Candle-light vigil to mark loss of liberty

Mourners will gather in Noelridge Park at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) to mourn the loss of freedom.

The candle-light vigil will be a representation of the loss of freedom that occurred with the signing of the Patriot Act 10 years ago, according to Lana Mikula, one of the event's organizers.

“This act is a direct attack on our Fourth Amendment rights,” she said. “It was put up as a false flag of security, and in putting it up, has taken away many rights given to us in the Constitution.”

The goal of the vigil is to bring people together to understand that the Patriot Act is not a means to protect the country, “but to disable us from being able to protect ourselves,” she said.

In passing the Patriot Act, “liberty was taken from the people,” Mikula said. She hopes the vigil reminds them of its importance.