Michael Ratner’s Politics
“There is no joy the world can give that it cannot take away.” One of the last times I saw Michael was via FaceTime. He was out of the hospital once again and back in the living room of his…
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Tributes
Michael Ratner and Europe’s Fight for Human Rights
Michael Ratner, who passed away in May, was an internationalist in the best sense of the word. That meant for him in the first place to combat the use and abuse of power by U.S. actors in, and very often…
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This is one extraordinarily tenacious guy!
He was a great and inspiring lawyer, for whom no challenge on behalf of the disempowered was too great. I remember first hearing him lecture in Harold’s class about the 11 war powers cases he had brought — one after…
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Michael Ratner and Just Security
I just heard that Michael Ratner passed away from complications due to cancer. His New York Times obituary is here [hyperlink]. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/us/michael-ratner-lawyer-who-won-rights-for-guantanamo-prisoners-dies-at-72.html My heart is broken. Michael was an extraordinary lawyer and and even more outstanding human being. I first…
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“I don’t disagree.” :)
Ha! The most I could ever get from Michael was “I don’t disagree.” 🙂 Which I used to think of as translating to “I agree” (as I used to tell him). But after I myself turned 40, I started using…
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If ever there was a happy warrior, it was Michael Ratner.
When I began interviewing Michael for the book about the Haiti case, I was enthralled. I got so carried away listening to his stories that I began to think I should write a book about him. I think what I’m…
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Making it seem like you were helping him when he was really the one helping you.
I have too many memories of Michael to put them all down, but he definitely showed a lack of judgment when he would let me house sit for him in the summers when he and Karen and the kids went…
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Haiti, Honey Bees and the NBA
While I have many memories of Michael’s tenacious advocacy always coupled with his smile, humor and affection during the Haiti case, there are two memories that I remember best. One was seeing Michael in our neighborhood as he was about…
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In Memoriam: Michael Ratner
My old friend Michael Ratner died on May 11th at the age of 72. He was the President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). Their press release summarizes his brilliant legal career: “From Attica to Assange, Michael Ratner…
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Ronald V. Dellums’ Tribute to Michael Ratner, An Authentic Social Justice Warrior
Michael at the Press conference for Dellums v. Bush I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Michael Ratner. Michael was an authentic social justice warrior. He went above and beyond in dedicating his life and career to…
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