Help Launch 86 Days of Action Against Torture! Rally in Princeton This Saturday!

This Wednesday marks the first anniversary of the Military Commissions Act, which denies the fundamental right of habeas corpus to anyone the government says is an “unlawful enemy combatant.” It further undermines the fundamental right to due process by allowing the use of so-called “evidence” obtained through physically and psychological abusive techniques—information that is clearly unreliable.

Fortunately, Wednesday also marks the beginning of Amnesty’s 86 Days of Act against torture, which runs until the sixth anniversary of the transfer of prisoners to Guantánamo. I will be speaking in at a rally in Princeton this Saturday, October 20th, at 12 noon. Rev. Robert Moore of the NJ Coalition for Peace Action will also be speaking I hope you can join us at Princeton Borough Hall!

As you may recall, Amnesty took part in a national day of action to support legislation to correct the damage done by the Military Commissions Act. We have seen some important progress. The Senate came very close to attaching an amendment restoring habeas corpus to the Defense Authorization Bill, but failed to overcome a filibuster. Congress has also forced the Bush Administration to release documents proving that, despite its claims to the contrary, our government has continued to physically and psychologically abuse prisoners with stress positions, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding (simulated drowning).

Please check back for information about hosting a screening of the new docmumentary, The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.

National Week of Action on Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW)!!!!

This week, activists across the nation are urging the Senate to support ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women -- officially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW.

The United States played an important role in drafting this treaty, which is the most complete international agreement for basic human rights of women. 185 countries have ratified it. Yet the U.S. remains one of the 8 countries that have not done so—along with Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. Until our government ratifies CEDAW, it credibly demand that others live up to their obligations under the Treaty.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202- 224-4744) to urge them to help move this important treaty toward ratification!

Please begin by thanking both Senators for supporting S Res 178 on gender-based violence in Guatemala, as well as their support for women and other civilian victims in Darfur!

Please then urge both Senators to support efforts to finally ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW). Here are some specific actions to suggest:

· Insert a statement in support of CEDAW in the Congressional Record.
· Send a short letter to Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, encouraging hearings and a vote in Committee on the Treaty.
· Make a brief statement on the Senate floor in support of CEDAW ratification.
· Write to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), asking them to make the Treaty a priority and help build support for Senate ratification.

You may also wish to mention that the following NJ Congressmen have cosponsored H Res 101, a resolution calling for the Senate to ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW):

· Representative Rush Holt
· Representative Frank Pallone
· Representative Bill Pascrell
· Representative Donald Payne
· Representative Steve Rothman
· Representative Albio Sires

NYT Editorial Supporting Habeas Legislation

Today's New York Times has an editorial, Restoring American Justice, supporting Senate legislation restoring the right to Habeas Corpus that the Military Commission's Act took away from anyone identified as an "unlawfal enemy combatant" under the vague criteria of the Bush Administration.

Both Senator Lautenbuerg and Senator Menendez are already cosponsors of this important legislation.

BOTH NJ Senators Onboard Resolution Against Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala!

I just checked Thomas (the on-line congressional database) and found that Senator Frank Lautenberg has become a cosponsor of S Res 178, the resolution condemnng violence against women in Guatemala! Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Lautenberg's support for this important resolution, as well as Senator Menendez's earlier decision to support it.

Thanks also to everyone who contacted their offices about this issue!

Update--NJ Delegations to Support Ratification of Women's Rights Treaty

There is a delegation being organized to meet with the Newark office(s) of Senator Lautenberg and/or Senator Menedez as part of Amnesty's national mobilization to support ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Click here if you are interested in taking part!

From our friends at New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Dear Friends,

After seven years of tireless and dedicated work, we are nearing the finish line.

As you may have read in media reports, the death penalty abolition bill is expected to be considered when the New Jersey State Legislature returns from the summer/fall break in November.

Because the legislative term ends in January of next year, this means that the abolition bill will need to go through several steps in less than 8 weeks.

As always, we will need to work together to insure that the bill is signed into law. We are going to again ask you to reach out to your legislators to ensure they do the right thing. NJADP is now scheduling special "letter writing sessions" to generate letters to state legislators. These sessions are great opportunities for local groups to be updated on the status of the abolition bill and to take action at the same time. They start with a five minute presentation by an NJADP staff member or volunteer, followed by about 25 minutes of letter writing.

Many of you held these letter writing sessions during the 2005 moratorium/study bill campaign. We ask that you call now to schedule one for the abolition bill this fall. NJADP can even bring stationary and stamps! Please contact Abe at NJADP's Trenton office ASAP at 609-278-6719 or abe@njadp.org for more information or to schedule a session.

The last seven years have been rewarding and inspiring. New Jersey is the leading state in the abolition movement because New Jerseyans like you have spoken up in record numbers. Because of our hard work, this summer, I was named by the web site www.politicsnj.com to their list of the 100 most politically powerful people in New Jersey. While I may be the face of NJADP most seen by legislators and the public, your strength of conviction and commitment to justice and sensible public policy is the real power behind this movement.

Collectively we have become a powerful force for change. Now it is time to take our grassroots voices to the State House for one last campaign.

If together we do our job well - and I have no doubt we will - we will guide New Jersey out of the darkness of state executions once and for all. We will also create what many are predicting will be the most important turning point moment on capital punishment in our nation's history.

We look forward to hearing from you over the coming weeks about the letter writing sessions.

Thank you.

In peace,

Celeste

PS - We are preparing now for action on the abolition bill later this year - so that we can be as ready as possible to turn out supporters for hearings and voting sessions. As you know, there is often only a few days notice before a hearing or a vote. We are currently developing a list of individuals who would like to be notified by telephone when the bill is scheduled to be considered. If you would like to be sure you are on that list, please contact Abe at abe@njadp.org or 609-278-6719.

Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
973-635-6396 Chatham Office
609-278-6719 Trenton Office
www.njadp.org

Senator Menendez Cosponsors Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

I just spoke with Senator Robert Menendez's office. Although it has not yet appeared on Thomas (the official legislative database on the web), he has signed on as a cosponsor to S Res 178, the resolution condemning the epidemic of gender based violence in Guatemala and calling upon the Guatemalan governemnt to take serious action to protect women and girls!

Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Menendez's support for this important meassure. Thanks also to everyone who contacted his office about this issue!

I will let you know when I hear something from Senator Frank Lautenberg's office.

Urge Senators Lautenberg & Menendez to Support Ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women

As I mentioned last month, Amnesty is organizing a week of visits to Senate offices across the country during the week of September 24 to urge them to support ratification of the Convention on All Forms of Descrimination Against Women (CEDAW--the Treaty for Women's Rights).

Unfortunately, the United States is one of the few countries that has not yet ratified this important instrument for protecting women's rights. It's time we finally did so! It would be especially great if you could volunteer to organize a meeting with one of the in-state offices of Senator Lautenberg (Newark or Camden) and/or Senator Menendez (Newark or Barrington). Amensty will provide training and materials to make your visit a success. And I would be happy to help out too!

Click here to volunteer to organize a delegation!

Article on Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala

As you know, Amnesty is urging the Senate to support S Res 178 on the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala. You might want to check out Michael Parenti and Lucia Muñoz's article Gender Savagery in Guatemala on the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) website. (This is not an Amnesty International document)

Once again, please contact the offices of Senator Lautenburg and Senator Menendez about this important issue!

Support Senate Resolution on Violence Against Women in Guatemala!

This spring, activists from Amnesty International and other groups helped secure passage of H Res 100, a House resolution condemning the epidemic of violence against women in Guatemala and urging the Guatemalan government to take serious measures to protect women and girls.

Senator Bingaman (D-NM) has recently introduced a similar measure, S Res 178. Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:

1. Over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala since 2001.
2. Many of them were also the victims of sexual violence.
3. Few cases have been investigated, and even fewer have bee brought to trial. Only a handful of cases have resulted in the conviction of the killers.
4. Please cosponsor Senator Binghamton’s S Res 178 to send a strong message to Guatemalan government that the U.S. Senate and its constituents value women’s lives and want to see justice done in these murders.
   

There is also an online action available.

Upcoming Mobilization to Support Women's Rights!

Near the end of September, activist around the country will participate in a week of action to urge the U.S. Senate to finally ratify the Convention for the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which is also known a s the Treaty for the Rights of Women.

If you are in a student group, this mobilization will take place within a month of your return to classes. It would therefore help if you could begin including it in your plans for the semester and put it on the agenda for your first meeting.

Please check back here for more information on this action!

Update on Senate Habeas Corpus Vote

Senators Specter and Leahy have introduced the amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to restore the right to habeas corpus as S.A. 2022. It appears that Senate is likely to vote on this amendment this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:

1. Thank you for supporting S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act!
2. I am glad that you share my concern for protecting the constitutional right to challenge the fact and conditions of one’s detention.
3. Please vote in favor of S.A. 2022, the bipartisan amendment to S. 1547 (the Department of Defense Authorization bill) introduced by Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy to restore habeas corpus.

Restoring Habeas Corpus Coming to a Vote in the Senate!

Both of New Jersey’s senators have already cosponsored S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. One of the problems, of course, is that President Bush could veto this bill if it is passed on its own. Senators Specter and Leahy are therefore going to introduce a motion to attach it to the Defense Authorization bill, a piece of legislation that the president is unlikely to veto.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and make the following points:
1. Thank you for supporting S. 185, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act!
2. I am glad that you share my concern for protecting the constitutional right to challenge the fact and conditions of one’s detention.
3. Please vote in favor of the bipartisan amendment to S. 1547 (the Department of Defense Authorization bill) introduced by Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy to restore habeas corpus.

Habeas Corpus Letter in 7/9/2007 Star-Ledger

The Star-Ledger finally published my letter about the June 26th Day of Action to Restore Habeas Corpus.

Unfortunately, the online version is not formatted well. Look for “Restoring habeas corpus” on the same line as the signature for the letter from James Baukney of Pennsauken. It is above the letter (clearly) titled “Polls might help.”

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!

Report from the Day of Action in DC

Yesterday, I joined roughly four thousand activists from all fifty states to tell Congress to restore the right to habeas corpus and undo other damage created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006. I rode down in a packed bus that left New York City around 6:00 a.m. We arrived in DC shortly before 11:00. The rally in the Upper Senate Park went very well. It was especially great to hear from Members of Congress who have taken the lead by introducing the legislation we were there to support. Sister Dianna Ortiz’s testimony as a torture survivor was both moving and helpful in preparing for the lobbying visits later in the day. And, as usual, it was great to hear from Amnesty’s Executive Director, Larry Cox.

Following the rally, everyone broke into state delegations to coordinate the afternoon of lobbying. Those of us from New Jersey all met with Senator Robert Menendez at 2:00. There were so many constituents involved that the meeting had to take place on the steps of the Capitol! The Senator also discussed ideas he has for advancing S 576 (The Restoring the Constitution Act).

As you may recall, Amnesty was especially eager to meet with Congressman Robert Andrews’s office. Unfortunately, however, there was no meeting scheduled. I stopped by his office with one of his constituents and dropped off some relevant AI literature, but the staff person we needed to speak with was not there.

I then joined a meeting with Congressman Rush Holt’s office that was already in progress. As you may know, Holt had already agreed to cosponsor HR 1415 and HR 1416. The room was packed with his grateful constituents. They were also interested in learning more about Holt’s new role heading an intelligence panel on the Appropriations Committee. While Congressman Holt was tied up during most of the meeting, he was able to stop by and briefly speak with us.

At 3:30, I met with my own Representative, Albio Sires. The meeting went well. He indicated that he shared our concerns and promised to look into the legislation.

My final meeting of the day was with Congressman Scott Garrett’s office. Unfortunately, a change of schedule prevented Garrett from joining us himself. I joined several of Garrett’s constituents a large group of high school students from Elizabeth in a meeting with the appropriate member of his staff. She informed us that Garrett believes that he did was correct to vote for the Military Commissions Act, but would listen to our concerns.

Thanks to everyone who made it to DC yesterday! Your participation showed our state’s congressional delegation just how important habeas corpus and other human rights issues are to the people of New Jersey.

Those of you who were unable to come yesterday can still help out! Please call your Representative and urge him to cosponsor the Restoring the Constitution Act (HR 1415) and the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (HR 1416)! If possible, try to set up an in-district meeting with him during the upcoming 4th of July holiday recess—and please feel free to contact me at lladutke@yahoo.com for help!

National Week of Action to Restore Habeas Corpus!

The national week of action to restore Habeas Corpus is here! Activists across the country are meeting with their House and Senator offices to urge them to support legislation restoring the right to habeas corpus and correcting other provisions of the Military Commissions Act that undermine the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. On Tuesday, Amnesty will help bring activists down to Washington, DC for a demonstration and day of lobbying!

These efforts will be even more successful, of course, if activists such as you call Congess and ask them to support HR 1416 (The Restoring Habeas Corpus Act) and HR 1415 (The Restoring the Constitution Act). You can find out the name and contact information of your House member by entering your zip code at www.house.gov.

Congressmen Rush Holt and Steve Rothman are the only two New Jersey House members who have already signed on. We especially need calls from Congressman Robert Andrews’s constituents!

You can refer to the recent Associated Press Article, “Army Officer Says Gitmo Panels Flawed,” which gives Lt. Colonel Stephen Abraham’s inside account of the need to reestablish the judicial oversight built into our nation’s system of checks and balances.

Please also remind your congressional office that Tuesday is the International Torture Victims and Survivors Day. Without the right to habeas corpus, prisoners are unable to challenge the conditions of their detention, even if they amount to torture. The Military Commissions Act also allows the use of unreliable information gathered through techniques that amount to torture.

Rush Holt Joins Steven Rothman in Supporting the Restoration of Habeas Corpus!

Congressman Rush Holt [NJ-12] has become the second House member from New Jersey to support Hr 1415, the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, and HR 1416, the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007! These two bills would reverse much of the damage created by the Military Commissions Act, including the denial of habeas corpus—the basic right to challenge one’s detention before an independent court—to non-citizens. Restoration of this right, in turn, would be a key step toward preventing further acts of torture and the other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment that have been committed at Guantanamo and other U.S.-run prisons.

It’s great to know that two of our state’s House members are already onboard this important legislation. ! If you live in either of their districts, please thank Congressmen Holt and Rothman! If you don’t, please help us convince the rest of New Jersey’s House members to join them! Amnesty is currently working with other human rights organizations for a week of mobilization in support of these bills, including rally and day of lobbying in Washington as well as meetings with local district offices. Click HERE to help out!

Busses to June 26th Habeas Action in DC

Amnesty is joining forces with the ACLU and other organizations to organize a day of rallying and lobbying in Washington, DC to restore the right to Habeas Corpus. The ACLU has posted information of free buses for those interested in going to DC.

There are buses leaving from the following loactions in New Jersey:

New Jersey: Newark/ElizabethDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:30am
Exact location to be determined
New Jersey: Trenton/PrincetonDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:30am
Exact location to be determined


Those of you in Northern Jersey might also consider taking a bus from NYC:

New York: New York City - 125 Broad StreetDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
125 Broad Street No personal parking available
New York: New York City - Union SquareDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
Union Square E. @ 16th St.No personal parking available
New York: New York City - Upper West SideDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 5:00am
Exact location to be determined No personal parking available


Those in Central/Southern Jersey may want to catch the bus from Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania: PhiladelphiaDeparts: Tue. 6/26, 6:00am
Exact location to be determined No personal parking

Remember, we are also organizing in-district meetings with congressional offices during that week! You don't have to leave Jersey to help protect the U.S. Constitution.

NYT Week in Review on Roots of Bush Administration Torture

The current Week in Review section of the New York Times has a good article on the origins of the torture and other inhumane “interrogation techniques” that the Bush Administration has used and defended as part of the “war on terror.” Not only does it show that the U.S. government copied these abusive methods from its former totalitarian rival, but also that it has a long track record of criticizing these methods as torture when used by the Soviet Union. You can read “They’ll Say Anything: Soviet-Style ‘Torture’ Becomes ‘Interrogation’” online.

Please remember that this is Torture Awareness Month! Amnesty is joining forces with other human rights groups to convince Congress to restore the right to habeas corpus, an essential safeguard against the practices described in this article. Click here to find out how you can help!