The
New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights filed papers Aug.
5 in federal court in Los Angeles challenging the constitutionality
of the USA PATRIOT Act.
The
group says the act infringes on free speech by outlawing "expert
advice and assistance" to groups the United States has labeled
terrorist organizations, even if the assistance is humanitarian
in nature and has no connection to terrorism.
The
filing marks the second time in a week the act has been challenged.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued last week over a provision
that allows the government to secretly seize business records in
terror investigations.
The
latest case involves American activists and aid workers with ties
to Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam, both of which have been declared terrorist
groups by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
