Forfeiting Liberty: A Collective Sense of Vulnerability and the Need for Proactive Protection after 9/11

Authors

Ally Hack, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note argues that the post-9/11 era has seen a significant erosion of civil liberties, particularly for Arab-Americans and Muslims, drawing parallels to historical episodes of national fear and paranoia, such as Japanese internment during World War II and McCarthyism. It contends that the U.S. response to the attacks, including the expansion of surveillance and detention powers under the USA PATRIOT Act, threatens First Amendment rights and democratic values. The analysis emphasizes the importance of protecting civil liberties and maintaining open debate, even during times of crisis, to ensure a stable and just society.

Disciplines

Civil Rights and Discrimination | Education Law | First Amendment | Jurisprudence | Law

Recommended Citation

Ally Hack, Forfeiting Liberty: A Collective Sense of Vulnerability and the Need for Proactive Protection after 9/11, 2 Cardozo Pub. L. Pol’y & Ethics J. 469 (2004).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cplpej/vol2/iss2/8