[Libs-Or] Fighting for privacy: My time at the anti-NSA rally

[Diedre Conkling]

I just thought you would like this piece.



http://www.districtdispatch.org/2013/11/fighting-privacy-time-anti-nsa-rally/

Fighting for privacy: My time at the anti-NSA rally
Posted on November 4, 2013 by Jazzy Wright

*Last week, ALA Press Officer Jazzy Wright marched in the Stop Watching Us
privacy rally, which many say was the largest protest to date against NSA
monitoring.*

Author Margaret Mead once said "Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world." That was the feeling
I carried with me on October 26, 2013, when I joined thousands of activists
in Washington, D.C., for the Stop Watching
Us<https://optin.stopwatching.us/>civil liberties protest. Held on the
12th anniversary of the signing of the
PATRIOT Act, the protest aimed to put an end to mass, suspicion-less
surveillance. As we marched uphill to the U.S. Capitol, I couldn't help but
notice the magnitude of the group walking and chanting along with me. This
was one of the largest protests I'd ever participated in! What was also
striking was the diversity among the protestors--activists young and old,
black and white called on the government to curtail unconstitutional
government surveillance.

When we arrived at the Capitol Front Lawn, it also became clear that
political affiliations were irrelevant-this rally was about protecting
democracy. Conservative, liberal, independent and libertarian activists
crossed party lines (in Washington of all places) to denounce the actions
of the National Security Agency and reclaim their rights to privacy. Civil
liberties champion Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) was one of the first speakers
to address the crowd, calling for more transparency and accountability from
the U.S. government. Over the next hour, the crowd heard from writer Naomi
Wolf, libertarian Gary Johnson and whistleblower Thomas Drake.

Later, Government Accountability Project Director Jesselyn Radack read a
letter from whistleblower Edward Snowden to the audience. In the letter,
Snowden thanked the protestors for their work to uphold the constitution.
"This isn't about red or blue party lines, and it definitely isn't about
terrorism," Snowden said.

As the day continued, many speakers discussed plans to continue the fight
to end unlawful government spying. Much of the conversation steered to the USA
FREEDOM Act<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2013/10/new-freedom-act-reform-patriot-act/>,
a proposed bill that would reform the USA PATRIOT Act Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act by placing restrictions on bulk phone and internet
government surveillance.

The bicameral bill--which was written by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who
ironically also wrote the PATRIOT Act-- has already gathered a high level of
bipartisan support. Since the bill was introduced on Tuesday, many of the
bill's cosponsors were the same legislators who voted "no" on the Amash
Amendment this summer. This is a great time for change, indeed.

I am hopeful that our calls for action will lead to surveillance reform. As
I write this, the American Library Association is encouraging ALA members,
library supporters and privacy advocates to tell their U.S. representatives
and senators to cosponsor the Freedom Act. Take the small
action<http://www.ala.org/takeaction>to call or email your
representative today because our democracy depends on
your efforts.





http://www.districtdispatch.org/2013/11/fighting-privacy-time-anti-nsa-rally/

-- 
*Diedre Conkling*




*Lincoln County Library DistrictP.O. Box 2027Newport, OR 97365Phone & Fax:
541-265-3066Work email**:
**diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

 "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude."--Maya Angelou
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