Anti-torture activists ask MN Reps and Senators to join our Aug 1st protest and fast

[annm4peace]

Dear Senators Klobuchar and Franken, Representatives Ellison and McCollum:

August 1 is the eight-year anniversary of the Yoo-Bybee torture memos. Coincidentally, the statute of limitations applicable to the Federal Torture Statute is also eight years. While it could be extended if death resulted, if a continuing conspiracy is found, or if a little-known provision of the Patriot Act is invoked, this anniversary is nonetheless of particular significance. Accountability for the torture committed in our names has been virtually non-existent.

To commemorate the day, Tackling Torture at the Top is asking individuals and groups to join them in a 24-hour Fast Against Torture from 6:00 p.m. Aug. 1 to 6:00 p.m. Aug. 2, and a vigil at the Minneapolis Federal Building at any time between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Aug. 2. The vigil is a call for repentance and accountability for the torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of human beings in our custody that was done in our names.

We have visited with staff persons in each of your offices, expressing our concerns about the silence coming from both the Senate and the House of Representatives on the issue of torture. Your positions give you special powers and responsibilities in this regard. You come from a state with a long history and great tradition of leadership on civil and human rights issues.

We encourage each of you to take a bold step of leadership this August 1st and 2nd. Join in our fast or stop by our all-day vigil at the Federal Building in Minneapolis. Issue a statement advocating accountability for torture, conspiracy to torture, and authorizing, ordering or "legalizing torture." Post this statement on your website. Communicate this message to President Obama and Attorney General Holder.

These are times that demand not only loyalty to country over party, but loyalty to the principles that define our humanity. Minnesota has a history and a responsibility of leadership in such times. We ask that you assume that responsibility and become a continuing part of that history.

For more information about this event, please click here.

Hope to see you on Aug. 1 or Aug. 2, and we look forward to discussing our concerns about these issues with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Robert Heberle, Sonja Johnson,
Coleen Rowley, Chuck Turchick,
Friends and Members of
Tackling Torture at the Top

[phasma ex machina]

1. I can not attend but will fast in solidarity. nt

[Angry Dragon]

2. Should send it all the reps of Minnesota

[AnnieBW]

3. Yeah, like Bachmann will fast

She'd probably waterboard a homeless person, just on general principle.

[annm4peace]

4. 24 hour Fast Against Torture Aug 1st-Aug 2nd. Join our Action

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144988738849490

The Fast Against Torture can be done anywhere and everywhere.

For those in the Twin Cities area, an anti-torture vigil will also be held on
Monday, Aug. 2, from 6 am to 6 pm in front of the U.S. Courthouse, 300 4th St. S, Minneapolis, MN





Sunday August 1, 2010 is the 8 year anniversary of the writing of the "torture memos" by Office of Legal Counsel lawyers John Yoo and Jay Bybee. (Bybee, who is now a 9th Circuit Judge, recently secretly testified to the House Judiciary Committee not admitting any wrongdoing but blamed Yoo for being too close to the White House when he wrote the memos legalizing torture. Thousands of Yoo's e-mails during this time have suspici...ously disappeared.)

8 years is also the time period specified in the statute of limitations (SOL) for bringing a prosecution for the crime of torture. So legislation is desperately needed at this point to extend the SOL as it soon will run, for instance, on certain acts of waterboarding. Obama's insane slogan and policy about "looking only forward" makes no sense as it would entail overlooking all crimes committed in the past.

So please invite everyone to join the 24 hour Fast Against Torture in memory of all those illegally, unethically tortured around the world, including, most importantly, those tortured and waterboarded by the Bush-Cheney Administration when they approved of "dark side" methods and got their lawyers to "legalize" torture through the series of OLC memorandums that culminated with the "torture memos" written on August 1, 2002.

By clicking "ATTEND" you'll be stating your intention to fast (except for water) from 6 pm on August 1 to 6 pm on August 2, 2010. Also it will mean you're pledging to contact an elected official, write a letter to the editor or somehow publicly reach other US policymakers and citizens about the August 1 being the 8 year anniversary of the torture memos and the need to extend the statute of limitations.

Those in the Twin Cities area are also invited to come physically vigil with us for a few minutes, an hour or the entire day as we stand outside the US Courthouse on Monday August 2 from 6 am to 6 pm. Signs will be provided. Look for us in the orange "Close Gitmo" jumpsuits.

Consider organizing your own US Courthouse vigil against torture on August 1st! And don't forget to join the FAT (Fast Against Torture) for 24 hours, anywhere in the world, from 6 pm on Aug 1 to 6 pm on Aug 2. All you have to do is stop eating for one day (but drink plenty of water). Spread the word to invite as many people as possible to join us in fasting and pondering how to stop (or at least reduce) the despicable practice of torture.!






** Along with Fasting we ask people to write a letter to the editor before Aug 1. We need to make people realize that time is running out to prosecute. Also write a letter to your Senators and the Whitehouse.

[annm4peace]

5. Also on WAR IS CRIME (formaly AfterDowning Street)

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/54065

Sunday August 1, 2010 is the eight-year anniversary of the writing of the "torture memos" by Office of Legal Counsel lawyers John Yoo and Jay Bybee. After Bush, Cheney and other White House principals approved of "dark side" methods, they got their lawyers to "legalize" various forms of torture through the series of OLC memorandums that culminated with the "torture memos" written on August 1, 2002. Recently Congressman Conyers released what Bybee, who is now a 9th Circuit Judge, told the House Judiciary Committee in his recent non-public interview. While Bybee did not admit any wrongdoing, he did blame Yoo for being too close to the White House when Yoo apparently formulated the memos that attempted to "legalize" torture. Not surprisingly, thousands of Yoo's e-mails during this time have suspiciously disappeared.

Coincidentally, the statute of limitations (SOL) specifies eight years as the time period for bringing a prosecution under the Federal Torture statute. So legislation is desperately needed at this point to extend the SOL as it soon could run, for instance, on certain acts of waterboarding begun as a result of Yoo-Bybee's (August 1, 2002) "torture memos". Obama's insane slogan about "looking only forward" to ignore past crimes has begun to wear thin. Legal authorities as diverse as FOX News Judge Andrew Napolitano are appalled at the lack of accountability and New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler argues that "failing to prosecute former Bush administration officials complicit in the use of torture would create a dangerous precedent and place America on a path to 'tyranny'".

[Angry Dragon]

6. I wrote to the President, my two Senators and Rep. Kline

awhile back about why there have not been any movement on bringing these people to justice.
Only heard from Kline through his military liaison and a form letter from Klobuchar.

[annm4peace]

7. What did Kline say?

(I have already received a couple generic responses from Klobuchar)

[Angry Dragon]

8. As I said I talked to his military liaison

and she was going to talk to him about his stance on torture, because she had not heard him say anything about it yet.

[annm4peace]

9. Ok, always wondered what he would say

The Vets for Peace I know have a lot to say, and one thing is that it has put our troops in great harm. Once the pictures from Abu Grahib come out the attacks on the troops greatly increased.

Many of the Vets for Peace are Vietnam Vets and also speak against those Vets who support torture who were in Vietnam, so I always wondered what Kline had to say

[clt]

10. Subsequent to this letter, a group of us met with a Franken staffer

And Franken may be the darling of some liberals, but on the issue of accountability for torture, he has been totally silent. Never a statement on it, nothing on his website, no position on it. He's just following the Obama administration, which also has been violating the Convention against Torture in numerous ways.