(Got this off a civil rights activist mailing list I am on.)
The Vote on Question #1 will enact the “Separation of Powers” amendment. There is no need for a Constitutional Convention as proposed in Question #2.
Members received a mailing today from the ACLU. The information is available on their website.
They do agree with the theory behind a constitutional convention, HOWEVER, the concern is with the “Pandora’s Box” it can open, especially with the history in recent times of citizen initiatives being used by the radical right to restrict citizens’ rights and advance a moral agenda.
ACLU Opposes Call for Constitutional Convention:
Vote "NO" on Question 2 on November 2nd
In testimony before the Constitutional Convention Preparatory Commission, ACLU cites potential dangers for civil liberties.
- View the ACLU's testimony here: http://www.riaclu.org/misc/concontestimony.pdf
- Click here (http://www.riaclu.org/documents/conconfactsheet.pdf) for a position paper opposing Question 2.
- See the list (http://www.riaclu.org/documents/conconlist.pdf) of Rhode Island organizations opposed to Question 2.
If the links above don’t work, go to the Rhode Island ACLU website:
http://www.riaclu.org/