'Restore the Fourth' rally in Cedar Rapids Thursday to protest government surveillance

A group of area residents plan to march through downtown Cedar Rapids this week to protest government surveillance.

Scheduled for the Fourth of July, the protest is intended to draw attention to recent surveillance issues with the National Security Agency.

Jonathan Trueblood, the coordinator for the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids "Restore the Fourth" movement, said people in more than 100 cities across the country will participate by holding protest and rallies to express their disapproval of what they believe to be unconstitutional surveillance of U.S. citizens by the National Security Agency.

Trueblood said protesters plan to the march through town at noon, followed by an all-day, family-friendly rally at Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids until 8 p.m. The group will meet at Cleveland Park in Cedar Rapids at 11:30 a.m. before the march. 

He said the event's three goals are to call for reforming section 215 of the Patriot Act, to call for the creation of a congressional oversight committee to ensure all actions under the Patriot Act are constitutional, and to hold those responsible for spying accountable.

He said the rally intends to send a positive message about the value of liberties Americans have gained as a result of the nation's independence, and the idea that it's not to late to re-establish some rights that might have been infringed upon.

"Obviously the Fourth of July is a day we remember our independence as a country, and it's kind of a reminder of the constitution," Trueblood said. "So we try to make it a mix about these sad things going on and the trampling of our rights, but we still do have these rights and it's not too late, we can still make a change and take action to restore them to what they once were." 

Trueblood said he is expecting anywhere between 60 and 200 participants, and there will, likely, also be an event in Iowa City.