Civil Liberties, Extraordinary Rendition, Guantanamo, Prison Industry, Targeting Muslims, Torture, Truth to Power
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Guantanamo Bay Detainee Dies : Alleged Suicide
Law and Disorder hosts Dalia Hashad, Michael Ratner and Michael Smith discuss the recent alleged suicide at Guantanamo Bay Prison in Cuba. The Saudi Arabian detainee died last Wednesday at Guantanamo Bay prison. The U.S. military says he apparently committed suicide.
“It’s conceivable he (the detainee) was murdered.” – – Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
“This death demonstrates the urgent need to close Guantanamo Bay Prison.” – – Dalia Hashad, Amnesty International USA Program Director .
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Listen to the Pacifica National Special – The War on Immigrants – Co-hosted by our own Dalia Hashad.
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“War on Terror” Prisoners and Secret Detentions Update
Michael Ratner describes how the Bush Administration has been pushing coercive interrogations with limited resistance in Congress. He also points out the new laws that apply to prisoners in US military custody. Ratner says they are now required to obey the Army Field Manual on detainee treatment FM 34-52 that include almost 20 interrogation techniques that do not constitute torture. Those prisoners, alleged enemy combatants citizen or non-citizen in the custody of the CIA (secret prisons) are not subject to the Army Field Manual.
Anti-Torture Movement in Chicago Police Torture Case Gains Traction
The City Council will hold hearings on a special prosecutor’s “whitewash†report into police torture by former Chicago Police Lt. Jon Burge, thanks to a resolution co-signed today by 26 aldermen
The case includes a four-year investigation focused on allegations that 148 black men were tortured in Chicago police interrogation rooms in the 1970s and ’80s. The men say detectives under the command of Lt. Jon Burge beat them, used electric shocks, played mock Russian roulette and started to smother at least one to force confessions. Prosecutors described this type of criminal justice system where top officials in a position to put a stop to police torture appeared blind to the abuse. Among them, Mayor Richard Daley, when he served as Cook County state’s attorney.
Guest – Flint Taylor – Attorney with the People’s Law Office, leading the fight against covering up torture by the Chicago Police Department.
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Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine
Last month we heard author Joel Kovel discuss his book at the Brecht Forum. He recently joined Law and Disorder in the studio for a riveting interview that also looked into Kovel’s personal changes that led him to write Overcoming Zionism. Toward the end of the interview, co-host Dalia Hashad asks why Joel Kovel chose the word “overcoming” in his title.
“This book is absolutely fundamental for those who reject the unfortunate confusion between Jews, Judaism, Zionism and the State of Israel — a confusion which is the basis for systematic manipulation by the imperialist power system. It convincingly argues in favour of a single secular state for Israelis and Palestinians as the only democratic solution for the region.” Samir Amin, Director of the Third World Forum.
Guest – Joel Kovel author of Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine, has been engaged in struggles for peace and justice since the Vietnam War era. He has worked within the antiwar and antinuclear movements, the solidarity movements in Central America and the Caribbean, the movements for democratic media, and, increasingly, for ecological transformation. He lived in Nicaragua for a period in 1986, and accompanied Pastors for Peace as they broke the US blockade on Cuba in their 1994 Friendshipment. He has acted in films, worked frequently with the Bread and Puppet theatre, and lectured on four continents. Kovel joined the Green Party since 1990. In 1998, he was the Green Party candidate for US Senator from New York, and in 2000 sought their Presidential nomination.
Civil Liberties, Death Penalty, Truth to Power
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Recently we brought you the voices of activists and attorneys outside the Third Circuit Court in Philadelphia all responding to the oral arguments of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Today we have a chance to talk with lead attorney Robert R. Bryan from San Francisco. As the former chair of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Mr Bryan’s career spans more than 3 decades and has included other highly political cases such as representing leaders of the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee.
Guest – Robert Bryan, lead attorney representing Mumia Abu-Jamal
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We recently broadcasted speeches from the demonstration in New York voicing opposition to the release of admitted former CIA operative, Luis Posada Carriles. He’s accused of being one of the masterminds of a l976 mid-air explosion that demolished a Cuban airliner, killing 73 people. This demonstration was among other protests worldwide including Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.
Meanwhile the Cuban Five remain in prison. Look at photographic evidence here against Luis Posada Carriles / Washington Post Article – Free Ride For A Likely Killer
We hear a riveting speech from Father Luis Barrios, pastor of La Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas
Left Forum; Prisons, Prisoners and Political Prisoners
We hear a speech by J. Soffiyah Elijah at the Left Forum. The panel is titled, Prisons, Prisoners and Political Prisoners and chaired by our own Michael Smith. Soffiyah Elijah serves as Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School.
Left Forum: Iraq, What’s At Stake – Anthony Arnove
We turn now to hear an excerpt of a speech from author Anthony Arnove at the Left Forum this year. The panel is titled Iraq, What’s At Stake. Anthony is the author of Iraq:The Logic of Withdrawal, examining why continuing the occupation is a wildly unrealistic and reckless strategy that makes the world a more dangerous place.
Civil Liberties, Death Penalty, Guantanamo, Habeas Corpus, Truth to Power
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Habeas Corpus Update – Take Action
Co-hosts Michael Ratner and Dalia Hashad update listeners on recent decisions regarding Guantanamo prisoners and habeas corpus. Dalia Hashad alerts listeners to upcoming event supported by a coalition of civil liberties groups.
War Czar.
Michael Ratner and Dalia Hashad discuss the position of War Czar and what it means regarding the longevity of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why Did 3 Generals Refuse This Position?
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Demonstrators Worldwide Protest the Release of Luis Posada Carriles
In Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and across dozens of major cities in the United States, demonstrators worldwide took to the streets to protest the release of admitted former CIA operative, Luis Posada Carriles. He’s accused of being one of the masterminds of a l976 mid-air explosion that demolished a Cuban airliner, killing 73 people. Meanwhile the Cuban Five remain in prison. Look at photographic evidence here against Luis Posada Carriles / Washington Post Article – Free Ride For A Likely Killer
A message from Mumia Abu-Jamal : For over four decades, the US empire has been waging a secret and deadly war against Cuba. They have bombed fields, poisoned grain, hijacked planed, and plotted invasion. They have trained, paid and protected terrorists who have cost the lives of thousands of Cubans and virtually crippled their economy through a seemingly everlasting embargo. The Cuban Five, young men who tried to protect their people from these instances of U.S. state terrorism, who have bombed on one, nor planned to, who poisoned no one, nor planned to, who hurt non one, nor planned to, who merely reported the plotting of crimes against their people, face the full foul fury of the empire’s judiciary for trying to stop crimes. We must all, all of us protest the unjust convictions of Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernandez and Ramon Labanino.
We hear the voices of activists and lawyers speaking at the New York protest, including former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark and our own Heidi Boghosian.
Demonstraters Show Support For Mumia Abu-Jamal
Oral arguments were heard by 3 judges last week who will decide the fate of imprisoned former Black Panther and award winning journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Abu-Jamal has been on death row for 25 years after being convicted of killing a police officer following a controversial trial before a predominantly-white jury. The Third Circuit Court heard oral arguments that will rule whether Abu-Jamal gets life in prison, a new trial or execution. Our own Heidi Boghosian was in the courts and the streets with the hundreds of demonstrators. We hear the voices of lawyers and activists Heidi interviewed on that day outside the Third Circuit Court in Philadelphia.
Hip Hop News Update / International Herald Tribune / Crime Scene Photos
Civil Liberties, RFID, Surveillance, Truth to Power
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Implanting RFID chips into the flesh of 200 Alzheimer’s Patients
We will be bringing you updates here on Law and Disorder on the intrusiveness of RFID technology. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Some are passive and can be read with scanners up to 3 feet or more. Others broadcast a specific signal. In the past we’ve discussed how big companies plan to embed the so called Spychip into clothes, credit cards, shoes and human flesh, all in the name of convenience, safety and commerce. The breach of civil liberties is staggering. Now, however, the move to inject and track human beings with RFID chips is becoming a reality.
It sounds like a scene from Steven Spielberg’s futuristic film Minority Report, but a plan is under way right now to inject chips into 200 elderly Alzheimer’s patients in Florida. The producers of the chip say implantation should always be voluntary, but many question the ethics of conducting research on medically impaired.
Guest – Liz McIntyre, co-author of the book Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track your Every Move with RFID. She is an expert on this new technology that has literally hundreds of patent applications pending approval for a wide range of uses. Listeners – Take Action!
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John Ehrenberg : Left Forum 2007 – Bush and Company’s War on Civil Liberties and What it Means For Our Future
We listen to a speech by political scientist John Ehrenberg. He spoke at the Left Forum this year on a panel titled, Bush and Company’s War on Civil Liberties and What it Means For Our Future. John Ehrenberg is the author of the recent book “Servants of Wealth: The Right’s Assault on Economic Justice.â€
This is his third book where critically analyzes the rise of an ideologically coherent “right.” He dissects their themes of military weakness, moral decay, racial anxiety, and hostility to social welfare to reveal their central organizing objective of protecting wealth and assaulting equality.
Civil Liberties, Prison Industry, Truth to Power
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The Shaquanda Cotton Story
Last year in Paris, Texas a 14-year-old black freshman shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun. Shaquanda Cotton was sentenced to 7 years in prison. She had no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor was not seriously injured. Just three months earlier, another Texas teenager of the same age was sentenced to probation for burning down her family’s house. She was white.
Joining us on Law and Disorder to discuss this case and the issue of juvenile justice in Texas on Law and Disorder is Will Harrell. Will is a former NVP and Director of the National Police Accountability Project of the National Lawyers Guild. He’s currently the Executive Director of the Texas ACLU and co-chair of the Texas Coalition Advocating Justice for Juveniles. He’s a primary advocate advancing an omnibus bill in the Texas legislature to reform the Texas Youth Commission. He was also appointed to a panel which is currently reviewing cases where a kid’s length of stay was extended in TYC and making recommendations regarding release. He successfully advocated for Shaquanda Cotton’s release.
Guest – Will Harrell, Executive Director of the Texas ACLU – Update : Will Harrell was recently named Ombudsman for the Texas Youth Commission.
Left Forum 2007: Deborah Small
The panel is titled, Prisons, Prisoners and Political Prisoners and chaired by our own Michael Smith. Deborah Small is the founder of Break the Chains. An organization that seeks to build a national movement within communities of color against punitive drug policies.
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Brecht Forum: Joel Kovel, author of Overcoming Zionism
We go now to hear an excerpt from a speech given by author Joel Kovel. He spoke at the Brecht Forum recently about the release of his new book Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine, published by Pluto Press.
Civil Liberties, Climate Change, Supreme Court, Truth to Power
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Heidi Boghosian Returns From Cuba
Co-host Michael Smith talks with our own Heidi Boghosian about her recent trip to Cuba and involvement with the defense of the Cuban Five. Heidi will be writing about her meetings with those in Cuba also working on the defense and support of the Cuban Five. An effort to counter the media blackout on this important story. Michael and Heidi also mention the recent news about the release of alleged terrorist Posada Carriles.
Cuban Five background: Five courageous men who uncovered information about plans by anti-Cuban terrorists to commit acts of violence against that island nation. After the Cuban government turned over voluminous documentation of such plans, the five were indicted and tried in Miami on unfounded charges of conspiracy to commit espionage all without one page of evidence to corroborate such charges. The Cuban Five have been imprisoned for 8 years in maximum security facilities spread out across the United States. They’re in such remote locations that even visits from their attorneys are difficult.
The Iroquois Confederacy
In the National Lawyers Guild quarterly magazine, Guild member Cynthia Feathers and her sister Susan, put together a collaborative work describing how the system of the Great Law within the Iroquois Confederacy is a blueprint of the current two houses of US government. The Feathers sisters describe that between 1000 and 1450, the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca Nations came together to become the Iroquois Confederacy, and in the early 18th century they were joined by the Tuscaroras.
If the two houses agreed, the Onondaga would implement the unanimous decision, unless they disagreed with the decision and referred the matter back to the Council. Sound familiar? By 1988, the 100th U.S. Congress passed a concurrent resolution acknowledging the contribution of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy to the development of the U.S. government.
Guest – Robert Odawi Porter, Professor of Law at Syracuse University and director of the Center for Indigenous Law, Governance & Citizenship.
The Most Important Fish in the Sea: Menhaden in America.
Here on Law and Disorder we have focused a lot of attention to civil liberties and human rights. Today we’re going to look at pending ecological catastrophe from over-fishing. We have with us author and professor Bruce Franklin, author of many books including The Most Important Fish in the Sea: Menhaden in America. In this Island Press publication, Franklin details how critical this fish is to the survival marine ecosystems.
The Menhaden, a tiny silvery fish is the basic link in the web of food chains for many other fish, mammals and seabirds. The Menhaden also filter the waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, playing an essential dual role in marine ecology perhaps unmatched anywhere on the planet. As their numbers have plummeted from overfishing, their disappearance has caused toxic algae blooms and dead zones that have begun to choke our bays and seas.
Guest – Author H.Bruce Franklin tells us about how the Omega Protein Company is over-fishing this important fish.
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