Denounce Torture

 The Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice was a first for me!  It was the first time I was able to participate in a large-scale political rally at which everybody involved had the same goal- to restore Habeas Corpus and the Constitution.  The feeling on the ground was amazing.  There were people of all ages, all races, all religions... all there for the same purpose.  I, along with other interns from Amnesty International, had the chance to dress in an orange jumpsuit with duct tape over my mouth.  Though at first I didn't enjoy this task (as the heat was oppressive in DC that day) I realized that we were making a very powerful and impactful statement.  Photographers continuously came up to us to take our picture and we were even featured in the Washington Times the following day. 

One of the youngest people at the rally was this young boy, in the photo below who was there with his mother.  He would applaud with the rest of the crowd but kept asking his mother to define various words. 

First Senator Leahy spoke,

followed by Senator Harkin,

and Congressman Nadler. 

Leahy talked about the Restore Habeas bill that he wrote and has been circulating around the Senate.  Harkin talked about why it's such an important bill to support and why we, as a country, must Restore Habeas Corpus.  Then Representative Nadler talked about his Restore the Constitution Bill which is an equally important bill for Representatives to support.  

After the rally, I checked the list of lobby visits happening in the afternoon and saw that there was one scheduled with my Congresswoman, speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi.  There was a delegation of about 5 people scheduled to go meet with her but I was unable to meet up with them before hand so I decided to just head over on my own.  So I wrote down the room number- H 419- and walked over to the imposing Capitol building. 

I had no idea what to expect from this Lobby visit despite the fact that I attended a brief Lobby Training in the morning at the Mott House.  So I walked in and announce my presence to a secretary.  "Hello," I said, "I am here for a 3:30 Lobby Visit with someone in this office."  She led me to the waiting area and I began talking with a young staffer in the office.  It turns out he was, of course, from San Francisco like myself, and had gone to a rival high school.  We talked for a while, and waited for the other delegation members to arrive.  After about ten minutes when they had still not arrived, I went into a conference with three men.  I explained to them that I had never Lobbied before and asked them to please be understanding as I was rather nervous.  I then thanked them for their time and said I understood that they were probably very busy.  I told them that I was apalled by the language of the Military Commissions Act and asked them if there was any way Nancy Pelosi could encourage members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to co-sponsor and sign on to two bills- the Restore the Constitution Bill and the Restore Habeas Bill.  They explained that though the Speaker is very much in favor of both bills, as Speaker of the House, she is not at liberty to co-sponsor bills but that she would do everything in her power to make sure that they are passed. 

About 10 minutes into our meeting the other delegation members arrived and continued the discussion about the importance of both bills.  When we were through, I collected business cards and walked out knowing that I had essentially lobbied my Representative all on my own.  I know that Pelosi was essentially already in agreement about the issues I came to discuss so I didn't have much persuading to do but it was an easy introduction into the world of lobbying for me!

The June 26th Day of Action to restore Habeas Corpus was an incredibly successful event, with 3,000 attendees, many who arrived in one of 38 buses from various parts of the country, and individuals representing all 50 states in the U.S.!!!  Everyone in the crowd showed great enthusiasm and many were holding sings which featured various messages urging the restoration of habeas corpus, the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay, and numerous others.  Other significant highlights in the rally, included several individuals dressed in Orange Guantanamo jumpsuits (many with black tape across their mouths) standing in the front of the crowd to give faces to the struggle.  Additionally, on this Day of Action, there were over 300 meetings with members of congress ranging from small groups to large groups.  Moreover, the day of action featured key note speakers such Larry Cox, Executive Director of Amnesty International, and Senator Patrick Leahy. 

To everyone who came out for the June Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice, thank you!  I hope you enjoyed all the speeches and demonstrations, and that, despite the weather, you had a good time.  If you went to a lobby visit with your Congressman or Senator then I hope you were successful and learned something about the lobbying process.  Many people put a lot of hard work into the day and we all hope that something will be achieved.  Please remember, though, that our work is not done.  If you were unable to have a meeting with your Congressman or Senator, please make a call into their office and ask to speak to their staff person in charge of Human Rights.  Inform them about the problems with the Military Commissions Act and ask them to support the Restore Habeas Bill and the Restore the Constitution Act.  Tell them that we will not support human rights violations and that the prisons at Guantanamo Bay need to be shut down! 

Even if you did meet with your member of Congress or Senate you still have work to do.  Follow up with them as you told them you would and ask them if they have made a decision about co-sponsoring one of the bills.  Thank them again for meeting with you and pressure them to make a decision.  If they are unable to talk to you or give you an answer over the phone then write to them to convey your wishes. 

If you need information about how to get in touch with your members or what you should say, please visit the website for the Day of Action which is now active with new information.  https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=june_home can provide you with information about how to contact your members. 

Keep up the good work and we can accomplish great things! 

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Media Coverage of Bloomfield Demonstration on Habeas Corpus

In addition to everyone who turned out to rally and lobby in support of habeas corpus in Washington, activists across the country took part in the day of action in their home communities. It is great to see that the Star Ledger covered the demonstration organized by the Amnesty members from Bloomfield High School and their local allies! You can read more about it at Young local activists stand up for global justice.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out-and please keep up the pressure!

On June 26, UN International Day in Support of Victims and Survivors of Torture, a broad coalition of faith communities and human rights organizations came together in NYC to call for an end torture, for the restoration of habeas corpus, and the closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention center. At St. Bartholomew's Church, a member of Witness against Torture, Carmen Trotta, stepped in for Fr. Dan Berrigan, S.J. who was recovering from minor surgery. Carmen articulated our collective call to close Guantanamo and to end torture within a moral context. He also spoke eloquently of four detainees who reportedly committed suicide at Guantanamo, giving us a sense of their humanity. The inter-faith service that followed was prayerful and reflective. More than 100 persons were in attendance at St. Bartholomew's. A solemn procession (including those dressed in Orange Jumpsuits and other carrying coffins) led past Senator Schumer's office and then on to Senator Clintons office for a press conference. Representatives for Senators' Schumer and Clinton were on hand. Clergy from several faith traditions spoke, as did Matthew Kennis from AIUSA and Michael Ratner from Center for Constitutional Rights.

International Day in Support Of Victims of Torture
Press confrerence, June 26, 2007, New York City

Hey everyone!

By now you've seen the excellent speeches from our guests at the Day of Action. If you wanted to see more from the rally, you're in luck! We just got some pictures back from our photographer and they came out great.  Check 'em out.

By MAUREEN DOWD OpEd Columnist for NY Times
Published: June 27, 2007

W. Learns From Students

A group of Presidential Scholars surprised President Bush by slipping him a letter pleading with him not to let America become known for torture. More here: (link to original article.)

How's it going everyone!

I've got a little Juneteeth update for you all. You already know about the huge sucess the concert was, and all about the amazing artists we were working with, but we also had an excellent team of photographers and videographers working with us that night. We've begun to receive the fruits of their efforts, and I just wanted to stop by and share them with you. Here's a sneak peek of what's to come!

Do you wish you could do something on June 26th (the day of action to restore law and justice) to make a difference in the lives of people around the world?  Are you unable to come to Washington, DC?  Well don't worry... events are being held around the country on this day so that you can be a part of the action! Take a look below to see if events are happening in your city! 

New York City:  10:30 AM-1PM, Vigil and March at Bartholomew's Church on Park Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.  For more information, call Rev. Mark Hallinan, S.J. - 212-774-5500. 

Tampa, FL: 11 AM-1:45 PM, Habeas Day Demonstration at Lykes Park (also known as Gaslight Park) downtown Tampa FL- between Tampa and Franklin St. and Madison and Kennedy.  For more information, contact Kathy Troy: KathyTroyTampa@aol.com

Albuquerque, NM: 12 Noon-1 PM, Please join the Amnesty International Albuquerque Local Group 101 as we demonstrate and dramatize with a vigil & street theater. For more information please Nell Burrus, Chapter101 coordinator, at 833-3140.

Sprinfield, IL: 4:45-5:45 PM, Vigil on the steps of the State Capitol Building, 2nd and Capitol St., Springfield, IL.  We will hold flowers and signs, and distribute leaflets, calling for the restoration of habeas corpus, repeal of the Military Commissions Act, and an end to torture and extraordinary rendition. Vigil cosponsored by Springfield ACLU, Pax Christi Springfield, Mary Wood Branch of WILPF, Justice and Peace Office of the Franciscan Sisters, and AI members.  For more information, contact (217) 544-3997.

Boston: 12:15-1:15 PM, March and Demonstration to Restore Habeas.  Assemble outside the ACLU office at 12:30.  211 Congress St. (corner of Congress and High), Boston, MA.    March and Demonstration to be followed by Procession and Leafleting- 1:15 to 1:30 PM- JFK Federal Building. 

In reaction to the US administration's postponed meeting regarding the future of the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay, including the possibility of its closure, Amnesty International said:

"Yesterday's cancelled meeting about the future of the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay should be rescheduled as a matter of priority. Every day that this prison camp remains open is a day too many."

"It is more than a year since President Bush first said he would like to close Guantánamo. While there are undoubtedly challenges to closing the facility, the solution in principle is simple, and the government must turn its energies to this end. It should either charge the detainees with recognizable criminal offences and bring them to trial in the ordinary civilian courts, or it should release them with full protections against further abuses. Other governments should do all they can to bring an end to this human rights scandal and actively consider accepting released detainees."

Thank you to everybody who came to the Juneteenth concert at the 9:30 Club on the 19th.  It was lots of fun and there was a huge crowd- we were oversold at 1,286 people in the audience and everybody seemed to be having a great time!  We heard lots of messages about how important it is to stop torture- from Amnesty International, from the ACLU, and from Hip Hop artists with the Hip Hop Caucus.  Now the question is, what can you actually do to change things? 

On Tuesday, June 26th, you can come to the Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice.  For more information about the day you can visit www.juneaction.org but essentially the day will be a huge rally in front of the Capitol building.  Delegations will be conducting meetings with congressmen and senators from many states to ask them to Restore Habeas Corpus in our country.  There will be speakers and performers, activist training sessions and vigils, press conferences and teach-ins.  It will be a wonderful way to learn about Habeas Corpus, and about torture and what you can do to STOP TORTURE and to bring back Habeas! 

Even if you don't have transportation available, don't worry... again, more information is available on the website but there are buses coming from all over the country to bring people to Washington for this amazing and historical day.  So sign up on the website and you can be a part of the Day of Action. 

Ali Mohammed Nasser Mohamed, a 24-year old Yemeni with curly black hair who used to work as a cook for the Taliban in Afghanistan was to be freed from Guantanamo in May 2006 after 4 years in the prison.  After a medical checkup, a photo and fingerprinting, he was measured for clothes and shoes then he met with the Red Cross.  Now it is June 2007 and he remains stuck in "a limbo of mistaken identities, bureaucratic inertia and official neglect."  He has still faced no charge and no sentence and yet he has been deprived of the freedom that he was promised over a year ago. 

On May 18th, 2006, the day he was scheduled to leave Guantanamo, he was not allowed on a plane that carried 15 Saudis home because the Saudi government said that he was not Saudi despite the fact that he was born there.  According to both Yemeni and Saudi law, he is Yemeni because of his parents' citizenship.  He also holds a Yemeni passport, grew up in Yemen and went to school there.  But... the U.S. military classifies him as Saudi and the Saudis say they do not have any say in what happens to him- they consider their role over. 

Mohammed is waiting in Guantanamo's newest facility, Camp Six, to be released.  He is in a maximum-security building with no communal area and no way to talk to other detainees. 

According to a Pentagon spokesman who would not comment on Mohammed's case, determining a detainee's citizenship can be "more complex in some parts of the world... We use the best information available and work closely with foreign governments to ascertain a detainee's citizenship and nationality." 

Yemenis make up the largest proportion of detainees at Guantanamo.  In addition to Mohammed there at at least six others including some who, like Mohammed, were cleared for release as early as February, 2006, and remain imprisoned. 

Adapted from: Shadid, Anthony, "Yemeni Languishes at Guantanamo Long After U.S. Approved Release- Dispute Over Citizenship Leaves Saudi-Born Detainee in Legal Limbo," from the Washington Post, Wednesday, June 13th, 2007; Page A11.  http://www.washingtonpost.com.   

"Torture 101"

June is Torture Awareness Month and there are many events going on in the DC area to bring attention to this very important issue.  In addition to the Juneteenth concert mentioned yesterday and the Day of Action to Restore Habeas Corpus, TASSC (the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition) is putting on several events during Survivors' Week. 

Registration begins on June 21st and the week will officially be over on June 27th. 

Some of the key events going on during the week are the 24-Hour Vigil that begins on Saturday, June 23rd at 7:30 AM at Lafayette Park and ends on Sunday, June 24th at 7 AM.  For more information about the Vigil, please call (202) 529-2991 or email dianna@tassc.org.   

 Monday, June 25th there is going to be an informative and exciting Teach-In at the Life-Cycle Institute Auditorium with speakers such as keynote speaker Mark Beaux, a Law Professor at Seton Hall University, Jumana Musa, a Human Rights Lawyer working at Amnesty International, and Kevin Spidel, the director of the Denounce Torture Initiative at AI. 

 On The Day of Action itself, there will be a Press Conference from 9 AM to 10:30 at the National Press Club, followed by a "Butterfly Release Ceremony" at 11 AM in front of the Supreme Court, a HUGE rally sponsored by Amnesty International and the ACLU along with numerous other partner organizations that will be between 11:30 and 1 in front of the Capitol.  After lunch, you are invited to pay a visit to your congress-person from 2 to 5 PM, followed by a Closing Reception and Evaluation.   

For more information about the week, please visit http://www.tassc.org/ or www.JuneAction.org.

What will the future be of the base at Guantanamo?  If you agree with Colin Powell and think that the prisons at Guantanamo should be shut down and that the government should put an end to torture then you are lucky because there are many things you can do in the next couple of weeks to make sure your voice is heard!  Amnesty International has paired up with the ACLU and the Hip Hop Caucus and is hosting a concert on Tuesday, June 19th in honor of Juneteenth.  The concert, entitled "Shut It Down! Stop The Torture!" will be at the 9:30 Club and will feature some AMAZING Hip Hop artists including Dead Prez, Mystic, Wise Intelligent & Uncalled 4 Experience, Akir, Hasan Salaam, GRIME, J. Period and DJ Chela.  Also, the amazingly well-spoken Reverend Yearwood will be MC for the evening!  Doors open at 7:30 and tickets are only $10!  For more information about the concert, visit  http://www.hiphopforhabeas.org/. 

Today on Warren Olney's NPR show, To The Point, Warren Olney will be discussing the new prisoners who continue to arrive at Guantanamo Bay.  For various reasons, military judges say they do not have the power to put the detainees on trial.  At this point though, even Colin Powell has said that the prisons at Guantanamo Bay should be shut down!  For more information on Olney's show, visit http://www.kcrw.com/news/programs/tp.

By Walter Pincus, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 11, 2007; A03

Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell said yesterday that he would close down the U.S. military prison for enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, "this afternoon" because it has become a major problem in "the way the world perceives America."

"Essentially, we have shaken the belief that the world had in America's justice system by keeping a place like Guantanamo open and creating things like a military commission," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Making it clear that he "would not let any of those people go," Powell said, "I would simply move them to the United States and put them into our more federal legal system." He said he sees no problem in detainees having the right of habeas corpus and getting their own lawyers. "Isn't that what our system is all about?"

Powell was the only member of President Bush's first-term "war cabinet" who argued against the detainee policies. Those policies said the United States was not obligated to abide by the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of enemy combatants.

Opened in late 2001 for suspected terrorists apprehended in Afghanistan, Guantanamo now has about 385 prisoners. They have no right to file habeas corpus petitions under a law signed last year, but they have their status reviewed annually by a military panel. Last week, two military judges ruled that the first trials of Guantanamo detainees by military panels could not go forward because the detainees had not been classified as unlawful enemy combatants. The Defense Department is appealing the ruling.

Powell's view comes close to that of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. In March, Gates said that there was a "taint" about Guantanamo and that the more dangerous detainees should be held, but that the military prison should be closed.

In a wide-ranging interview, Powell also said, "We didn't prepare ourselves well enough for the kinds of challenges that occurred in the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad," although he and Bush were aware of the postwar problems that the United States would face -- issues addressed in a CIA analysis seven months before the war started.

"We were liberators for a moment," Powell said, "and then we simply did not handle the aftermath." He described the burning and looting of government ministries as the beginning of the insurgency. Turmoil went on, he said, because "we didn't have enough troops there to restore that order, nor did we have the political understanding of our obligation to restore that order."

Powell said that Iraq is a sectarian civil war "that ultimately will be fought out between Sunnis and Shias, Shias and Shias, Sunnis and al-Qaeda." In that turmoil, Powell said, al-Qaeda "is a relatively small percentage of this overall problem, but a very violent percentage."

He said the increase of U.S. troops is only a part of three elements that make up the current policy. The other two -- building up Iraqi security forces and Iraqi political reconciliation -- "are not going well." As for recent changes in U.S. military leadership in Iraq and creating a war czar in the White House, Powell said: "You can move the deck chairs around and you can bring in new people and you can change organizational arrangements, but ultimately the president has the responsibility."

Powell declined to say that he would support the Republican Party nominee for president next year, saying that he would back "the best person I can find." When he joined the GOP in 1995, Powell said that it had moved too far to the right and that he would work to bring it to the moderate center. But he has never been closely involved in party politics and more than a decade ago said he would never run for elective office.

In yesterday's interview, he said he has not ruled out returning to public service and had no favorite in the presidential race. "I make myself available to talk about foreign policy matters with whoever wishes to chat with me," he said in response to a question about his twice meeting with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

Attitudes have changed about gays in the military since he supported the "don't ask, don't tell" policy established when he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Clinton administration. He said wartime is not a time to alter the policy, but he thought "gays and lesbians should be allowed to have maximum access to all aspects of society."

Staff writer Karen DeYoung contributed to this report.