THREAD: In the weeks after 9-11 everyone was afraid.
Congress & the Bush administration exploited that fear to ram through the USA PATRIOT ACT, granting the government broad surveillance and detention authorities.
Twenty years later, we're still trying to get even basic reforms
Congress & the Bush administration exploited that fear to ram through the USA PATRIOT ACT, granting the government broad surveillance and detention authorities.
Twenty years later, we're still trying to get even basic reforms
Right now, people are understandably afraid of #COVID19.
But while we're stocking up on food & avoiding big events and washing our hands, we should also be preparing to organize en masse to oppose any attempts to exploit this public health crisis to crack down on civil liberties
But while we're stocking up on food & avoiding big events and washing our hands, we should also be preparing to organize en masse to oppose any attempts to exploit this public health crisis to crack down on civil liberties
Key provisions of the USA PATRIOT ACT are up for reauthorization.
The Trump admin has already teased the idea of more travel bans that are politically motivated, not about public safety.
We've seen increased censorship & surveillance in China & Russia in response to the virus
The Trump admin has already teased the idea of more travel bans that are politically motivated, not about public safety.
We've seen increased censorship & surveillance in China & Russia in response to the virus
Politicians rarely "let a good crisis go to waste."
It's not a matter of *if* there will be attempts to chip away at our basic freedom and human rights, it's a matter of *when* and *how.*
I'm afraid. We're all afraid. But we can't let our fear freeze us in place.
It's not a matter of *if* there will be attempts to chip away at our basic freedom and human rights, it's a matter of *when* and *how.*
I'm afraid. We're all afraid. But we can't let our fear freeze us in place.
If we give up our basic rights because of our fear, we may never get them back.
Decades later we still have the PATRIOT ACT, even though there's no evidence that surveillance makes us safer
We can't let that happen again. Be ready to fight together.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell…
Decades later we still have the PATRIOT ACT, even though there's no evidence that surveillance makes us safer
We can't let that happen again. Be ready to fight together.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell…
