑregardless of President Obama's caveats when signing the bill any future president could use the NDAA's detention powers as a tool of political repression.";
Therefore be it resolved that the WDRC go on record as condemning the passage of the 2011 NDAA which contains provisions allowing for indefinite military detention of US citizens without trial, and
Therefore be it further resolved, that we demand that Representatives, Senators and the President immediately pass and sign into law "The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011" introduced by Senator Feinstein in the SenateÊ - S.2003 - and by Congressman John Garamendi in the House - H.R.3702 - to undo these pernicious provisions of the NDAA so destructive to the civil liberties enshrined in our Constitution.
footnote:
The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011:
S. 2003, sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California), has been co-sponsored by 15 Senators <www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s2003/show>
H.R. 3702, sponsored by Congressmen John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) has been co-sponsored by 32 members of Congress <www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3702/show> and <http://garamendi.house.gov/2012/01/momentum-builds-for-garamendi-bill-preventing-indefinite-detention-of-american-citizens.shtml>
