Santa Cruz, California opposes NDAA detention

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (April 18, 2012) – Add the Santa Cruz City Council to the growing number of local governments directly opposing detention provisions without due process written into sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Mayor Don Lane sponsored theResolution to Restore Due Process and Right to Trial, along with two councilmember cosponsors, Ryan
Coonerty and Katherine Beiers. The resolution passed unanimously on April 10.

The resolution begins with the precept that the Constitution serves as the foundation for rights and freedoms in the United States.

These provisions of the NDAA corrode the ideals of presumed innocence and right to a fair trial on which our nation was founded, and which generations of activists and military servicemen and women have fought to preserve; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz that it hereby supports repeal of the NDAA’s detention provisions described above to restore fundamental rights and liberties embodied in the Constitution of the United States.

The Santa Cruz City Council will forward a copy of the resolution to Congressman Sam Farr, U.S Senator Boxer and U.S. Senator Feinstein.

Activists Aldo and Viktoria Vidali worked tirelessly to get the resolution opposing the NDAA passed in Santa Cruz. Using the model resolution created by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, the Vidali’s approached the council and presented their case. Once the resolution made it onto the agenda, the two activists rallied support through their website, drafting a sample letter for constituents to send to their councilmembers.

Santa Cruz has shown itself nationally to be a shining example of civic courage and constitutional awareness. In 1998, the Santa Cruz community declared itself a nuclear-free zone; in 2002, the City Council of Santa Cruz issued a proclamation opposing the USA Patriot Act; and in 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first City Council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. Please know that I am very, very proud of the Santa Cruz community, and the Santa Cruz City Council, for your progressive thinking and actions.

But our work – your work – continues, for today we’re called on to reject the monstrous illegal breach of our constitutional guarantees of due process: the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA)…

This law is brazenly and dangerously unconstitutional, a treasonous assault on our Republic and on Democracy, and a peril to each of us and our children. It overturns over 200 years of law, which has kept the military out of domestic policing (the Posse Comitatus) and opens the floodgates to a Nazi-style police state. This extremely frightening step toward tyranny for our Republic and the impending destruction of Democracy must be uncompromisingly rejected by our community.

“The Vidalis demonstrate the power and effectiveness of local grassroots activism,” Tenth Amendment Center communications director Mike Maharrey said. “Multiply their efforts across the United States and imagine what we could get done.”

Santa Cruz joins 11 other local and county governments taking action against the NDAA detention provisions.

“Federal issues impact local people at the grassroots level in very concrete ways. And when communities stand up against unconstitutional acts – this is one of the only avenues citizens have left for resisting,” Viktoria Vidali said.

To track Liberty Preservation legislation across the U.S., click HERE.

For model legislation to present to your local government, click HERE.

For model NDAA nullification legislation at the state level, click HERE.