Posted on 06/10/2004 2:08:47 PM PDT by lilylangtree
SEATTLE--The American Civil Liberties Union is experiencing record-high membership, and membership in the Washington state chapter has increased at a greater rate than any other state in the country.
The state chapter's membership jumped from 10,000 to nearly 20,000 between 2001 and 2004--an increase the group largely attributes to a backlash against the Patriot Act.
The act expanded the government's surveillance and detention powers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since its adoption, more than 250 town councils, village boards and city governments across the country have passed resolutions of protest.
Before the act was passed, about 60 invitations a year were sent to the ACLU's downtown Seattle office from schools and clubs requesting speakers to discuss civil liberties. By 2003, that number had tripled, with most seeking someone to explain the Bush administration's new homeland security laws.
"It's because of (U.S. Attorney General) John Ashcroft more than anything else," said Doug Honig, a spokesman for the state chapter of the organization--a network of lawyers and others dedicated to defending personal privacy, due to process and political freedom.
"People really feel that their rights are under fire, so for us, these are the worst, but also the best, of times."
The ACLU--which has 400,000 dues-paying members nationwide--also saw spikes in membership during the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. But the recent jump in membership has surprised even veteran staff members.
"Whenever the body politic gets uneasy about what the government is doing, we see a rise, but nothing like this, to be sure," said Jerry Sheehan, who has been a lobbyist with the state group for 21 years.
The 'disloyal opposition'....the 'enemy within'
Who is dumb enough to support the ACLU? The organization is interested in the destruction of this nation - and supports NAMBLA!
Lying fear-mongering scared the sheeple for them as well as it did for Hitler.
I know. Seattle (King County) and Snohomish County where the densest population is liberal leftist communist DEMONCRATS. This explains why the WA State has been saddled with a demoncRAT liberal governor, two demoncRAT federal senators and control over the House side of the state legislature. They're killing us.
What will they say when the 9/11 Commission concludes how necessary this act is?
That will be seriesly hugh.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next meteor (or whatever that was last week) hits dead center (missing the FReepers, of course).
Now that's my kinda thinkin' too. The state desperately needs help. With Seattle dumped into the ocean (minus the freepers of course), heck we freepers can take back the state and do a better job of running it.
Three years ago they purged the rolls of members who weren't paid up.
I wonder how much longer it'll be before the ACLU decrees that the name Washington is offensive to women, minorities, and Muslims? I'm sure McDermott and Murray would support changing the name to something more inclusive...like Mohammed.
There has been obviously a mission to do that and it should be met in kind by conservatives in that state to grow conservatism.
The state chapter's membership jumped from 10,000 to nearly 20,000 between 2001 and 2004--an increase the group largely attributes to a backlash against the Patriot Act.
I would like to know who joined and the source of funds? But remember folks, who is the source of this info?
If we get a demoncRAT president in again, I may seriously contemplate joining. Which I can only imagine their membership rolls will be seriously depleted should a demoncRAT take the presidency.
Lordamercy, I'm sure frightened of that thought.
Just try to warn Clemenza first.
Between Squishy Dem Locke and Squishy RINO Pataki-feller, I think its a wash as far as governors are concerned.
Have you checked out Dino Rossi (R gub. candidate) yet?
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