Despite the show of support at Monday's meeting by about a half-dozen residents
opposed to war in Iraq, the Las Cruces City Council decided not to put on its
agenda a resolution proposed by PeaceAware, a local group against the looming
war.
Interim Mayor and Councilor Steve Trowbridge said such a resolution would only
be "divisive" as well as being outside of the focus of the City
Council. Trowbridge said the Council is more concerned with pressing day-to-day
city issues.
None of the six city councilors expressed an interest in putting the resolution on an upcoming agenda for debate.
The proposed resolution included a petition signed by 105 residents opposed to a U.S.-led war against Iraq and opposed to the Patriot Act of 2001.
The resolution adopts strong language and mirrors similar resolutions passed in other cities, saying a war would only destabilize the Middle East, that the war is without basis in international law, and that "the Bush Administration has failed to present convincing evidence that Iraq poses a military threat to the United States."
The proposed resolution also protests the recently passed Patriot Act, particularly measures that dramatically expand the abilities of federal and local law enforcement agencies to monitor possible terrorist activities and make arrests.
Several rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are being threatened by the Patriot Act, the resolution maintains, particularly freedom of religion, speech and assembly, as well as due process, among others.
David Boje, a Vietnam veteran and professor at New Mexico State University,
presented the proposal on behalf of PeaceAware
to City Council on Monday. He said 90 other cities and counties, including Santa
Fe last October, have passed similarly worded resolutions opposing war and the
Patriot Act.
"We feel that peace is an option to war," Boje said.
Boje said the estimated $200 billion cost of the war would mean "less money for jobs, health, education and homeless programs."
Citing problems with the Patriot Act, Boje also asked the City Council for assurances that the city will protect the civil rights of its residents.
Boje said the erosion of civil liberties, which he said some Las Cruces residents have already experienced as a result of the U.S. Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act, will only worsen in a war-time environment.
Boje expressed disappointment Tuesday that the City Council did not show an interest in putting the resolution on the agenda, regardless of whether it has a chance of passing.
"We'll just have to try again," Boje said. "I didn't think it was going to be easy. I just think we'll have to go step by step and see if we have any councilor who would consider (getting it on the agenda)."
For a resolution to end up on the Council agenda, it must be approved either by the mayor or by four city councilors.
"I'd like to find out from the councilors what specific items they object to. I can't see how they can object to protecting the civil rights of residents," Boje said.
Meanwhile, Boje said his group will continue having peace vigils every Wednesday
in front of the federal building downtown and in other locations on Saturdays.
He said last month, more than 200 peace supporters gathered in Young Park to
protest a war with Iraq.
For more information on the language of the resolution, check PeaceAware's Web site at www.peaceaware.com
Christopher Schurtz can be reached at cschurtz@lcsun-news.com
See original story 'City Council declines discussion on war' and proposed resolution