PATRIOT Act vigils scheduled urging Congress to let the act sunset on June 1, 2015.
Urgent action is needed tomorrow—on Thursday, May 21—to stop Congress from reauthorizing the most egregious parts of the US PATRIOT Act, which has allowed the government to expand bulk data collection and mass surveillance of American citizens.
The Patriot Act is set to expire on June 1 and Congress has a vote scheduled for Friday, May 22 in which they can (a) reauthorize it in full, (b) pass some version of the PATRIOT Act, or (c) let the PATRIOT act sunset and expire.
The Patriot Act has given the American government far too much license to spy on average Americans. We were sold the idea that the PATRIOT Act would help prevent acts of terrorism on American soil and would only be used to spy on terrorists.
That was a lie, sold to citizens and Congress under duress, in a time of national panic and fear. The PATRIOT ACT has been used by the NSA and government agencies to spy on ordinary Americans who are targeted by sweeping data collection and storage of sensitive personal data with little accountability or oversight.
Concerned citizens will be gathering around the country on Thursday May 21 at 7pm local time to demand Congress let the act expire. Join others in your community to call on Congress to sunset the Patriot Act.
These emergency vigils around the country will show Congress we are no longer willing to trade our liberty for false security and domestic spying is unacceptable. Please use this link to find a vigil near you.