U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

2004 NEWS RELEASES, PRESS ADVISORIES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION EXPLORES PATRIOT ACT, OTHER ANTI-TERRORISM EFFORTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS

The balance between homeland security and the preservation of civil rights will be explored March 19 by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights during a briefing on the USA Patriot Act and other anti-terrorism efforts. The Act, approved at the end of October 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, broadly expands law enforcement surveillance and investigative powers.

A panel of speakers will probe the impact of the Patriot Act, as well as other anti-terrorism efforts, including abuses of civil rights and new national security demands. Broadened police powers and racial and ethnic profiling will also be discussed.

Panelists include:

WHO:

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement.

WHEN: March 19, 2004, 10:30 AM
WHERE: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Headquarters
624 9th Street, NW
Room 540
Washington, DC
WHAT: Briefing on The Patriot Act and Related Anti-Terrorism Efforts

For more information about the Commission's March 19 briefing, including panelist biographies, please contact Shantelle Fowler 202/833-9771.

03/11/04