www.NCStopTortureNow.org: Blog

Torture is Wrong!

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:05 GMT

Torture Awareness Banner at the Raleigh Friends Meetinghouse

"BANNERS ACROSS AMERICA"

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:32:34 GMT

330 CONGREGATIONS DISPLAY ANTI-TORTURE BANNERS DURING JUNE -TORTURE AWARENESS MONTH

A Project of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, the Director of Education and Outreach for Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, has been inspired by the way that she has encountered anti-torture banners displayed on the exteriors of congregations during her daily journeys in Manhattan. "Whether it is walking by Riverside Church or Rutgers Presbyterian Church and seeing an anti-torture banner displayed at both of them, or seeing one in the sanctuary at B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue when I go to a brit milah, or looking up at the one at Shaare Zedek Synagogue when I enter Shabbat services, I am constantly reminded about the millions of people we are reaching with the interfaith message that torture is a moral issue."

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, over 210 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian, Orthodox Christian, Quaker, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh communities. The organization can be reached at 202-547-1920 or online at www.tortureisamoralisssue.org

A list of the more than 330 congregations that are displaying banners, a collection of 120 photographs of congregations displaying banners and links to the 95 press stories on the banners can be found at http://www.nrcat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=151

Hooray! HB 2417, “Crimes of Torture and Enforced Disappearance,” passes the NC House Judiciary Committee

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:38:01 GMT

4 Minute Clip of Proceedings

For: Reps. Hall, Mobley, Martin, and Bryant (all Democrats)
Against: Reps. Holmes, Blust, and West (all Republicans)

There was almost no discussion, and several members of the committee were absent. At the start of the meeting, Rep. Luebke handed out the ACLU’s brochure on the bill and today’s pro-HB 2417 editorial in the Fayetteville Observer (http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=297069 ).

NEXT STEPS:

We want the bill to be heard in House Appropriations, a huge committee. EVERYONE statewide should call and/or email Rep. Mickey Michaux, chair of the Appropriations Committee, and ask that the bill be heard toward the end of June, or at the latest before the July 4 holiday. Rep. Mickey Michaux, 919-715-2528, mickeym@ncleg.net.

Contact your representative on House Appropriations and urge their support for HB 2417. Most state representatives are on this committee; its membership is here: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House%20Standing_6

Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper in support of the bill and ending North Carolina’s role in rendition and torture.

TALKING POINTS:

North Carolina is known worldwide as home base for the “torture taxis” of Aero Contractors, the CIA’s Smithfield-based aviation service. Further elements of the U.S. torture program were developed at Ft. Bragg, and rendition-linked planes continue to be operated out of Fayetteville by Centurion Aviation. The people of North Carolina need to stand up and say, “we do not want to host torture!”

The Federal government has failed to respond to state lawmakers’ repeated requests for investigation of Aero Contractors. The FBI received the legislators’ second request in October 2006, and asked the Department of Justice for guidance. None has been forthcoming. North Carolina’s Attorney General, Roy Cooper, has said he lacks the power to investigate Aero, and this bill gives him that power.

HB 2417 is a good thing for our armed service members. High-level officers are speaking out against the U.S. torture program, because it endangers our active-duty troops. According to Maj. General Antonio Taguba, who led the US Army investigation into the Abu Ghraib scandal: "[T]here is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account." (Physicians for Human Rights report, “Broken Laws, Broken Lives,” http://actnow-phr.org/ct/O73SMTF15mAb/microsite

HB 2417 has been vetted by the NC Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, which says it conforms to NC law. The Commission’s final report notes, “… the people of North Carolina do not condone torture and that it is contrary to who they are as Americans. They also expressed concern that it betrays American armed forces personnel who might become prisoners of war and be at risk of torture themselves.”

Many thanks to all who’ve been working hard on this issue!

Christina Cowger - NC Stop Torture Now

NC STN Co-Sponsors Entertainment for Delegate Appreciation Event

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:09:07 GMT

Broadening its outreach efforts, NC STN co-sponsored the live entertainment, local musician John Booth, for a delegate appreciation event on June 14th in Raleigh at which 7 delegates and over 70 guests attended. Representative Dan Blue was the special guest speaker, hosted by Katy and Wick Haynes of Raleigh, and organized by Paulette Hill. Delegates included: John Verajo, George Chunn, Terry Grunwald, Lisa Hooker, Mary Starkey, Mark Ezell, and Lindy Brown. The Western-themed party was a unique way to present an important message to raise awareness about crimes of forced disappearance, and torture. The event was a success, and the message well received. All event photos courtesy of Paulette Hill

For more photos, see go here: http://barackobama.meetup.com/173/photos/376209/

NC's David Price Leads Effort to Ban Outsourcing of Interrogations

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:22:12 GMT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/opinion/12thu1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

NC STN is energized by and grateful for Price's recent action in Congress

NC STN's Christina Cowger speaks with Rep. David Price at NC Primaries

NC STN at the NC Primaries - Dorton Arena

Moazzam Begg, Former Gitmo Detainee Speaks at Duke Conference; (50 min)

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:33:51 GMT

May 3, 2008 - Duke University, Durham NC Report: "Waterboarding, Ghost Planes, and Guantánamo: Inside America's Secret War," A Conference and Strategy Session More than 50 people gathered to listen to Moazzam Begg, former Bagram and Guantánamo detainee and co-author of Enemy Combatant;

Chairman Conyers Subpoenas David Addington

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:13:36 GMT

....John Yoo, author of the infamous Bush “torture memo,” and former Attorney General John Ashcroft both agreed to testify at an upcoming hearing. And in a bold “we mean business” move, at a packed, standing-room only hearing, a House Judiciary subcommittee gave Judiciary Chairman John Conyers the power to issue a subpoena to David Addington, Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff.

Now, just hours ago, Judiciary Chairman John Conyers used that authority and issued Mr Addington a subpoena, compelling him to testify on June 26, at 10am.

More: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35203prs20080507.html

Rights activists decry torture

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:51:51 GMT

Raleigh News and Observer, David Bracken, Staff Writer

DURHAM - The activists who attended Saturday's anti-torture conference at Duke University admit the challenge facing them is daunting.

How do they get the wider American public to engage on an issue that has become mired in partisan battles over the war in Iraq and the larger war on terrorism?

Full Article: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1060302.html

Upcoming Conference at Duke - May 3

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:37:43 GMT

SAVE THE DATE - MAY 3

A conference Co-Sponsored by
NCSTN and Duke Human Rights Center

John Hope Franklin Center
Duke University
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

"Waterboarding, Ghost Planes, and Guantánamo:
Inside America's Secret War."
for more information:

www.ncstoptorturenow.org

NCSTN @ US Human Rights Network Conference

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:54:24 GMT

NCSTN is part of more exciting news as momentum builds...

Christina Cowger has been invited to represent NC STN at a workshop at the US Human Rights Network (USHRN) conference in Chicago on April 19. The other presenters are Steven Watt from ACLU and Maria LaHood from Center for Constitutional Rights, and they were eager to get NC STN’s work on display at this conference.

Link to the conference: http://www.ushrnetwork.org/conference_2008. The USHRN, which is based in Atlanta, has a broad perspective on human rights, encompassing Gulf Coast issues, prisons, immigration, housing, etc.

Our workshop is called “Using International Law in U.S. Courts.” The attorneys will talk about cases brought in U.S. courts attempting to enforce international law norms against government officials, both United States officials and foreign officials. Cowger will talk about the multi-faceted approach NCSTN has been using to build a grassroots statewide coalition with national and international alliances.

From the workshop blurb: ‘The panel hopes to facilitate a discussion among participants [on] how to address these obstacles, whether through litigation, legislation, organizing, or other strategies…. The panel hopes to incorporate the human rights framework by discussing the application of human rights norms in U.S. courts and how to challenge the practical reality that officials from powerful governments cannot be held to account for human rights violations, which also threatens to undermine respect for and enforcement of human rights globally. The panel relates to the USHRN Principles of Unity addressing anti-oppression because the cases addressed have been brought by the victims of the human rights violations, who are primarily Arab Muslim victims of a so-called “war on terror.”’

Images 4 U

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:47:23 GMT

Include in email, website, flyers, posters to promote awareness and events. T's and swag coming soon... :)

UNC Teams Up With NCSTN

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:23:28 GMT

Billy J Murray has been awarded a grant by UNC for her service learning course to work with NCSTN as a community partner. Ms. Murray will be teaching the course 3 times over the next 3-4 semesters beginning in the fall. We can't wait to meet her students.

Walk of Remembrance - Raw Footage

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:04:06 GMT

Fox TV Series '24' Spins Torture as Heroic

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:34:32 GMT

Torture has traditionally been associated with the bad guys, or the villians, or the "terrorists." Today, thanks in large part to Emmy and Golden Globe award winning shows like "24," torture is now being spun as an acceptable tool and practice for even the good guys and the heroes.

Apparently, Kiefer Sutherland as "Agent Jack Bauer" knows better than a large collection of top military brass, statesmen, humanitarian leaders, philosophers, law-makers, and statesmen who, throughout history, have steadfastly rebuked and indicted the practice of torture, first as ineffective, and second as a crime against humanity.

Nonetheless, Sutherland makes his case in the "24," that torture is more than just "A-O-K" for good guys too... forever tainting his legacy with a performance that is nothing less than complicit in an effort to justify disgusting and inhumane treatment of potentially innocent human beings.

Smithfield Peace Rally Speakers 10/27/07

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:16:38 GMT

Complete line up coming soon...

Andrew Wimmer

Jerry King

Moira O'neill and Ellen Biesack Speak

Rainbow ReSisters

Jimmy Massey

Citizens Award 2007

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:52:55 GMT

Congratulations NC Stop Torture Now - This year's recipient of the Independent Weekly Magazine Citizen's Award

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A164369

VIDEO CONTEST WINNER!! $100 PRIZE

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:16:18 GMT

Congratulations to the winners! Great job capturing the energy & spirit of the 10/27/07 Action at Aero.

"You Can't Hide Torture"

Despite threats, harrassment, and attempts to disrupt the event, anti-torture peace activists hold a successful memorial service on 10/27/07 for torture victims. Peaceful Veterans, Faith Based Citizens, and True Patriots Hold Successful Non-violent Memorial Action at Aero Contractors.

Walk of Remembrance @ Aero Contractors 10/27/07

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:56:21 GMT

Aero Contractors, Smithfield NC October 27, 2007 - About 120 anti-torture protestors joined together for a "Walk of Remembrance" memorial for victims of torture. In groups of 8-10, participants quietly carried portraits of victims down the road to Aero's gates, where they were confronted by counter-protestors attempting to disrupt the event.

Walk of Remembrance @ Aero 10/27/07

These videos capture much of the confrontation and also the resistance of violence by the well-prepared anti-torture group.

"You Can't Hide Torture" - Video Contest Finalist

March through Smithfield NC 10/27/07

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:31:17 GMT

AntiWar and AntiTorture protestors march through downtown Smithfield NC in protest of the local company Aero Contractors that has served as a center of operations for extraordinary renditions in the US torture and interrogation program.

Smithfield Peace and Anti-Torture Rally and March 10/27/07

Uneditted Footage - Smithfield, NC Peace/Anti-Torture Rally 10/27/07

Press Conference - 10/26/07 Smithfield NC Ani-War Anti-Torture Rally

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:18:45 GMT

Press Conference held on 10/26/07 at the NC Legislative building to announce the upcoming AntiWar and AntiTorture Rally in Smithfield NC and Aero Contractors. Speakers include Christina Cowger, Walt Caison, Art Eccleston, Chuck Fager, Roger Ehrlich, and NC Senator Ellie Kinnaird.

Upcoming Event - October 27 Peace Rally

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:38:52 GMT

PEACE RALLY, VIGIL, MUSIC, SPEAKERS,

AND WALK OF REMEMBRANCE

SAT, OCT 27, 2007 Noon - 5pm - Smithfield, NC

For More Details, please go to

www.ncstoptorturenow.net

ALSO SEE VIDEO CONTEST NOTICE BELOW

AND PASS ON TO ANYONE INTERESTED!!