| Subject: Press Release -- Protest vs. War & Military Tribunals |
Author:
No name
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 16:15:56 12/03/01 Mon
MEDIA ADVISORY -- November 14, 2001
NYC-- Larry Holmes (212) 633-6646
Brian Becker (202) 904-7992
Houston -- Gloria Rubac (713) 503-2633
NEW YORK ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION: UNION SQUARE, 5:00 P.M.
STOP THE BOMBING & OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN STOP RACIAL PROFILING OF ARAB & MUSLIM PEOPLE
On the eve of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, thousands will demonstrate in U.S. cities against the Bush administration's bombing of Afghanistan and his executive order, signed yesterday, which drastically increases the racial profiling campaign directed against Arab Americans.
"Bush said he launched this war to fight terrorism, and dropped cluster bombs on civilians," said Sara Flounders, co-director of the International Action Center, one of the members of the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition. "We know not to believe him when he says that the military tribunals and racial profiling tactics he has ordered are anti-terrorism tactics, either. The U.S. is using the appearance of victory in Afghanistan to vastly increase its ability to oppress people overseas and here at home."
Already over 1,000 people have been detained without due process, and the FBI has proposed the idea of legalizing torture tactics against them.
"With no public debate, Bush has ordered secret military tribunals -- kangaroo courts, really -- where all of the basic tenets of due process are thrown out the window," Flounders said. The order states that the tribunals do not provide for proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and would not require strict rules of evidence.
"The Justice Department has also ordered the FBI and police agencies to pick up and question 5,000 men, most from Middle East countries, who have entered the country legally in the last two years."
Flounders said that Bush's order should upset anyone who is against the administration's increasing attack on immigrants and civil liberties. Under the order, the president himself is to determine who is an accused terrorist and therefore subject to trial by secret tribunals.
Anti-war protesters in New York have already announced plans to demonstrate against Rumsfeld appearance here at "Ground Zero" as an exploitation of the city's grief designed to promote the continued bombing raid against the world's poorest country. Texas anti-war demonstrators will confront George Bush at his stop in Houston to promote "arms control" — after dropping fuel-air explosives and cluster bombs on Afghanistan. Other rallies are scheduled in San Francisco; Washington D.C.; Baltimore; San Diego; New Jersey; Seattle; Manchester, England; campuses; and a dozen other cities.
-30-
------------------
Send replies to iacenter@action-mail.org
This is the IAC activist announcement
list. Anyone can subscribe by sending any message to
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 