From: "Action Center" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 13:46:42 -0500
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [IAC] Press Release -- Protest vs. War & Military Tribunals
MEDIA ADVISORY -- November 14, 2001
NYC-- Larry Holmes (212) 633-6646
Brian Becker (202) 904-7992
Houston -- Gloria Rubac (713) 503-2633
NEW YORK ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION:
UNION SQUARE, 5:00 P.M.
STOP THE BOMBING & OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN
STOP RACIAL PROFILING OF ARAB & MUSLIM PEOPLE
On the eve of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, thousands
will demonstrate in U.S. cities against the Bush
administration's bombing of Afghanistan and his executive
order, signed yesterday, which drastically increases the
racial profiling campaign directed against Arab Americans.
"Bush said he launched this war to fight terrorism, and
dropped cluster bombs on civilians," said Sara Flounders,
co-director of the International Action Center, one of the
members of the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition. "We know not to
believe him when he says that the military tribunals and
racial profiling tactics he has ordered are anti-terrorism
tactics, either. The U.S. is using the appearance of
victory in Afghanistan to vastly increase its ability to
oppress people overseas and here at home."
Already over 1,000 people have been detained without due
process, and the FBI has proposed the idea of legalizing
torture tactics against them.
"With no public debate, Bush has ordered secret military
tribunals -- kangaroo courts, really -- where all of the
basic tenets of due process are thrown out the window,"
Flounders said. The order states that the tribunals do
not provide for proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
and would not require strict rules of evidence.
"The Justice Department has also ordered the FBI and
police agencies to pick up and question 5,000 men, most
from Middle East countries, who have entered the country
legally in the last two years."
Flounders said that Bush's order should upset anyone who
is against the administration's increasing attack on
immigrants and civil liberties. Under the order, the
president himself is to determine who is an accused
terrorist and therefore subject to trial by secret
tribunals.
Anti-war protesters in New York have already announced
plans to demonstrate against Rumsfeld appearance here at
"Ground Zero" as an exploitation of the city's grief
designed to promote the continued bombing raid against the
world's poorest country. Texas anti-war demonstrators
will confront George Bush at his stop in Houston to
promote "arms control" � after dropping fuel-air
explosives and cluster bombs on Afghanistan. Other
rallies are scheduled in San Francisco; Washington D.C.;
Baltimore; San Diego; New Jersey; Seattle; Manchester,
England; campuses; and a dozen other cities.
-30-
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