People don't have the sense in this country really where we're heading. What this means is that the administration is really trying to reign in the ability to pick up anybody off the street, detain them, never let them see a court, disappear forever from your family, your friends, I mean this particularly targets people who are non-citizens but they've really tried to extend this power to citizens, to all people -- they want the power to put everyone in jail without ever letting them have a day in court just based on the president's say so which is an extremely frightening thing.
-- Dalia Hashad to Michael Ratner on last week's Law and Disorder (a weekly, hour long radio show that is hosted by Hashad, Ratner, Michael Smith and Heidi Boghosian). Hashad and Ratner were discussing the need for a week long action next month. From the ACLU's "Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice - June 26, 2007:"
This summer, the ACLU is calling on all its members and concerned citizens from across the country, to storm Washington, D.C. in a Day of Action, to tell Congress to restore habeas corpus and all our constitutional rights.
The Bush administration has trampled the Constitution and abandoned American values and the rule of law -- and so far Congress has failed to act. We're at a turning point, and Americans must take action to restore habeas, end government-sponsored torture, and uphold the fairness and freedom that define us.
On June 26, 2007 you can join thousands of activists for a rally, a public demonstration and an opportunity to meet face-to-face with lawmakers. With your help, we will send our message directly to Congress: We demand that they restore all the rights and freedoms lost over the last six years, particularly the due process rights stripped by the Military Commissions Act 2006.
In the words of ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero, "We have always been proud that America stands for the values of due process and fairness, but those values were severely damaged when President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act. Habeas must be restored and the ACLU will keep the pressure on Congress to remedy this injustice. Our nation's reputation and principles are on the line."
The ACLU is joining with Amnesty International, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and other groups in this historic Day of Action. Please add your presence and your voice to the effort, and urge friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
Find out how to get involved at www.juneaction.org.
See you in D.C. this summer!
JOIN US IN D.C. Sign up to be part of the event in D.C. >>
ADD YOUR VOICE Sign the petition to Restore Our Constitutional Rights >>
TELL FRIENDS Ask friends to join us on June 26th and sign the petition >>
LEARN MORE The Military Commissions Act and the Threat to Habeas Corpus >>
Hashad and Ratner stressed this is a week of action. One day will take place in DC. Local actions will take place around the country. For more information you can check future postings on the websites for the National Lawyers Guild, Center for Constitutional Rights (we think -- and if not, oh well, we love CCR and they got a link for no reason other than that) and Amnesty International.