”Challenging U.S. Human Rights Violations Since 9/11”

D. The Government's Duties to Protect People's Rights

• 18. To Guarantee Due Process Of Law, Right To Counsel, And Habeas Corpus
• 19. Not To "Detain" "Enemy Combatants" At Guantanamo Or Anywhere
• 20. To Deal Promptly And Fairly With Political Asylum Petitions
• 21. To Protect The Family, Especially Children
• 22. To Enforce Anti-Trust And Anti-Corruption Laws
• 23. To Protect The Rights Of Workers And Unions
• 24. To Release Political Prisoners; To Stop Capital Punishment

18. To Guarantee Due Process Of Law, Right To Counsel, And Habeas Corpus

The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by the Government of the person, and property, of any person suspected of a crime. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel in all criminal prosecutions, a speedy public trial, a trial by an impartial jury. All defendants have a right to know the charges against them and to “be confronted with the witnesses against [them]; ...” they can have “compulsory process” to bring people to court to testify for them, and they have the right to have lawyers assist in their defense. The Seventh Amendment protects the right to jury trial in civil cases. The Eighth Amendment spells out the right to be freed on bail that is not “excessive” and “no cruel and unusual punishments” shall be “inflicted.”

These historic procedural rights are also spelled out in modern terms in the UN Charter, Articles 55 and 56, Int’l. Covenant on Civil & Political Rights Arts. 1-27, and Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination Arts. 1-9.

U.S. Detains Citizen Padilla as "Enemy Combatant"; Habeas Denied on Technicalities

(233 F.Supp.2d 564; 352 F.3d 695; Charles J. Handy, "Scientists Say Dirty Bomb Would Be A Dud," Associated Press, June 9, 2004, accessed June 11, 2004; Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 124 S.Ct. 2711 (2004); Paul Krugman, "Noonday in the Shade: Ashcroft Neglects Real Terrorist Threats Because of His Ideological Biases," New York Times, June 22, 2004, accessed August 6, 2004; Kris Axtman, "The terror threat at home, often overlooked," Christian Science Monitor, December 29, 2003, accessed August 6, 2004.)

PATRIOT Act Labels Ordinary Crimes "Terrorism," Increasing Penalties

(PL 107-56; David B. Caruso, "Antiterror Laws Often Used Against Street Criminals," Mindfully.org, Sept. 15, 2003, accessed July 30, 2004; Denis Mosgofian, Stan Smith and Louis Garcia, "OWC CAMPAIGN NEWS - S.F. Labor Council, Open World Conference," Labor Net, June 9, 2003, accessed August 10, 2004.)

Ashcroft Arrested Well-Known Defense Lawyer for Egyptian Sheik: Lynne Stewart

(Susie Day, "Counter-Intelligent: The Surveillance and Indictment of Lynne Stewart," Monthly Review, November 2002, accessed July 27, 2004; Nat Hentoff, "High Noon for Ashcroft, Stewart, and the Defense Bar," Village Voice, April 15, 2002, accessed August 9, 2004; Elaine Cassel, "The Lynne Stewart Case: When Representing an Accused Terrorist Can Mean the Lawyer Risks Jail, Too," Counterpunch, October 12, 2002, accessed August 9, 2004; Mark Hamblett, "New Charges Lodged Against Lynne Stewart," New York Law Journal, November 20, 2003, accessed July 27, 2004; "Justice for Lynne Stewart," Lynne Stewart Defense Committee, no date, accessed May 30, 2004; Homepage Announcement, "Breaking News: Lynne's Trial Blog," Lynne Stewart Defense Committee, no date, accessed August 9, 2004.)

Immigration Officials Detained Global Relief Foundation Executive, Then Deported Him: Haddad

("The Disappeared," Independent/UK, February 26, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; Louie Meizlish, "Judge Rules Haddad's Trial Must be Open," The Michigan Daily, April 4, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; Associated Press, "Haddad Deported, Family Remains in U.S.," Refuse & Resist, July 15, 2003, accessed August 10, 2004; "Rabih Haddad's Wife and Children Deported," Metro Detroit, July 28, 2003, accessed August 10, 2004.)

U.S. District Court Kept Secret Habeas Case of Detained Algerian: Bellahouel

(Dan Christenson, "Scrutinizing 'Supersealed' Cases," Miami Daily Business Review, December 2, 2003, accessed July 26, 2004; Warren Richey, "Secret 9/11 Case Before High Court," Christian Science Monitor, October 30, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Gina Holland, "High Court Asks Details on Detainee," San Luis Obispo.com, November 5, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Dan Christenson, "Scrutinizing 'Supersealed' Cases," Miami Daily Business Review, December 2, 2003, accessed July 26, 2004; Dan Christenson, "Feds Defend Secret Docketing of Post-9/11 Detainee's Case," Miami Daily Business Review, March 5, 2004, accessed July 26, 2004.)

Courts Reject Sections of Anti-Terrorism Act and PATRIOT Act

(18 U.S.C. § 2339(B); Humanitarian Law Project v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 382, 9th Cir., 2003; Press Release, "Key Provisions of Anti Terrorism Statute Declared Unconstitutional," Center for Constitutional Rights, December 3, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Humanitarian Law Project v. Ashcroft, 309 F.Supp.2d 1185 [C.D. Cal., 2004]).

Jury Acquits One; DOJ Agrees To Drop "Terrorism" Charges Against Two After Conviction

(U.S. v. Iarim Koubriti, et al., ED Mich S. Div., #01-80778; District Attorney Richard Helfrick, in conversation with MCLI, July 26, 2004; David Cole, "The War on Our Rights," The Nation, December 24, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; David Shepardson, Detroit News, June 21, 2004, accessed June 25, 2004; U.S. v. Koubriti, 307 F.Supp.2d 891 [E.D. Mich., 2004].)

Department of Justice Proposed PATRIOT Act II, Then Dispersed Its Provisions

("ACLU Interested Persons Memo Updating the Status of "Pieces of Patriot II" Proposals," ACLU, October 8, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; David Martin, "Bush Signs Parts of Patriot Act II into law-stealthily," San Antonio Current, December 24, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Timothy H. Edgar, "Section-by-Section Analysis of Justice Department draft 'Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003' also known as 'Patriot Act II,'" ACLU, February 14, 2003, accessed June 14, 2004.)

U.S. Takes Native Land for Nuclear Waste Repository and Resource Extraction Despite 1863 Treaty

(Treaty with the Western Shoshoni, Oct. 1, 1863, 18 Stats., 689, ratified June 26, 1866, accessed August 9, 2004; "Bush signs Western Shoshone legislation: Tribal leaders view bill as massive land fraud," Western Shoshone Defense Project, July 7, 2004, accessed August 9, 2004; United States v. Dann, 572 F. 2d 222, 226; Steven Newcomb, "Failure of the United States Indian Claims Commission to File a with Congress in the Western Shoshone Case (Docket 326-K), Pursuant to Sections 21 and 22(a) of the Indian Claims Commission Act," Western Shoshone National Council, January 2003; Carrie Dann, "Statement by Carrie Dann on George W. Bush signing into "law" HR 884," email update from Western Shoshone Defense Project, July 7, 2004, , accessed July 18, 2004; "Bush signs Western Shoshone legislation: Tribal leaders view bill as massive land fraud," Western Shoshone Defense Project.)

19. Not To "Detain" "Enemy Combatants" At Guantanamo Or Anywhere

The most pervasive human rights violations since 9/11 occurred during the detentions of people on various grounds. The clear legal right to retain a lawyer, and to go before a judge in a habeas corpus proceeding to find out the charges—the Bush Administration uniformly denied these due process rights to detainees, in violation of federal and international law.

Most people were detained before they were killed or disappeared by the U.S. Government, or before they were subjected to torture. Thousands were detained after they:

• Exercised their right peaceably to assemble.
• Went to register at the request of the U.S. Government.
• Tried to exercise their right to travel.
• While awaiting decisions on their applications for political asylum.
• While the military decided what to do with military personnel seeking conscientious objector status Political prisoners continued to be detained.

The largest category of detainees, and those held the longest without any due process or procedure for determining why they should be detained, were the men arrested all over the world and held by U.S. military forces at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Victims and their lawyers argued that many provisions of the U.S. Constitution were violated by these detentions, including:

Art. I, §§§ 8; 9, cl. 2; Art. II, §1, cl. 8; §2, cl. 1; §3; Art. VI, cl. 2; 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 14th Amendments; UN Charter Art. 1.3, 2.2, 55, 55(a)-(c), 56, 73 (a)-(d), 74; OAS Charter Art. 106; ICCPR Preamble, Arts. 1- 27; CAT Preamble, Arts. 1- 10; 3rd, 4th Geneva Conventions

UN and OAS Concerned that U.S. Ensure Competent Tribunal for Guantanamo Detainees

("Request for Precautionary Measures," Center for Constitutional Rights, Feb. 25, 2002, accessed July 28, 2004; "Fact Sheet: Status of Detainees at Guantanamo," Office of the Press Secretary, Feb. 7, 2002, accessed May 23, 2004; "Petition to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Behalf of the Guantanamo Detainees, Center for Constitutional Rights," Center for Constitutional Rights, (c) 2004, accessed August 10, 2004.)

U.S. Sends U.S. Citizen to Guantanamo; Supreme Court Takes Jurisdiction

(Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 316 F.3d 450; Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 124 S.Ct. 2633 [2004]; "U.S. Citizen Detained Without Charge in Saudi Arabia," Amnesty International, accessed July 29, 2004; "Jailed American's Parents Sue U.S.," Associated Press, accessed July 29, 2004; Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 2004 WL 1766733 [4th Cir.].)

Middle Eastern Men Detained at Guantanamo, Tortured, Denied Rights

(Margaret Warner, "Military Tribunals," Online News Hour with Margaret Warner, May 26, 2003, accessed July 8, 2004; Katty Kay, "No Fast Track at Guantanamo Bay," BBC News World Edition, Jan. 11, 2003, accessed July 8, 2004; Ted Conover, "In the Land of Guantanamo," New York Times Magazine, June 29, 2003, p. 41; Duncan Campbell, "Six al-Qaeda Suspects to be Tried by American military Tribunal," Guardian UK, July 4, 2003, accessed July 8, 2004; Associated Press, "Guantanamo Camp Expands," Aug. 26, 2003, accessed July 8, 2004; Brian Ross, "Mistaken Attack," ABCNews.com, June 22, 2004, accessed July 8, 2004; Christopher Marquis, "Pentagon Will Permit Captives at Cuba Base to Appeal Status," New York Times, July 8, 2004, p. A 1.)

U.S. Navy Arrested U.S.-Syrian Airman Al-Halabi, Seized His Defense Papers; Released Him

(Charles Aldinger, "U.S. Airman Charged with Espionage in Guantanamo Case," India News, September 24, 2003 accessed July 1, 2004; Matt Kelley, "Spy Suspect Eyed Before Guantanamo Posting," Associated Press, September 26, 2003, accessed July 26, 2003; Barbara Grady, "Judge Frees Accused U.S. Guantanamo Spy From Jail," Reuters News Service, May 12, 2004, accessed June 25, 2004.)

U.S. Supreme Court Grants Guantanamo Detainees Rasul and Al Odah Habeas Review

(Pub.L. 107-40, §§ 1-2, 115 Stat. 224; 215 F.Supp.2d 55; 321 F.3d 1134; Rasul v. Bush, 124 S. Ct. 2686 (2004).)

U.S. Supreme Court Vacated Judgment for Guantanamo Detainee Gherebi, Remanded

(Bush v. Gherebi, 124 S.Ct. 2932 (2004).)

Released British Detainees Allege Abuse at Guantanamo

(BBC News, "Top UK Judge Slams Camp Delta," November 26, 2003, accessed June 25, 2004; David Rose, "Revealed: The Full Story of the Guantanamo Britons," Observer, March 14, 2003, accessed June 25, 2004; Clare Dyer, "Britain stands firm against Guantanamo Bay trials by tribunal," Guardian, June 25, 2004, accessed June 25, 2004.)

20. To Deal Promptly And Fairly With Political Asylum Petitions

Throughout U.S. history, people from many nations have sought asylum in the U.S. from persecution in their native lands. Some were refugees from starvation—Irish farmers the U.K. starved off their land in the 1800s. Some were refugees from fascism—Jews and communists fleeing Hitler in the 1930s. The problem is world wide. U.N. treaties and programs directly address the need for political asylum from repressive regimes.

Islamic/Muslim/Middle Eastern communities in the U.S. are taking up the cases of people arrested and detained while awaiting action on their heart-felt applications for political asylum.

It is much easier for the government to get an administrative law judge to order a person deported to a country where he fears political persecution than it is for a prosecutor to get a federal judge and jury to convict someone charged with rape or murder.

In several communities, Middle Eastern organizations are beginning to meet with Irish organizations and with Haitian and Colombian groups to make common cause to protect the rights of everyone seeking political asylum in the U.S.

Actions of government agents in dealing with applicants for political asylum belong in the required reports by the U.S. Government to the three U.N. human rights committees administering the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Complaints about the behavior of Immigration and Customs agents and others in the system can be made to the Office of Inspector General in the appropriate agency. Changes in political asylum law can be proposed to members of Congress.

And concerned people can constantly remind the media, and other government officials, that this is, very largely, a nation of immigrants who came to these shores to seek asylum from political persecution and discrimination in getting jobs and promotions and in business dealings.

"Operation Liberty Shield" Detains Asylum Seekers

("Operation Liberty Shield Turns Liberty on its Head," Human Rights First, March 18, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; "CCR Condemns Justice Department's Targeting of Immigrants and Iraqi Nationals," Center for Constitutional Rights, March 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

INS Detained Palestinian Muslim After He Filed an Asylum Petition

(Karen de Sá, "Caught in the Aftermath: Hard Life of a September 11 Detainee," The Mercury News, Aug. 12, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; Karen de Sá and Mark Gladstone, "September 11 Detainee released from Jail: Man Still Faces Immigration, Gun Charges," The Mercury News, Aug. 24, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004.

U.S. Denied Asylum to a Palestinian Family, Deported Them to Jordan

(James Irby, "Palestinian Family Loses Deportation Battle," ABC13 Eyewitness News, March 28, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; "Kesbehs Family," Blue Triangle Network, June 3, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

US Detains Irish Immigrant Seeking Asylum

("No Time for Love," Boulder Weekly, June 16, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; "Background," Ciaran Ferry Legal Defense Fund, accessed July 29, 2004; "Case Status," Ciaran Ferry Legal Defense Fund, accessed July 29, 2004.)

21. To Protect The Family, Especially Children

In 1787, the new U.S. Constitution proclaimed the U.S. was established to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ... .” That is the only mention of children; “family” and “women” are not mentioned.

To “insure domestic tranquility” and to “promote the general welfare” are used to support the Government’s duty to children. Concerned parents, teachers, government officials, and activists see many paths to action to protect the family, especially children, after 9/11.

All of these paths call on busy, effective people to join their parent/teacher associations, to attend meetings of the school board to express opinions on school policies, to tell members of state legislatures, Congress members, and presidential candidates that a commitment to children, and families, means funding programs that uphold the First Amendment and promote the general welfare for all residents of the U.S.

U.S. Mistreating Unaccompanied Minors Entering U.S.

("First National Survey of Children in Immigration Detention Exposes Mistreatment, Lengthy Detentions, Legal Barriers," Amnesty International, June 18, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

Bush Cuts Housing Vouchers

(Lynda Carson, "Bush's Cuts Cause Crisis in Section 8 Housing Program," Street Spirit, June 2004, page 4.)

U.S. Judge Sentenced African American Teenager for Website

(Merlin Chowkwanyun, "A Strange and Tragic Legal Journey: The Case of Sherman Austin," Counterpunch, October 11-13, 2003, accessed July 13, 2004; Steven Mikulan, "Accidental Anarchist," LA Weekly, July 11-17, 2003, accessed July 13, 2004; Walida Imarisha, "Sherman Austin: Black Anarchist faces PATRIOT Act Repression," Clamor, Mar/Apr 2004, accessed July 13, 2004; "Sherman Austin Freed, Sort of...," Independent Media Center, July 29, 2004, accessed July 29, 2004.)

Teacher Called Secret Service to Interrogate Students

(Alex Katz, "Oakland Teacher Calls U.S. Security After Teens Make In-Class Comments Threatening President Bush," Oakland Tribune, May 4, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Marcelo Rodriguez, "Secret Service Interrogation of 2 Students Sparks Furor," Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

U.S. Limited Sex Education Funding to Abstinence-Only

(Mary Jo McConahay, "Family Planning: A Neighborhood Named Desire," Sierra Magazine-Sierra Club, Jan./Feb. 2004, accessed July 29, 2004; "ACLU Hails Federal Court's Decision to Halt Taxpayer Financing of Religion in Abstinence-Only Progams," ACLU of Louisiana, July 25, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; "ACLU Announces Settlement in Case Against Taxpayer Financing of Religion in Louisiana Abstinence-Only Programs," ACLU of Louisiana, November 13, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; "W.H. Ponders Condom Warnings," CNN.com, accessed June 8, 2004.)

Hawaii Passed Law to End Sex Tourism

("Hawaii: Legislation Passed to End Sex Tourism and Hold Sex Tour Operators Accountable," Equality Now, Women's Action 24.2 Update [mailing], May 2004.)

22. To Enforce Anti-Trust And Anti-Corruption Laws

Mass movements of steel and railroad workers throughout the U.S. demanded the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 to stop large corporations from making deals to cut wages and speed up production even if it meant cutting safety standards and the quality of products. It was upheld in Standard Oil v. U.S., 221 U.S. 1(1911). By 1914, unions demanded the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 12). The Anti-Trust Division of the Department of Justice was established to enforce these laws.

In the Great Depression, after the stock market crash, Congress established the Securities and Exchange Commission to oversee actions by corporations.

After 9/11, more and more pundits began to comment on the total inactivity of the Anti-Trust Division in the face of mergers of huge corporations, from computers to grocery outlets to TV and radio stations. This led to hundreds attending hearings of the Federal Communications Commission in 2004.

Labor unions, activists, and good government NGOs were on the path of action to enforce basic U.S. laws against corporate misconduct.

DOD Awarded Iraq Reconstruction Contracts Without Competitive Bidding

(Todd Tavares, "The Real Winners," Dollars and Sense, Issue #248 July/Aug. 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Jonathan Weisman and Anitha Reddy, "Spending on Iraq Sets Off Gold Rush: Lawmakers Fear U.S. Is Losing Control of Funds," Washington Post, Oct. 9, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; "Windfalls of War," The Center for Public Integrity, accessed July 29, 2004; Larry Margasak, "Report Links Iraq Deals to Bush Donations," USA Today, Oct. 30, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

Contracts in Iraq Awarded to Anti-Labor Monopolies

("The Corporate Invasion of Iraq: Profile of U.S. Corporations Awarded Contracts in U.S./British-Occupied Iraq," U.S. Labor Against the War, June 6, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004.)

Congress Members Complain about Contracts to Political Contributors

(Larry Margasak, "Report Links Iraq Deals to Bush Donations," USA Today, October 30, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; "Letter from Henry Waxman, California State Representative, to the Honorable Joshua Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget," September 30, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Senator Edward Kennedy, "Congressional Record [Senate]," Page S12638-S12643, DOCID:cr16oco3-94, October 16, 2003.)

Whistleblowers on DynCorp Corruption Win in Two Courts

(Kelly Patricia O'Meara, "DynCorp Disgrace," Insight on the News, August 19, 2003, accessed July 29, 2004; Mary Alice Robbins, "RICO Used in Wrongful Termination Suit," Texas Lawyer, April 2, 2001, accessed July 29, 2004; Associated Press, "U.N. Whistleblower Wins Claim," FreeRepublic.com, August 2, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004; Jamie Wilson, "£110,000 Payout for Sacked Whistleblower," The Guardian, November 27, 2002, accessed July 29, 2004.)

Corporate Armies Wage War in Iraq, Afghanistan

(Dana Priest and Mary Pat Flaherty, "Under Fire, Security Firms Form An Alliance," Washington Post, April 8, 2004, p. A 1; Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman, "The Rising Corporate Military Monster," Common Dreams.org, April 23, 2004, accessed June 30, 2004; Barry Lando, "Soldiers and Fortune," TomPaine.com, April 16, 2004, accessed June 30, 2004; James Dao, "A Man of Violence, of Just '110 Percent' Gung-Ho?" New York Times, June 19, 2004, accessed June 30, 2004.)

23. To Protect The Rights Of Workers And Unions

U.S. workers won passage of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment & Balanced Growth Act in 1978. It requires the President to report to Congress at budget time on the unemployment rate and to propose a plan to bring it down to three percent for adults and four percent for minors. Bush failed to make such a report in 2004.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (AFL-CIO) is one of the most militant unions, with strong ties to unions around the globe. President Bush after 9/11, got a Taft-Hartley injunction against the union. That did not stop the ILWU, which won most of their demands. Labor is calling for a million worker march on Washington on Oct. 17 demanding: universal health care, a national living wage, guaranteed pensions, repeal of the USA Patriot Act. www.millionworkermarch.org

Bush Uses Taft-Hartley Act Against Militant Union

(David E. Sanger with Steven Greenhouse, "Bush Invokes Taft-Hartley Act to Open West Coast Ports," New York Times, Oct. 9, 2002, accessed July 16, 2004; Doug Frechin, "Bush Declares War on West Coast Port Workers," Justice, Issue 31, Sept.- Oct. 2002, accessed July 19, 2004.)

Immigration Service Raids Wal-Mart Janitorial Staff

(Steven Greenhouse, "Cleaner At Wal-Mart Tells Of Few Breaks And Low Pay," New York Times, Oct. 25, 2003, accessed January 14, 2004; David Bacon, interviewed on The Morning Show, KPFA radio-Berkeley CA, October 29, 2003.)

Bush Failed To File Required Report Under Humphrey-Hawkins Act

(M. Harvey Brenner, "Estimating the Effects of Economic Change on National Health and Social Well-Being," prepared for Joint Economic Committee, Subcommittee on Economic Goals and Intergovernmental Policy, 98th Cong. 2nd Session, at p.53 [J. Rpt. 98-198, Serial No. J-98-17.], U.S. G.P.O, June 4, 1984, accessed at Senate Document Room July 20, 2004.)

U.S. Government Not Protecting Union Rights of Workers in "New" Iraq

("The Corporate Invasion of Iraq: Profile of U.S. Corporations Awarded Contracts in U.S./British Occupied Iraq," U.S Labor Against the War, June 6, 2003, accessed July 19, 2004; Alan Maas, "Rise of Iraq's New Labor Movement- Delegation of U.S. Unionists," Socialist Worker, Oct. 31, 2003, accessed July 19, 2004; "King County Labor Council Resolution calling for the end of the occupation of Iraq - Adopted 5/19/04," US Labor Against the War, June 8, 2004, accessed July 19, 2004; "US Occupation Forces Raid Iraqi Union Headquarters," Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions, December 11, 2003, accessed July 19, 2004.)

Oklahoma Workers Hunger Strike in Taiwan

("Interview with Lynn Baker and Todd Carlson of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE)," The Morning Show, Berkeley's KPFA-Pacifica Radio Network, June 15, 2004; "Continental Carbon Company," PACE International, accessed on June 16, 2004; "PACE, Taiwanese, and International Labor and Environmental Organizations Confront China Synthetic Rubber Company at Stockholders Meeting," June 26, 2002, accessed on June 16, 2004; Press Release, "PACE Union Has Safety Concerns Over Materials Used in Cooper Tire," April 16, 2004, accessed July 7, 2004; Press Release, "Ponca Tribe and PACE Union Hold Protest March Condemning Environmental Pollution and Employee Lockout," Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire Service, August 25, 2003, accessed July 7, 2004; "Attorney Calls on Bridgestone/Firestone to Stop Using Substandard Carbon Black Produced by Continental Carbon," National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, March 26, 2004, accessed July 7, 2004; "Firestone Recalls Nearly 500,000 Tires," ClickOnDetroit.com, February 26, 2004, accessed on July 7, 2004; "American Workers, PACE Union Members End Hunger Strike In Taiwan," Yahoo News Australia/New Zealand, June 18, 2004, accessed July 7, 2004.

24. To Release Political Prisoners; To Stop Capital Punishment

The deaths of innocent civilians on Sept. 11 set in motion greater concern for the deaths of innocent defendants on death rows across the U.S.

One of the most successful efforts to free political prisoners, and to avenge their wrongful incarceration, was the movement of Japanese-Americans herded into internment camps from Pearl Harbor in 1941 until 1945, while their sons were fighting courageously in the U.S. military. In 1988, Congress finally agreed to compensate the surviving detainees. (Civil Liberties Act of 1988.)

Efforts to deal with basic violations of the rights of Native Americans from many tribes continued, unsuccessfully, in the Bush Administration. The major losses they suffered due to U.S. seizures of their lands and destruction of their cultures were not redressed.

Reparations for African-Americans for their torture, deaths, and mistreatment as slaves in the U.S. remains unresolved. One of the strongest and most effective proponents of reparations is Mumia-Abu Jamal.

After progressive reforms in the Finnish prison system, today the Finnish percentage of people in prison is 52 per 100,000. The rate in the U.S. is 702 per 100,000. (Warren Hoge, “Finnish Prisons: No Gates or Armed Guards,” New York Times, Jan. 2, 2003.)

Leonard Peltier, Native American Political Prisoner

("The Case of Leonard Peltier, Native American Political Prisoner," October 28, 2003, accessed July 12, 2004; U.S. v. Peltier, 585 F2d 314 (8th cir. 1978); "The Case of Leonard Peltier," American Indian Cultural Support, accessed on Oct. 28, 2003; Jim Suhr, "U.S. Appeals Court Rejects Peltier's Sentence Reduction Bid," Duluth News Tribune, December 12, 2002, accessed July 12, 2004; Associated Press, "Peltier Sentence Reduction Denied," Lawrence Journal-World, December 13, 2002, accessed July 12, 2004; "Headlines for August 5, 2004: Leonard Peltier Nominated For President," Democracy Now!, August 5, 2004, accessed August 5, 2004.)

Mumia Abu-Jamal, African American Political Prisoner on Death Row

("Who is Mumia," accessed on Oct. 29, 2003; "Fact Sheet on Mumia Abu-Jamal," International Action Center, September 13, 1999, accessed July 14, 2004; Monica Moorehead, "Travesty of Justice: Pennsylvania Court Rules Against Mumia," International Action Center, Oct. 16, 2003, accessed November 23, 2003; "A Life in the Balance; The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal," Amnesty International USA, accessed on Oct. 29, 2003; International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, "Death penalty again looms over Mumia's head," SouthEndpress.org, July 12, 2004, accessed August 11, 2004; Dave Lindorff, "Support from NAACP, But a Movement in Shambles," Counterpunch, July 16, 2004, accessed July 19, 2004.)

Almost One Hundred Political Prisoners On U.S. List

("Can't Jail the Spirit: Political Prisoners and POW's in the U.S.," Prison Activist Resource Center, April 3, 2004, accessed August 13, 2004.)

Failure to Abolish Capital Punishment

(Press Release, "Governor Ryan Declares Moratorium on Executions," Illinois Government News Network, January 31, 2000, accessed July 30, 2004; "Facts about the Death Penalty," Death Penalty Information Center, July 23, 2004, accessed July 30, 2004; "Population of the United States by Race and Hispanic/Latino Origin, Census 2000 and July 1, 2003," InfoPlease, June 14, 2004 accessed August 6, 2004; "List of Defendants Executed by Year," Death Penalty Information Center, Updated August 5, 2004, accessed August 11, 2004.)

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