What you can do today to oppose Indefinite Dentention of US citizens
Assalamu Alaikum
May God protect us all.
It is a shameful day for America. Probably the worst day in the American
history of civil rights since the assassination of it's civil rights leader Dr.
King.
The Senate yesterday failed to protect US citizens in a 38-60 vote from
indefinite detention without trial. You could be locked up for life, without even
ever being charged if this becomes a law.
You have only about ten days to stop USA from becoming a Soviet States of America.
Forward this alert to all relatives, friends and all peace and justice people to act now and then call them to follow up:
There are two more chances to stop this from becoming a law:
- At the House-Senate Conference Committee next week, the House team can insist to drop this provision from the bill since it is not a part of their version of the Defense Authorization Bill of 2012. If they fail to stop it then it goes to the President for signature.
- If president has enough pressure build up on him he might fulfill
his promise to veto it. Remember it is a popular Defense Bill which is
difficult in an election year for any president to veto.
What you can do now
Call Your Senators:Insist on speaking to their legislative director instead of the receptionist. Contact info here:
What to say:
If they voted for Udall Amendment (see the voting list below) thank them for
standing up for the rights of the US citizens not be detained indefinitely
without a due process of law. Tell them you are proud of them. Ask them to tell
you what the Senator will be doing now to stop it. Ask them what they advise
you to do now as the US citizen. If they don’t have a right answer, ask them to
call you back with that information.
Talk to Your House Representative:
Please email from this form as well as call all offices listed. Insist on
speaking to their legislative assistant instead of the receptionist.
What to ask:
Ask him/her to insist that the House team in the "House-Senate Conference
Committee" insist that the provision for the indefinite detention of US
citizens without a due process be not included in the final Defense
Authorization Bill for 2012. This provision was not a part of House bill. It
has not been discussed, debated or voted upon in the House of Representatives.
Tell your representative that they will not be alone in opposing it. The Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the FBI and the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division have all said that the indefinite detention provisions are harmful and counterproductive.
Call President Obama Now:
Call President Obama: 202-456-1111
Email President
Obama here
Mail Organizational letter on your letterhead:
The White House:1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500
What to ask:
We request President to veto the Defense Authorization Bill for 2012 as
promised if the Bill includes provision for the indefinite detention of US
citizens and green card holders without a fair trial under the US civilian
laws.
What Can your Masjids, peace justice, immigration rights and interfaith partners
Each masjid should fax a letter on their letterhead to their congressperson, senators, and the President opposing the indefinite detention of any human being without a due process of law. It is perfectly legal for not-for-profit organizations to do it.
Call Other Muslim Organization Requesting Them to Speak Up:
Respectfully request National Muslim Organizations to issue an urgent action alert to their members to put pressure on the Congress and President Obama.
CAIR: 202.488.8787 ISNA: (317) 839-8157; MAS: 1-888-627-8471 ICNA: (718) 658-1199
MPAC: (202) 547-7701. Insist on speaking to their President or Secretary General instead of speaking to their receptionist.
Politics behind it:
Different extremist groups have been pushing for this law for the last seven years. Now they are just days away from success.
All Republican Senators with the exception of two supported it. Here is Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): "The enemy is all over the world. Here at home…They should not be read their Miranda Rights. They should not be given a lawyer." Former vice president Dick Cheney attended the meeting of Senate Republicans before the vote.
Sixteen conservative Democrat Senators voted for it any way. Democrats who were also concerned about liberties compared the military policing of Americans to the detention of Americans in internment camps during World War II.
The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act would authorize defense spending on military personnel, weapons and war. The first draft of the bill won support from both parties in Congress in October, passing out of the Senate Armed Services Committee with just Udall dissenting. A similar House bill allocating $690 billion for the Pentagon passed in May, without the controversial measure. It could be changed when the differing versions are merged, if Congress desires in the Conference Committee of the Senate and House.
How Did Senators vote:
Here's How Your Senators Voted on Udall Amendment to Strip Out provision to indefinitely detain US citizens without due process of law.
|
YEAs ---38 (Thank them.) |
||
|
Akaka
(D-HI) |
Franken
(D-MN) Menendez (D-NJ) |
Paul
(R-KY) Udall
(D-CO) |
|
NAYs ---60 (They must hear back from you) |
||
|
Alexander
(R-TN) |
Hagan
(D-NC) |
Moran
(R-KS) |
In : Action Alert