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A resolution and petition presented to the Springfield City Council Monday night by a non-partisan group asked for civil disobedience of the USA Patriot Act.

Bill Burling is an English professor at Missouri State University and helped present the resolution.

He says the Patriot Act infringes on the rights of citizens guaranteed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Supporters of the Patriot Act say it's a useful and much-needed tool in helping the government prevent acts of terrorism.

Burling says more than 200 people from different political parties signed the petition opposing the act.

He says the resolution would make City Council more transparent and open to the public and that many other states and professional organizations have passed resolutions in response to the Patriot Act.

The first municipality in Missouri to pass a resolution opposing the Patriot Act was University City, a suburb of St Louis.