The following information is a digest of information regarding the recently signed NDAA.
CONSIDER FOR NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: Amnesty International and over 45 other organizations will protest the NDAA and Guantanamo in front of the White House on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the “war on terror” prison. Sign up (see below they kicked off with guantanamo bay costume protests, arrestees gave names of gitmo prisoners as a symbolic ‘day in court’ in DC) at
http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
congrats on event yesterday .. impressive turnout and media coverage despite short notice and cold … let’s keep the momentum going…!!!
There have been many occupy NDAA protests: see some clips on youtube and some articles below. VERY LITTLE COVERAGE OF THESE PROTESTS IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA
(SANTA CRUZ, LA, SAN DIEGO, TAMPA, AND MORE)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ndaa+occupy+protest&oq=ndaa+occupy+protest
Occupy #J3 action:
January 3rd:
Website: New York Magazine
Occupy Wall Street Protests NDAA at Grand Central – By Brett Smiley
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/01/occupy-stages-protest-at-grand-central.html
also covered on websites of wall street journal and nw york times : http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1c77ef83e6004e5ebc1ef9934583bb03.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/nyregion/3-arrested-as-occupy-protestors-march-in-midtown.html )
50 Occupy D.C. Supreme Court human rights defenders on hunger strike
http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/50-occupy-d-c-supreme-court-human-rights-defenders-on-hunger-strike
slideshow: http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/witness-against-torture-human-rights-defenders-hunger-strike-for-justice-occupy-washington-d-c-supreme-courtjan-3-2012-picture#slide=41708371
“Leading to the tenth anniversary of the first detainees’ arrival at the U.S.-controlled Guantanamo Bay detention facility on Jan. 11, fifty human rights anti-torture workers began occupying Washington D.C. at the Supreme Court today during their 10-day hunger strike for justice saying President Obama’s signing of NDAA is unacceptable.”…. When arrested at demonstrations, WAT members use names of detainees to symbolically give to them their day in court, as entitled according to the Declaration of Human Rights but denied and thus violated by the Bush and Obama administrations.
Jan 3:
Iowa Die-In
Occupy “die in” at Iowa DNC protests NDAA, corporate control of politics
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/01/03/occupy-die-iowa-dnc-protests-ndaa-corporate-control-politics
youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFihvJBmN9w&feature=player_embedded
Occupy the Caucus took aim at Democrats on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, holding a “die in” to protest President Obama signing a law that could allow Americans to be held indefinitely without trial if they are accused of terrorism .. Protesters lay on the floor of a hotel that houses the Democratic National Committee’s Iowa “war room,” playing dead while one read a statement … Twelve of the protesters were arrested for trespassing.
Occupy protesters unable to meet with Democratic official
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120101/NEWS/120101020?odyssey=mod%7Cmostco
Occupiers Arrested Protesting NDAA, Denver Camp Burns
BY ALLISON KILKENNY
http://inthesetimes.com/uprising/entry/12451/occupiers_arrested_protesting_ndaa_denver_camp_burns/
Eight Occupy Iowa protesters were arrested Monday at the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines where they protested what the Washington Post vaguely terms “defense spending.”
Specifically, the group demanded President Obama veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA,) which gives the president the authority to indefinitely detain persons (including U.S. citizens) without trial and to expand the scope of the War on Terror.
DC Protest on Tuesday, Dec 18
Seven Occupy DC protesters arrested outside White House
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/12/seven-occupy-dc-protesters-arrested-outside-white-house/2021476
By: Aubrey Whelan | 12/20/11 10:12 PM
U.S. Park Police arrested seven Occupy DC protesters outside the White House Tuesday night after they sat on the sidewalk and refused to move when police asked them to leave.The Occupiers were protesting a section in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 …About 25 protesters marched in a circle outside the White House until police told them to move behind a police line they’d set up between two light poles.
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good overview articles:
Washington Post Letter to the Editor about NDAA – good brief summary
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-egregious-violation-of-due-process/2011/12/21/gIQAnVgHJP_story.html
“with provisions making possible the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens suspected of terrorist activities, without due process, in instances authorized by the president. Congress’s creation of this legislation and the president’s decision not to veto it represent severe breaches of their constitutional and moral responsibilities. ”
“If citizens can be detained indefinitely without access to the evidence against them or legal representation against that evidence, what rights remain sacred?”
http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/NDAA
summary:
On Dec 31, 2011 President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allowing indefinite detention to be codified into law.
In a signing statement,Obama said he had “serious reservations” about the provisions, the statement only applies to how his administration would use it and would not affect how the law is interpreted by subsequent administrations.
Under the Bush administration, similar claims of worldwide detention authority were used to hold even a U.S. citizen detained on U.S. soil in military custody, and many in Congress now assert that the NDAA should be used in the same way again. The ACLU believes that any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal, including under the NDAA.
http://www.aclu.org/indefinite-detention-endless-worldwide-war-and-2012-national-defense-authorization-act
dangerous provisions that would authorize the president — and all future presidents — to order the military to pick up and imprison people, including U.S. citizens, without charging them or putting them on trial.
the White House has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill over its concern for indefinite detention provisions.
the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the FBI and the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division have all said that the indefinite detention provisions in the NDAA are harmful and counterproductive.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/trust-me-is-not-enough-of-a-safeguard-says-amnesty-international-as-president-obama-signs-the-ndaa-i
Amnesty International and over 45 other organizations will protest the NDAA and Guantanamo in front of the White House on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the “war on terror” prison. Sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/31/obama-defense-bill_n_1177836.html
The National Defense Authorization Act states how the military is to be funded, but also includes a number of controversial provisions on arresting and holding suspected terrorists, which at first drove Obama to threaten a veto.
Feinstein (D-Calif) introduces Due Process Guarantee Act
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/10230-feinstein-introduces-due-process-guarantee-act
an attempt by Feinstein and her co-sponsors to prevent American citizens detained under applicable provisions of the NDAA from being denied their constitutional right to the due process of law The stated purpose of the act is:
To clarify that an authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and for other purposes.
If approved, this newest measure would amend the Non-Detention Act, originally enacted in 1971. Specifically, the bill would add language to 18 U.S.C. § 4001(b). The proposed revamped paragraph would read:
An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention.
Currently, the affected section reads:
(a) No citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an Act of Congress.
(b)(1) The control and management of Federal penal and correctional institutions, except military or naval institutions, shall be vested in the Attorney General, who shall promulgate rules for the government thereof, and appoint all necessary officers and employees in accordance with the civil-service laws, the Classification Act, as amended, and the applicable regulations.
National Lawyers Guild Officially Condemns NDAA
http://www.nlg.org/news/announcements/nlg-condemns-ndaa-provisions/
Attempting Recall of Montana Senator
http://www.infowars.com/recall-montanans-organize-to-remove-senators-who-voted-for-traitorous-detainment-bill/
The Montana Recall Act stipulates that officials including US senators can only be recalled for physical or mental lack of fitness, incompetence, violation of the oath of office, official misconduct, or conviction of a felony offense. We the undersigned call for a recall election to be held for Senator Max S. Baucus [and Senator Jonathan Tester] and charge that he has violated his oath of office, to protect and defend the United States Constitution.”
