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Hawkeye Area Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa
February 10, 2008 Board Meeting Activity
ACLU-Iowa Board Report (Dave Muller): New board members: Marti Puls from Davenport as Quad Cities Chapter Rep, Jesse Martinez from Cedar Rapids, to replace Bob Haug.
The Legislative committee held a long meeting, took positions on Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) act, videotaping of custodial interviews*, Private Right of Action*, Prison Construction, finger printing of day care providers, Real ID. (Starred items were voted priority issues by board.)
Marty Ryan won the Fifth Annual [2007] Political Action Award given by the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, accompanied by a Certificate of Recognition signed by Governor Culver & Lt. Governor Judge, for involvement and leadership in the political arena.
The Annual Gift Campaign is $27,600 short of $200,000 goal, and will come in about last year’s level. There was a celebration of successes of campaign, with special recognition of Chia-Hsing Lu!
Conference on Civil Liberties, April 12: A volunteer sign-up sheet was circulated. Caroline Fredrickson, ACLU Legislative Director, will be guest speaker for dinner. Three tracks at the civil liberties conference: Habeas Corpus, Reproduction Rights, Voting Rights.
Two Iowa high school seniors wrote essays and applied for $5000 college scholarship for ACLU Student Activist Scholarship Program. (15 awards are available; each affiliate with a winner receives $5000 match. Winners are to be announced this month.)
ACLU-IA received a $7000 grant for the ACLU Felon Enfranchisement Project of the Racial Justice Program for 2008. Funds will be used for a “Get Back Your Right To Vote” campaign to inform and encourage ex-offenders to restore their citizenship rights under Vilsack’s executive order.
The National members’ conference will be held, June 8-10.
Legal: Randall Wilson has served 20 years with ACLU, 2nd longest in nation Randall will be part of panel on the National board on how to run a legal program. The 8th Circuit upheld Judge Pratt in American’s United case (Faith Based Initiative at Newton prison), except they don’t have to give the money back. We lost the Davenport speeding camera case; an appeal will be heard at Drake, March 11 and can be watched on Internet.
National Board Report from Kelley Putman: The Committee is working to write a unified affirmative action policy. The annual AA Survey reflects our policy, which is a hodge-podge because of many changes through the years.
Legacy matching gift money was extended through May ’09. 50% goes back to Iowa (up from 37.5%).
Ben Stone responded to a press conference called by “Everyday America” to impeach Judge Robert Hanson.
Old Business
- Hawkeye Chapter Website: Contact information for Board members is now on the site, but Reiter suggested that clearer guidance should be provided on how to click on the relevant links.
- New Board Member to Replace LaSeur: Givens has tried, without success, to contact Elizabeth Sparks to see whether she’d be interested. [Sparks was later contacted, agreed to serve, and was appointed to the Board.]
- Police Review Board: Dieterle reported that the PCRB would hold extra fora if asked to by citizens, and that they already do have the officers against whom complaints are filed identified by a numerical code. Abel added that in executive session, the names of complainants are provided. Givens asked whether any IC officer has ever been disciplined. Dieterle replied that one was dismissed. Abel mentioned that the PCRB regularly reviews changes in the Police Department’s manual of rules and procedures. Abel will check on current policy concerning the minimum age of a resident who can consent to have police admitted to a residence, and on policies constraining the drawing of a firearm by police.
New Business
- Impeachment of Bush and Cheney: Fales introduced a motion, based upon a resolution passed by the Central Susquehanna Chapter of the ACLU of Pennsylvania calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney (for their text, see AfterDowningStreet.org: Another ACLU Chapter Backs Impeachment):
WHEREAS: Vice President Richard B. Cheney and President George W. Bush may have deliberately, knowingly, and maliciously violated the provisions of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States. And,
WHEREAS: Vice President Richard B. Cheney and President George W. Bush may have deliberately, knowingly, and maliciously violated the provisions of Article One, Section 9 (The right of habeas corpus) of the Constitution of the United States. And,
WHEREAS: Vice President Richard B. Cheney and President George W. Bush have directly or indirectly acknowledged to having directed numerous actions that are contrary to the principles and Constitution of the United States of America, including the use of torture on prisoners, the creation of “extraordinary rendition,” the implementation of warrantless and illegal wiretapping, the suppression of freedom of expression and due process, and the destruction of evidence.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Board of the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa urges the National Board of the American Civil Liberties Union to call for the convening of hearings by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives to determine if sufficient evidence exists to pursue Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Richard B. Cheney and President George W. Bush. And,
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Board of the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union makes its wishes known to the ACLU of Iowa and to the National Board of the ACLU.
Motion seconded by Dieterle. After some discussion, the motion failed on a vote of 3-4.
- Statewide Optically Scanned Paper Ballot: Culver, after initial opposition, has been persuaded to back this initiative. The bill has yet to be passed by the legislature.
- Givens reported on a phone call he received from a woman which he passed on to Ben Stone. The woman was complaining about actions by the police chief of her town, who she claimed infringed her civil liberties. It is unclear whether the complaint has merit. Givens has not heard further from Stone on the matter.
- Election of Members to the National Board: Spinks will draw up a petition as per procedures for changing election rules, and will see whether Kelley Putman will present it at the national convention. Spinks will write up a motion for our Board to consider concerning the matter in April.
- Appointment of a new IC City Manager: Caroline mentioned that the five candidates for the position will participate in a public forum on Friday, Feb. 15 at 4:30 in Room A of the IC Public Library. Dieterle encouraged Iowa City members of the Board to attend.
- Our next meeting is scheduled for 1:30 at the Cornell College Library in Mt. Vernon on April 6, 2008. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35.
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