In Washington, a House-Senate conference committee on a homeland
security bill is considering whether to include a measure to protect, from
lawsuit, Americans who report suspicious behavior. The so-called "John
Doe" measure comes in response to a lawsuit by six imams who were
booted from a plane that was about to fly from Minneapolis late last year
because they were acting very suspiciously, refusing to sit in their
assigned seats, asking for metal seat belt extenders, and speaking loudly
and disparagingly about the United States. The imams plan to sue not
only the airline but the passengers who reported their behavior -- a step
that, if successful, could have a chilling effect on whether other
Americans come forward to report such behavior or whether they decide that
doing so isn't worth the legal fees. Without this protection, Americans
would have no reason to follow the motto of law enforcement agencies:
"If you see something, say something."
>
> Separately, the "John Doe" legislation passed both the House and
Senate by overwhelming margins. But key Democrats are trying to drop it
from the homeland security bill, which would kill it. House Homeland
Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson isn't enthused about it, and
Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy spoke against it on the Senate floor.
The conference committee is meeting and will make a final decision on
this vital legislation in the coming days.
>
> If you agree Americans should be encouraged to report suspicious
behavior, if you agree they should not be intimidated by the threat of a
lawsuit that could bankrupt them, now is the time to act. Call or e-mail
your own Senator and your House member. Tell them to insist that the
conference committee include "John Doe" protection in this bill. And
after calling or e-mailing your own Senator and House member, contact
Congressman Thompson and Senator Leahy. Also contact House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin.
>
> Don't leave Americans who do the right thing by reporting suspicious
behavior out in the cold. Don't let Americans be intimidated into
keeping quiet. In the war on terror, there's too much at stake for all of
us.
>
>
> American Congress for Truth
> P.O. Box 6884
> Virginia Beach, VA 23456
> 757-237-4995
> [email protected]
> http://www.americancongressfortruth.org
>
>
> American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization
on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians,
decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate
and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim
fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of
hate and intolerance.