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News & Action AlertsAFSC: Record Deportations under Obama a Sign of Lost Moral GroundingDate:
Wed, 2011-10-19
Press Release from American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Record Deportations under Obama a Sign of Lost Moral Grounding [Newark, NJ, October 19th 2011] Yesterday the Department of Homeland Security announced that the agency deported more people from the United States during Fiscal Year 2011 than ever before. Nearly 400,000 immigrants were removed from communities across the United States, the largest number in the agency’s history. The announcement from DHS came on the same day as PBS aired “Lost in Detention” produced by Award-winning journalist, Maria Hinojosa, who will investigates the devastating consequences of the country's failed immigration system, including the private prison system where immigrants are held under inhumane conditions for profit. The repressive dragnet operations conducted against immigrant communities by the Federal government continues to devastate communities and tear families, leaving a trail of terror behind. “What’s rarely talked about is the ultimate consequence and human cost of detention and deportation: poverty, family separation, children growing up without parents,” observed Chia-Chia Wang of the American Friends Service Committee. For administration officials to tout high record numbers of deportations is not a sign of “smart and effective” enforcement. When agents descend on communities, breaking in doors, handcuffing mothers, arresting workers and deporting students and it’s announced as a sign of progress, this is an indicator that policy makers have lost their moral grounding when addressing the issue of immigration. Sadly our country has turned into a deportation nation. The American Friends Service Committee urges the Obama Administration to halt the deportations and end the state of siege immigrant communities have faced for many years. Support Civil Rights for Muslims in Sheepshead Bay, NYDate:
Tue, 2011-05-10
This is a call to action for all-out support on Tuesday, May 10th for the Muslim American Society (MAS), which is attempting to build a new mosque in Sheepshead Bay, and their attorney, NYC National Lawyers Guild Executive Committee member Lamis Deek. Both the MAS and Ms. Deek personally have come under vicious, racist attack by right-wing extremists, who have brought suit in Kings County Supreme Court to enjoin construction of the mosque. Some additional background information can be found here: stopislamophobia.org On May 10th at 9:30am, there will be oral arguments on the MAS motion to dismiss, counterclaims, and sanctions against the racist "Bay People" organization plaintiffs. The location is Transportation: Subway: R to Court St.; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Boro Hall; A, C, F to Jay St./Boro Hall [or G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn] We anticipate that there will be a large right-wing rally outside of the courthouse that we must mobilize massive numbers of people to counteract. For more information, please contact Garrett Wright at garrettwright1*at*gmail.com Open Letter on Upcoming NYC Trial of Syed Fahad Hashmi and Harsh ConfinementThe Center for Constitutional Rights, The Council of American Islamic Relations-New York, and Amnesty International released an open letter expressing concern over Fahad Hashmi's upcoming trial. The letter urges the Attorney General, Eric Holder to both review and revise Department of Justice regulations which govern the implementation of Special Administrative Measures. SAMs can be imposed on inmates past 120 days when the Department of Justice deems it reasonably necessary ?because there is a substantial risk that an inmates communication or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury to persons or substantial property would entail the risk of death or serious bodily injury to persons.? The open letter expresses concern over whether Fahad has even been informed of the reasons for the imposition of the SAMSs. Rights Groups Issue Open Letter on Upcoming NYC Trial of Syed Fahad Hashmi and Severe Special Administrative Measures Contact: press@ccrjustice.org April 23, 2010, New York: The Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International USA, and the Council on American Islamic Relations-NY released an open letter today expressing their serious concerns about the trial of Syed Fahad Hashmi, set to begin on April 28. The human rights organizations discuss Mr. Hashmi's severe conditions of confinement over the last three years in which he has awaited trial, their impact on his mental health, and his ability to effectively participate in his own defense. The material support charges against Mr. Hashmi are based on the allegation that he allowed an acquaintance, Junaid Babar, to use his cell phone and to stay with him at his apartment in London where he was pursuing a Master?s degree. According to Mr. Hashmi's indictment, Babar had waterproof socks and rain ponchos in his luggage that he later delivered to al-Qaeda in South Waziristan. Mr. Hashmi denies all charges against him. In their letter, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International USA, and the Council on American Islamic Relations-NY urge the Attorney General to review and revise the Department of Justice regulations governing the imposition of severe Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) to ensure that all prisoners are held in humane conditions, are not subjected to discriminatory treatment, are given adequate information about why SAMs are being imposed, and are given a full opportunity to argue and present evidence against their imposition. Two days ago, CCR publicly condemned the government?s attempt to frighten the jury in Mr. Hashmi's case, calling the U.S. Attorney?s motion for the jurors to be anonymous and kept under extra security because of the attention and political activism these issues have drawn to the case "a clear attempt to influence the jury by creating a sense of fear for their safety and to paint Mr. Hashmi as already guilty." Open Letter from Amnesty International USA, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Council on American Islamic Relations-NY on the upcoming trial of Syed Fahad Hashmi and the severe Special Administrative Measures to which he is subjected: On April 28, Syed Fahad Hashmi is scheduled to be tried in the Southern District of New York on charges of material support for terrorism. Mr. Hashmi has been held in pretrial detention at the Special Housing Unit at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, pursuant to Special Administrative Measures, or SAMs, for almost three years now. These measures have severely limited his ability to communicate with the outside world and effectively placed him in solitary confinement, although he has not been convicted of any crime. Mr. Hashmi is 30 years old, was raised in Queens and attended Brooklyn College before moving to London to obtain a Master?s degree in political science. Since his extradition to the United States in May 2007, he has been imprisoned alone in a cell and not permitted to speak, worship or otherwise communicate with any other prisoners. He is not permitted any visitors or outside communications, except for his attorneys and limited visits from immediate family. He is not allowed any physical human contact, even from his closest family members. Mr. Hashmi is allowed one hour per day of physical exercise, which must be taken alone, in a small cage inside the prison. He is not permitted access to any natural air or sunlight. Moreover, Mr. Hashmi is subjected to a strip-search before his one hour per day of exercise. Due to the resulting humiliation he experiences, he has chosen to forego this hour outside of his cell altogether. In addition, Mr. Hashmi is subjected to constant surveillance, not only when he is alone in his cell but also when he showers, uses the toilet, or meets with an attorney or family member. He may not communicate with any members of the media, and he is forbidden from listening to a television or radio news program or reading a timely newspaper. Mr. Hashmi's family, friends and attorneys are extremely concerned that his mental health is rapidly deteriorating under these extreme conditions. It is well-documented that solitary confinement can have severely detrimental effects on a prisoner's mental health. It may also affect his ability to effectively participate in his trial and to present his defense. Muslim community groups are increasingly expressing concern about these prison conditions, as they seem to be imposed disproportionately on Muslims suspected of connections with terrorism. SAMs may be imposed on a particular inmate, according to the Department of Justice's regulations, when such measures are "reasonably necessary to prevent disclosure of classified information," or when "reasonably necessary to protect persons against the risk of death or serious bodily injury." To be extended beyond the initial 120-day period, the Attorney General or federal law enforcement must demonstrate that such measures are reasonably necessary 'because there is a substantial risk that an inmate's communications or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury to persons, or substantial damage to property that would entail the risk of death or serious bodily injury to persons." The material support charges against Mr. Hashmi are based on the allegation that he allowed an acquaintance, Junaid Babar, to use his cell phone and to stay with him at his apartment in London where he was pursuing a Master?s degree. According to Mr. Hashmi's indictment, Babar had waterproof socks and rain ponchos in his luggage that he later delivered to al-Qaeda in South Waziristan. Mr. Hashmi denies all charges against him. These charges will be the subject of his trial. We are concerned that Mr. Hashmi has not been informed of the reasons for the imposition of SAMs. We are also concerned that Mr. Hashmi is being held under conditions that are not consistent with international standards for humane treatment. Due to their likely impact on his mental health, we are further concerned that these conditions will prejudice his ability to assist in his own defense. The Department of Justice stated last year that 46 inmates around the country were being confined pursuant to SAMs. Although we recognize that the department has a legitimate interest in protecting classified information that may harm national security and in protecting the public against acts of terrorism, we are very concerned that inmates held pursuant to such measures are not being given an adequate opportunity to defend against the imposition of SAMs in their cases. We urge the Attorney General to review and revise the agency?s regulations governing the imposition of SAMs to ensure that all prisoners regardless of their security status are held in humane conditions, are not subjected to discriminatory treatment, are given adequate information about why SAMs are being imposed, and are given a full opportunity to argue and present evidence against their imposition. Amnesty International USA Center for Constitutional Rights Council on American Islamic Relations - New York The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. Letter writing campaign for pre-trial detainee Fahad Hashmi
Join THAW (Theaters Against War) and SAMAR (South Asian Magazine for Action and Reflection) in a letter-writing campaign to Fahad Hashmi. As you may be aware, Fahad has been held in pre-trial detention at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility for over 850 days in severe solitary confinement. He has been detained over 1350 days in all. During this time, under what the government calls "Special Administrative Measures," Fahad has been allowed only very limited contact with his family and has been denied access to much of the evidence the government claims to have against him. While Fahad continues to spend day after day alone in confinement, many of us have come together to fight his detention, to express anger at how the country has cheapened the meaning of civil liberties, and to create a network of support in the face of these harrowing times. Unfortunately, Fahad has not been allowed to connect with the movement inspired by his struggle. We aim to resist Fahad's isolation by flooding the prison with letters of support. Join us in writing to Fahad, express your solidarity, tell Fahad how his struggle has touched you. Though these letters will likely not make it past the prison censors, posting them will offer a simple and necessary challenge to the inhuman conditions of Fahad's detention and help send a message to Fahad's jailers, the U.S. Government and Attorney General Holder, that the world at large cares for Fahad and is outraged at the violations of his civil and human rights. THAW will then publicly read selected letters outside the prison in March and April, and SAMAR will publish a series of letters in its next issue. The deadline for letter submissions for publication in SAMAR is Wed, Feb 24th. To participate in the action: 1. Write a letter to Fahad, addressed to: SYED FAHAD HASHMI ? REG#60011-054 MCC NEW YORK METROPOLITAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER 150 PARK ROW NEW YORK, NY 10007 2. Email a copy of your letter to us at: letters2fahad@gmail.com (by Wed, Feb 24th for publication in SAMAR) THAW will be in touch with you if your letter is chosen to be read publicly. SAMAR will contact you if your letter is accepted for publication. Who we are: THAW is an international network of theater artists responding to the United States’ ongoing “War on Terror,” aggressive and unilateral foreign policies, and escalating attacks on civil liberties in the US and throughout the world. Since October 2009 THAW has been hosting "Radio Free Fahad" performance/vigils outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Center: www.thawaction.org SAMAR Magazine is an online journal devoted to the progressive and critical analysis of issues concerning the South Asian diaspora. We can be found at: www.samarmagazine.org More on Fahad?s case at: http://www.freefahad.com Sign a statement of support at: http://www.educatorsforcivilliberties.org Syed Fahad Hashmi is a Muslim American citizen being held in a federal jail on two counts of providing material support and two counts of making a contribution of goods or services to Al Qaeda. The fundamentals of the indictment against Fahad are: for two weeks, he allowed an acquaintance to stay in his apartment who had a suitcase full of waterproof socks and rain ponchos that is alleged to have been delivered to a member of Al Qaeda and that this same acquaintance allegedly used Fahad's cell phone to call co-conspirators. Based on this spurious indictment Fahad has been held for over 2 years in solitary confinement under "Special Administrative Measures" at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan. A US citizen and Brooklyn College graduate who grew up in Flushing, Queens, Mr. Hashmi is allowed no contact with anyone except his lawyer and his parents; no calls, no letters, no radio, no newspapers until they are 30 days old and censored by his jailers; no contact with other prisoners; no group prayer or worship; and for more than 30 months now, no fresh air or sunlight. His cell is electronically monitored inside and out, so he showers and goes to the bathroom in view of the camera. He is allowed only one hour “out” of his cell but must exercise alone in a solitary cage. Under the Classified Information Procedures Act but in direct contradiction to basic due process, the U.S. government has not allowed Mr. Hashmi to review all of the evidence against him. Newark, NJ: End Immigration Searches on Amtrak & GreyhoundPlease join Pax Christi NJ, AFSC Immigrants Rights Program, IRATE & First Friends and over a dozen other religious and civic organizations on Friday April 10th from 1-3 pm for a prayer service in solidarity with immigrants & protest of Amtrak and Greyhound?s cooperation with DHS. We will gather at the park outside of Newark Penn Station at the corner of Market St. and Raymond Plaza West. Background [see also 5/30/06 article, Greyhound bus sweeps for illegal immigrants] Amtrak has agreed to cooperate with border inspections on a random basis within 75 miles of the border. Despite concerns raised by community leaders that the agents conducting the inspections may be engaging in racial profiling and that the searches generally violate certain constitution rights of its passengers, Amtrak & Greyhound continue to willingly cooperate with DHS. Both Greyhound and Amtrak have refused to meet with civil and human rights advocates about this issue. Ironically, just last month, Amtrak announced its new ad campaign entitled ?My Track to Success? featuring testimonials from African American and Hispanic business and community leaders in a targeted outreach to multi-cultural consumers. Lillian Rodriguez Lopez - President, Hispanic Federation, whose organization advocates for fair and comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and offers immigration assistance, is a participant in the ad campaign. Co-Sponsored by: AFSC ? Immigrants Rights Program, Amnesty International, Detention Watch Network, Casa de Esperanza, Families For Freedom, First Friends Middlesex County, Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast, Interfaith Coalition for The Rights of Immigration Detainees and their Families, IRATE & First Friends, The Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs, NJ Association on Corrections, NJ Forum For Human Rights, NJ Immigration Policy Network, N.Y. Immigration Coalition, Pax Christi NJ, Rights Working Group, St. Joseph?s Social Center, Sisters of St. Joseph ESL, Wind of the Spirit For more information contact: Alix Nguefack anguefack-at-afsc.org or Kathy O?Leary kolearypcnj@gmail.com Now is the time to act...Now is the time to act. The status quo has shifted, and people are energized and open to new ideas.... by Jane Guskin and David Wilson, NACLA Report on the Americas January-February 2009 Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the situation for immigrants in the United States has turned increasingly insecure. Every week hundreds of immigrants are arrested in raids on their homes and workplaces. Hundreds more are arrested on the street by local police for the crime of "living while Latino" and often handed over to the immigration agency for deportation. People are detained, deported, faced with impossible choices, and then blamed for it all. Children are separated from their parents or jailed in special "family" detention centers. Workers are exploited and abused on the job, stripped of their rights to organize, then punished with federal prison sentences for complying with their employers' demands for fake IDs. Young people who don't remember the country where they were born are denied any options to legalize their status and are stuck without a future?as high school graduates unable to attend college, or as college graduates forced into low-wage, off-the-books labor.[...] Read the full article: Authors, The Politics of Immigration: Questions & Answers Website: http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org/ Blog: http://thepoliticsofimmigration.blogspot.com/ Email: thepoliticsofimmigration-at-gmail.com Emergency Protest Against Massacre in GazaEMERGENCY PROTEST! OPPOSE THE MASSACRE IN GAZA - OVER 200 MURDERED PROTEST - Sunday, December 28, 2008 2:00 PM Rockefeller Center - 50th St. and 5th Ave. March to Israel Consulate - 42nd St. and 2nd. Ave NYC! We must act now, before the massacres continue! Over 200 people were killed in Gaza on Saturday, December 27 in a series of Israeli attacks - with US-made and paid for weaponry - upon the Palestinian people. These cold-blooded killings come on top of a siege on Gaza that has killed hundreds by depriving them of medical care, deprived Gazans of electricity, power and fuel and attempted to strangle the life of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The people of Gaza are standing steadfast in the face of these massacres but our voices must be heard to demand an immediate end to the massacres and an end to US aid to Israel! The Israeli military is promising more massacres - we must say no NOW! ALL OUT TO PROTEST THE MASSACRES IN GAZA! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????? endorsed organizations: Al-Awda NY: Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Arab Muslim American Federation, International Action Center, Brooklyn for Peace, USPCN-NY, and the General Union of Palestine Students http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/200812279451509662.html Appealing for the Release of Farouk's Full FBI FileLast week, with some further coaching from Michael Kuzma (member of Leonard Peltier's defense team), I wrote and faxed in my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal asking a judge to order the FBI to release the 893 pages of Farouk's file they're withholding. As one might expect, many pages were withheld on the pretext of United States Code, Section 552(b)(1): (A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified to such Executive order; A lot of the pages withheld under (b)(1) seem to be from after Farouk's arrest, when the FBI unleashed brilliant counterterrorism techniques like asking Farouk to snitch on other Palestinians, interrogating him about "nuclear briefcases" and other half-baked allegations cooked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, using detainee informants trying to save their own skin. So as to the (b)(1) exemption: that dog don't hunt, unless Bush ordered the suppression of any evidence that shows our domestic counterterrorism policies to be overwhelmingly abusive, wasteful and misguided. Which, alas, he probably has. But with luck the judge who rules on this appeal won't feel compelled to reaffirm the played-out excuse of "national security" as a bulwark against any accountability or transparency in our government. Demand Immediate Release of Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance Activist******Please forward widely and act TODAY!********** Early in the morning of Friday April 11th IDF troops invaded the home of the AbuMaria family and arrested Mousa AbuMaria. Mousa is a well known nonviolent activist and a co-founder of the Palestinian Solidarity Project. He has been a lead organizer in peaceful protest involving hundreds of Israelis and internationals and has been committed to nonviolence for several years. When Mousa was arrested his family was not told of the reason of his arrest or his whereabouts. When his lawyer managed to locate him it turned out he was being held in military jail but still no reason for his arrest was given. Only days later was his lawyer finally told that he was suspected of membership in a terrorist organization but when his interrogation did not turn up any evidence the prosecution has admitted that there 'may' not be enough evidence to put him on trial. With no evidence against him and a long history of nonviolent activism Mousa's family should be celebrating his impending release. However, the Israeli military court system that presides over Palestinians in the Occupied Territories does not work that way and the prosecution has said they are considering putting Mousa in Administrative Detention, in which he has no right to trial. For Palestinians, when there is no evidence for a trial, they are simply jailed without one. The decision on whether Mousa will be placed in Administrative Detention will most likely be made TOMORROW. ACT NOW to support Mousa. Register your outrage to imprisonment without trial. Please write to the Chief Military Attorney, Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit , and demand that Mousa AbuMaria be released immediately. Below is a suggested draft of a letter addressed to the Chief Military Attorney. Your own version should be emailed from gmail, yahoo hotmail or riseup to: +97236080366@fax.tc This will then be faxed to the Chief Military Attorney's office. Please cc PSP so we can keep track of the letters of support: palestineproject@gmail.com Those who have a fax machine or do not have an email account at either gmail, yahoo, hotmail or riseup can fax the Chief Military Attorney's office directly at 972 3 608 0366 Sample letter: ------------------ Chief Military Attorney 6 David Elazar Street Tel Aviv Military postal code 9605,IDF Fax: +972 3 608 0366 Monday 14th April, 2008 F.A.O: Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit, I am writing with regards to the arrest of Mousa AbuMaria on Friday 11th April, 2008 in the village of Beit Ommar, West Bank, Occupied Territories. His lawyers have informed the international community of the conditions surrounding his arrest and said that although there is currently not enough evidence to put him on trial, he may soon be placed in administrative detention. I would like to highlight my concerns and call on you, the Chief Military Attorney of Israel, to ensure that Mousa is not administratively detained without charge or trial. Mousa has for many years been a lead organizer in peaceful, non violent protest and worked alongside hundredss of international and Israelis activists in resisting the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. He is well known as a passionate advocate of non violent resistance and has many Israeli friends who can vouch for his peaceful political commitments and his character. I, the undersigned, would like to see this issue addressed through the appropriate channels and ensure that he is released immediately. Thank you for your time. Yours sincerely, (Insert name) PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING DEBBIE ALMONTASER'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DOE, THE CHANCELLOR, AND THE MAYORDebbie Almontaser was the principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy before she was forced to resign in a firestorm of controversy stirred up by anti-Muslim groups. While the school was getting ready to open she kept a low profile, but now is starting to fight back. Previous posts on this subject: VIDEO: New Yorkers Rally to Defend Arabic-Language School Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy Below is a community bulletin, virtually verbatim: --Konrad A bulletin from Communities in Support of Khalil Gibran International Academy (CSKGIA): Subject: PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW TO SAY NO TO ANTI-ARAB AND ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW--YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE SO MEANINGFUL STAND WITH US TO SAY NO TO ANTI-ARAB AND ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM Monday, November 19, 2007 5:00 PM @ the new Federal Courthouse 500 Pearl Street, near Foley Square Worth Street entrance [Worth St. between Baxter & Mulberry Streets, a block east of Foley Sq.: J, M, Z train to Chambers or Canal; #4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; N, R, W to Canal St.; #1 to Franklin; A, C to Chambers (at Church); 2, 3 to Chambers (at West Broadway). map at http://tinyurl.com/mg9bb/ PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING DEBBIE ALMONTASER'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DOE, THE CHANCELLOR, AND THE MAYOR This Monday, Debbie will be filing a lawsuit against the DOE, the Chancellor, and the Mayor for violation of her free speech rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. As Debbie's lawyer announces the filing of the lawsuit, We want to show the DOE, the Mayor, and the media, that this is more than just a lawsuit--this is a movement of communities and individuals standing together to say NO to racism and discrimination (Watch Debbie's speech about her forced resignation: Press release Stand up for Multicultural Education! Stand up Against Racism & Xenophobia Stand with Debbie Almontaser! Justice for Debbie! Justice for the Community! About CISKGIA We are individuals and organizations from a multitude of communities and backgrounds, who have come together in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. Both the school and its founding principal, Debbie Almontaser, have endured a vicious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim smear campaign for the past several months, which resulted in Ms. Almontaser's forced resignation. For more information: http://kgia.wordpress.com More:
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