September 20, 2001 301-587-7442

THE RIGHT TO DISSENT CRUCIAL IN TIMES OF CRISIS

The First Amendment Foundation is deeply concerned and moved by the September 11 national tragedy - its impact in loss of loved ones, the wounding of our national psyche, the bravery of rescuers and airliner hostages, and the outpouring of support around the country, giving blood and aid and succor.

At the same time, as the government moves swiftly in its response, it must also move with care and caution where our fundamental liberties are concerned. The public must be heard in the process of making legislative changes, implementing security fixes. In the rush to repair perceived gaps in law and policy, there is a real danger that the government will put in place an agenda which bears little or no relation to the actual need. The effective and targeted changes that are needed can only be accomplished with full hearings, expertise from around the country and accurate information about what went wrong. Last week, this week and the next are too soon to make those careful judgements.

Further, there are differences of opinion about what those changes should be. Those differences need to be aired publicly, and those who express them must not be dismissed as "UnAmerican"or "soft on terrorism." Honorable people differ in their expert (and inexpert) opinions. They must all be allowed to speak out without being harassed by the majority and investigated and arrested by the government. At moments of crisis the right to dissent is more crucial than at any other time. People who look different, practice different religions, are immigrants or are dissenters are the warp and woof of our country. Making them targets of abuse or criminalizing their lawful activity will more damage the substance of the US than any act of heinousness like September 11.

The First Amendment Foundation is a sixteen year old constitution rights organization. Its purpose is to educate the public about the fluid nature of First Amendment rights; to maintain these rights the public must actively defend them. It uses the historical experience of its sister group, NCARL, to share lessons about the J. Edgar Hoover/McCarthy era, COINTELPRO and other abuses against large sectors of individuals and organizations.

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