filed under Activism
Chief Justice Roberts in Providence
10:45AM ON
02/08/2008
BY
Nicholas Schmader
RHODE ISLANDERS TO DEMAND CLOSURE OF GUANTANAMO AND END TO U.S. USE OF TORTURE.On Feb. 12, concurrent with the Providence visit of Chief Justice John Roberts, a coalition of RI community, religious, and political groups will hold a rally and procession at the Federal Courthouse on Kennedy Plaza. The purpose of this action is to bring attention to the following critical demands: close the Guantanamo gulag, end all U.S. involvement in torture, end illegal spying, and restore the Bill of Rights.
Although all three branches of the Federal Government have acted to debase the very concept of justice, ordinary citizens will peacefully and solemnly gather to assert their civil liberties and invoke principles to counter the empty, congratulatory posturing behind the Roberts visit. “Since the Chief Justice is a stalwart neocon,” notes Sam Smith of East Bay MoveOn, “we fear that the Supreme Court will legitimize the roll-back of civil liberties wrought by the Bush administration”.
“As a citizen of the U.S. and member of the world community,” adds Kathy Lessuck of the RI Community Coalition for Peace, “I am saddened, sickened, and embarrassed by our practice and promotion of torture, as well as the continued existence of Guantanamo and other secret U.S. prisons throughout the world.”
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“Also very troubling,” says Chris Murphy of the International Socialist Organization, “is that no current Presidential candidate seems even moderately interested in removing these threats to our freedom and humanity.”
Gathering will begin at 10:30 am on Tuesday Feb. 12 at Burnside Park, adjacent to Kennedy Plaza. After a brief rally, citizens will move in procession toward the Federal Building.
This event is endorsed by the following organizations: RI SPRING MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE, AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE(SENE), INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORG., GREEN PARTY OF RI, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM(BROWN STUDENTS), PAX CHRISTI, RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY COALITION FOR PEACE, MOVEON(EAST BAY), EAST BAY CITIZENS FOR PEACE, SOUTH KINGSTOWN JUSTICE AND PEACE ADVOCACY GROUP, D.A.R.E., AND RI UNTARIAN-UNIVERSALISTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
For more information contact:
Sam Smith 401-247-0882, MoveOn(East Bay)
Shane Jones 401-256-9379, Workers International League(WIL)
Nick Schmader 401-249-1028, Green Party of Rhode Island
February 8th, 2008 at 11:26AM
ted rao Says:
Roberts in RI? And here I am in NY…
[Reply]
February 10th, 2008 at 11:33AM
joe Says:
the very fact that these radical groups can protest without being tear gassed or shot should wake people up to the fact that we do have as much freedom as we can use-try this in burma
[Reply]