2002 Hunter College Speech Notes
Abdeen Story-discussing all the cutbacks on civil liberties- patriot act, indef detentions, jailings without charges, wiretapping by ag; secrecy, end of checks and balances; attacks on non-citizen
what we could do about them-lawsuits, speaking out, writing, know your rights-all good
Friend spoke up–good—may win some small side battles-but not make real gains until people feel safer-and are safer—courts will accept govt claims; people will not object to the jailing of Muslims-japanese detention , and will give govt benefit of doubt in hope safer-
(argue that it wont-creating a fortress America impossible)
And then he said-will not feel safer as long as the US is making a permanent war-50 year war as Cheney described -on the countries and peoples of the world; as long as the Middle East is roiling-that is the policy-force and not guns and not
hate will increase and so will terror-and we will not be safe-and population of US and its courts will accept and endorse the rollback of our rights—recently did so in 3rd circuit
That is why I believe that one of the greatest threats to our safety and to our civil liberties in the next period is the war on Iraq. I do not feel threatened by Iraq-not imminent, but I will from the consequences-already we are less safe
Look what has happened and what has been said: Kuwait-US soldier killed; French Ship in Yemen Port; Bali; CIA-similar threat level to prior to Sept 11-(CIA also pointed out Iraq with no choice-use weapons)
Evidence increase because of Iraq and Middle east-here is what has been said: US officals-not my speculation
Arab Aust
Blair on middle east AD-tom paine
All this is to day an intimate and deep connection with what US war and foreign policy abroad and fight for civil liberties at home-not win our rights back without changing our role in world from unilateralism and war to mulitlateralism and peace-
Ifcare about our rights must care about what we doing in the world-care about war
Want to give you very briefly a broad overview of some of what I see as major aspects to the war on our liberty at home:
- First, concerned by the end of open ovemment-secrecy in what it is doing and what it is doing to others-Damon Keith 61 cir-case about closed immig hearings blanket-no indiv showing, no family-democ dies behind closed doors-
creppy memo–
secret evidence in deportation cutbacks in FOIA
names of post 9/11 detainees
secrecy of GITMO detainees-not even know of lawsuit Padilla and hamdi-no access
Govt not want us to know what it is doing-cuts at heart of system where govt accountable to the people
2.. I am concerned about first amend rights, the right to speak and dissent freely
Again to paraphrase judge keith: democracy dies when we are not allowed to think and speak freely-intimidation and spying on our speaking is the order of the day
–officials-ari-ashcroft TIPS
FBI guidelines-poltical and religious CIA operating
Criticism of govt looked at as unpatriotic
Name of Patriot act-most other countries call it what it is-internal security act
- I am concerned by the harsh treatment of non-citizens-decmoc dies when non-citzens are treated as non- people
–9/11
–immigration hearings and secret evidence gitmo vs. hamdi and Padilla
indef detentions military tribunals
that is how they get away with it-us not them
- I am concerned with the Jailing of people without any charges of court review
–jailing of people apparently indefinitely because the President or John Ashcroft says so-Executive detention– Democracy Dies when exec authority is unchecked by the courts-
9/11 detainees-Turkmen-no names-minor visa violations-kept after agreed
Gitmo–out in space-no court review–OAS Padilla and Hamdi-US citizens
Patriot Act provisions Police state—
Uness-until an investigaton-oct 15-tearful relatives More infor