WiserEarth Suggestions

Overview

Founded in November 2001, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC) is helping hundreds of communities across the country participate in an ongoing national debate about civil liberties and antiterrorism legislation that threaten liberties, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, Homeland Security Act, and several federal executive orders. As the Northampton (MA) Bill of Rights Defense Committee, we engaged in public education and debate about antiterrorism legislation and the Bill of Rights and worked with the Northampton (MA) city council on a resolution to protect those rights, which the council passed unanimously. We have used our web site to document similar efforts, and to provide information, materials, and assistance to other groups.

Our Mission

BORDC's mission is to promote, organize, and support a diverse, effective, national grassroots movement to restore and protect civil rights and liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Our purpose is to educate people about the significance of those rights in our lives; to encourage widespread civic participation; and to cultivate and share the organizing tools and strategies needed for people to convert their concern, outrage, and fear into debate and action to restore Bill of Rights protections.

Our Vision and Values

Every person under U.S. jurisdiction or control is entitled to Bill of Rights protections. At all times and especially when federal, state, or local governments propose or enact laws or policies that threaten or deny those rights, the people organize, exercising those same rights in the service of protecting them. Most people understand that the country cannot be made safer by sacrificing some rights for all or part of its population. When the people know and exercise their rights, the liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights hold firm and remain self-sustaining.

BORDC is guided by the Bill of Rights, which was adopted to limit the power of the state over individuals and to preserve basic human and individual rights for every person under U.S. jurisdiction or control, even in times of war or other national crises, and regardless of who holds elected power. The standards of the Bill of Rights define the fundamental protections for every person in our society, namely:

• First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to dissent;
• Liberty from unwarranted government intrusion;
• Nondiscrimination and equal protection of the law;
• The expectation of privacy, and protection from unreasonable search and seizure;
• Due process of law and freedom from arbitrary imprisonment via habeas corpus;
• A speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; and
• Protection from cruel and unusual punishment.