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News Release |
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Representatives Bernie Sanders and Barbara Lee
Discuss the Freedom to Read Protection Act What:
Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and library advocates discuss the “Freedom to Read Protection Act,” Rep. Sanders’ legislation that would amend the Patriot Act to restore legal standards for investigations of libraries and bookstores. The Patriot Act now allows the FBI to search their records without a traditional search warrant. This is the first legislation that has been introduced in the House of Representatives to amend the Patriot Act and is being
supported by a nation-wide grass roots coalition of librarians, booksellers, privacy and civil liberties advocates and citizens.
When:
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Time:
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Where:
Koret Auditorium, Lower Level, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
WHO:
Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) Susan Hildreth, San Francisco City Librarian Bay Area librarians and booksellers INFO:
This program is co-sponsored by the California Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee. Press conference immediately following.
CONTACT:
Gabrielle Jones, 415 557-4282 (San Francisco Library Public Relations Officer) or Joel Barkin (Press Secretary – Rep. Sanders) 202 225-4115, Stuart Chapman (Press Secretary – Rep. Lee) 202 225-2661
Background: The USA Patriot Act, enacted in October 2001, gives law enforcement agencies authority to obtain library and bookseller patron records, to secretly monitor electronic communications, and prohibits libraries and booksellers from informing users of such requests. A growing number of local jurisdictions, including the City and County of San Francisco and other Bay Area libraries and cities, oppose this provision of the law. The Freedom to Read Protection Act is the first legislation that has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would amend the Patriot Act to restore legal standards for investigations of libraries and bookstores. The Legislation currently has 105 bi-partisan co-sponsors.
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