(Oshkosh). On May 1, 2004 representatives of the Libertarian and Green Parties of Wisconsin held a bipartisan press conference outside the Oshkosh Public Library to announce their support of a joint resolution in opposition to the PATRIOT Act. Speaking for the Libertarians, 2002 gubernatorial candidate Ed Thompson urged Wisconsinites to reject police state tactics conducted in the name of protecting our safety. Thompson asked the approximately 30 people in attendance (including reporters from Wisconsin Public Radio, the Oshkosh Northwestern, and the UW Oshkosh Advance Titan) if they were willing to follow Patrick Henry's admonition to "give me liberty or give me death."

Lake Winnebago Green Party CO-chair Fred Depies said that the The Wisconsin Greens oppose any attempt by the government to restrict individual freedom, unless a person's actions threaten the safety or welfare of others. He said that the the Bill of Rights must remain a fundamental touchstone in defense of our civil rights and that Greens would work vigorously with Libertarians to protect those rights.

Libertarian State Senate candidate Roy Leyendecker and Green candidate for the 54th Assembly District Tony Palmeri also spoke. Leyendecker said the politicians need to realize that in a free society the people do not serve the government. He said as a Senator he would sponsor legislation mandating noncompliance with the PATRIOT Act. Palmeri said that when he is elected to the Assembly he would sponsor a resolution making Wisconsin a "Civil Liberties Safe Zone," as 4 states and almost 300 cities/towns have done. He urged citizens to become familiar with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee website (http://www.bordc.org/).

UW Oshkosh Political Scientist and Fox Valley Civil Liberties Union activist Martin Gruberg told the audience it was odd that the United States government would be restricting freedom at home at the same time it preaches the need to fight for freedom in other countries.

Copyright 2004 TonyPalmeri.com