Perspectives

President Signs Anti-Terrorism Bill (October 26, 2001)

Read White House press release

Listen to event (requires RealPlayer download)

Text of bill H.R. 3162 - "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 (Received in the Senate)"

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Office of Homeland Security

About Thomas J. Ridge

State of National Emergency

On september 14, 2001, President George W. Bush declared a state of national emergency in a statement to the U.S. Congress, clearing the way for calling up of reservists into active military duty.

President Bush declares National Emergency

• Complete text of the declaration

• U.S. Code Chapter 34: National Emergencies

• What's a National Emergency?

Concerns over Domestic Rights

Concerns are being raised in many quarters that the U.S. government's response to the September 11 attacks could lead to infringement on the privacy and civil rights of Americans.

Ashcroft Seeks New Surveillance Powers
(ABC News)

U.S. Anti-Terror Push Worries Civil Liberties Groups
(Reuters)

FBI Detains 49; Widens Probe Dragnet
(Associated Press)

Civil Liberties in Wartime
Slate)

Civil Liberties at Stake
(Village Voice)

'Overreaction' Cited in Effort to Prevent Attacks
(The Washington Post)

US Rushes to put Marshals on Jets
(Associated Press)

Is This What We Really Want?
(Time)

Round up the usual suspects
(Salon)

Send in the online spooks?
(Salon)

Anti-Attack Feds Push Carnivore
(Wired)

Officials Call for More Net Security
(Los Angeles Times)

Did Encryption Empower These Terrorists?
(MSNBC)

End of Innocence
(MSNBC)

Arab- and Muslim-Americans

Incidents of racially-motivated hate crimes against Americans of Arab heritage have erupted. On September 17, 2001, President Bush expressed support for Muslim-Americans and urged all Americans to respect each other.

Bush Visits Mosque, Urges Respect for Muslims
(Reuters)

'Face of terror not true faith of Islam,' Bush declares
(Baltimore Sun)

Arab and Asian immigrants find hostility in daily routine
(Boston Globe)

Confrontation Fueled by Grief Ends in a Beating and Regrets
(Washington Post)

Attack on mosque unifies diverse clergy
(Dallas Morning News)

Arizona Killing called hate crime; suspect held
(San Fransisco Chronicle)

Two Asian men are murdered in suspected race-hate shootings
(The Independent)

Hatred's broad black brush
(St. Petersburg Times)

Bush condemns 'revenge attacks'
(BBC)