47 Education Workers Sign Statement Saying They Will Refuse To Be Fingerprinted

Forty-seven teachers and support staff held a public ceremony in the middle of the Education Committee Public Hearing on February 10 and signed giant placards declaring that they "find the law unacceptable and will refuse to comply."

The ceremony was solemn, appropriate to the commitment each individual was making, to resign or retire or force their employer to fire them before they will submit to being fingerprinted. The ceremony began with Bernie Huebner and Suzanne Malis-Andersen reading the opening statements from Margaret Chase Smith's famous 1950 Declaration of Conscience speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Senator Smith began:



        "I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious
        national condition.  It is a national feeling of fear and
        frustration that could result in national suicide and the end
        of everything that we Americans hold dear.  It is a condition
        that comes from the lack of effective leadership in either
        the Legislative Branch or the Executive Branch of our Government."

As Senator Smith put her political career on the line by speaking out, so these 47 people put their careers in education on the line. As each person came forward and signed the placards set up behind the committee's tables, he or she was presented with a red rose, the enduring symbol of Margaret Chase Smith. Each person's years of service were also recorded. The 47 signers represented 821 years of service in education.

An effort is underway to place a large ad in the Sunday Telegram soon, listing as many of these same people as can be located, plus any others interested in making a public declaration of their refusal to be fingerprinted. Contact Bernie Huebner at bhuebner@mint.net for details.