Join us Dec. 10 @ 11am for Human Rights Day demonstration in front of U.S. Courthouse in Mpls,

[annm4peace]

Even in this freezing/blizzard conditions. Brave MN's are going out in their Orange Jumpsuits and Black Hoods. One of the MN Tackle Torture at the Top member said that time is running out, and there is a statue of limitations on prosecuting those who wrote the legal documents allowing torture, those who ordered torture, and those who participated in torturing.


(this is from a warmer day) photo by Sharon Schmickle
Demonstrators march past the Minnesota Capitol.


Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: U.S. Courthouse, 300 So 4th St., Minneapolis, MN

Join us December 10 for the Human Rights Day demonstration in front of the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis

Remind officials to seek accountability for use of torture

This will be a multi-part demonstration and you’re free to participate in any or all of it:

a) Meet at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Federal Courthouse (300 So Fourth Street, Minneapolis) to obtain leaflets and/or orange jumpsuit/black hood attire and signs if you want. From about 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., those of us in orange “Close Guantanamo” jumpsuits will individually walk (or in small groups) around the downtown area, with signs and/or leaflets.

b) At 11:45 we will gather back in front of the U.S. Courthouse in a silent protest of the torture committed on detainees around the world and the lack of prosecution for those complicit in this torture which functions to set dangerous precedent. Some individuals, but not as part of “Tackling Torture at the Top” group, may attempt to wear the black hoods, which are symbolic of what the detainees have been forced to wear. (Note: People have worn such hoods in peaceful protests all across the country, including in front of the White House and at the large march at the start of the RNC in St. Paul. The wearing of these hoods is therefore believed to be expressive communication protected by the First Amendment. But Court Security has previously advised that wearing a hood could violate the 1859 Minnesota “Anti-Masking” law that makes it a misdemeanor to conceal one’s identity by wearing a mask unless falling under certain religious, medical, amusement or weather related reasons.)

c) After a short time of silent demonstration (aprox. 30 minutes), some people will attempt to turn themselves in to the federal authorities at the Courthouse for our own complicity in the torture committed in our names. People will describe their confessions to any media outside and hopefully to the authorities inside the U.S. Attorney's office on the sixth floor. Orange jumpsuits are available for purchase ($10) or to borrow if you’d like to participate this way in the Human Rights Day demonstration but you’re free to come watch and support that way too.

[annm4peace]

1. Update on the Torture protest yesterday

Wow, Protesting in freezing weather. Well the FEDS can't say they didn't know what the Public wants.

Thank you, you very brave souls! Thank you for standing up for Justice, for America, for Humanity!

Why is Rep Ellison, Oberstar, McCollum.. they should be standing with you or do they support torture?

Where is Sen Klobuchar? (oh yeah she is protecting us from pool drains),

Where is Sen Franken? (I wish Sen Wellstone's spirit will visit him)


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7200731&mesg_id=7200731


picture by Steve Bidell on Flickr


picture by Ross Rowley

Before the protest we had been informed by law enforcement that if we wore the black hoods outside the courthouse we could be subject to arrest under an obscure 1859 law that prohibited the wearing of masks for anything other than amusement, religion, medical reasons or weather related purposes. It was a law that appeared unconstitutional on its face, if people are legally able to wear a mask for amusement but it suddenly becomes a crime when a person wears a mask to criticize government policy it would seem the law was in clear violation of the first amendment. We could try to claim we wore the hoods for amusement and slip through the loophole, but we were not wearing these hoods for our amusement we were wearing them to make a very serious statement against torture. Because this law appeared so blatantly unconstitutional on its face several of us in the group decided we were not going to abide by it and if they tried to arrest us we would fight their unconstitutional law in court. The police wisely chose not to enforce the obscure law they threatened to use against us however and we stood in front of the courthouse for over an hour with the hoods over our heads.

There are some who will say that we didn't need to be out there in the cold today, they will tell us that we should look forwards and not backwards. Well we are looking forward. We are looking forward to the day in which our government officials know that if they engage in acts of torture they will be prosecuted. We are looking forward to the day in which our government truly follows the Constitution and ensures that no human being is subject to cruel and unusual punishment. We are looking forward to a time in which our world lives in peace and war is no longer used as an excuse to violate basic human rights. If our government officials really wanted to look forward they would prosecute those who violated the law to ensure that our government officials know that if they engage in torture at any future time they too will be held accountable.