Despite the stormy weather, a dozen people gathered at the Bangor Public Library on Monday afternoon to commemorate Bill of Rights Day. The gathering was organized by the Greater Bangor Area Bill of Rights Defense Committee to bring attention to the dangers of the USA Patriot Act. After a brief introduction, a statement of support from Representative Michael Michaud was read in which he wrote: “As a government, I want us to do our duty – to BOTH protect American lives and avoid the pitfalls of overstepping constitutional boundaries.” Then a group of members performed a short skit describing how the USA Patriot Act violates the rights guaranteed by the first, fourth, fifth and sixth amendments by allowing secret surveillance of private records and detention of suspects without a charge.
The committee plans to work to pass city council resolutions to protect civil rights, since they feel is the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that its residents feel safe and protected by just laws from unfair treatment, invasion of privacy without probable cause, and detentions without charges and in secrecy.

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