[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [SRRTAC-L:11135] FW: JULY 3, NATIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT

Mon Jun 16 11:55:47 CDT 2003

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>Subject: [SRRTAC-L:11135] FW: JULY 3, NATIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO 
>REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT
>Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 12:33:40 -0400 (EDT)
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kellie Gasink [mailto:kelliegasink2002 at lycos.com]
>Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 8:37 AM
>To: kelliegasink2002 at lycos.com
>Subject: JULY 3, NATIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT
>
>National Public Hearings to Repeal the USA Patriot Act, Thursday July 3,
>2003
>Submit your written Comments Against the USA PATRIOT Act to
>http://www.repealnow.com
>Independent public hearings will occur in cities throughout the U.S. on the
>Patriot Act, Civil Liberties, Racial Profiling and Police Brutality.
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>CONTACT: Kellie Gasink, National Coalition to Repeal the USA Patriot Act
>(912)238-4489; http://www.repealnow.com
>
>On July 3, cities across the country will hold independant Public Hearings
>to Repeal the Patriot Act. These public hearings will be a means of
>collecting information and testimony in regards to the USA Patriot Act,
>passed by the US Congress on October 26, 2001. The Public Hearing in
>Savannah, GA will begin at 7:00 p.m. at International Longshoremen Unionhall
>(hosted by A.Philip Randolph Institute), 221 E. Lathrop Ave. Community
>leaders to run this hearing will include; Joyce Griggs (We the People
>Coalition), Brett Hulme (AFL-CIO), Chester Dunham (APRI), Father Angus (St.
>Mathews Episcopal Church), and Kellie Gasink (National Coalition to Repeal
>the USA Patriot Act & Green Party of Chatham County).  These hearings will
>cover issues of the Patriot Act, civil liberties and the Bill of Rights,
>police brutality and racial profiling. All members of the public are
>requested to offer testimony and present their point of view. The record of
>testimony will be presented to the U.S. Congre
>ss with the demand for the complete and immediate REPEAL of the USA Patriot
>Act. It will also be conveyed to local governments. In respect to city,
>county and state legislatures, the record of testimony will coincide with
>the demand that these bodies pass binding law in support of the Bill of
>Rights and the immediate and complete REPEAL of the USA Patriot Act.
>
>The USA Patriot Act effectively eliminates:
>
>FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: Government may monitor religious labor, and
>political institutions without suspecting criminal activity to assist terror
>investigation.
>
>FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: Government has closed once-public immigration
>hearings, has secretly detained hundreds of people without charges, and has
>encouraged bureaucrats to resist public records requests.
>
>FREEDOM OF SPEECH: Government may prosecute librarians or keepers of any
>other records if they tell anyone that the government subpoenaed information
>related to a terror investigation.
>
>RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION: Government may monitor federal prison
>jailhouse conversations between attorneys and clients, and deny lawyers to
>Americans accused of crimes.
>
>FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES: Government may search and seize
>Americans' personal records, business documents and telephone/internet
>activity records without probable cause to assist alleged terror
>investigations.
>
>RIGHT TO A SPEEDY AND PUBLIC TRIAL: Government may jail Americans
>indefinitely without a trial.
>
>RIGHT TO LIBERTY: Americans may be jailed without being charged or being
>able to confront the witnesses against them. The USA Patriot Act is a
>violation of the US Constitution. --30--
>
>----------------------------------------------
>
>Savannah, Ga, planning meetings every Wed. at 6:45 p.m., Historic First
>African Baptist Church, 23 Montgomery Street
>
>Contact Kellie Gasink @ 866.237.7563 or kelliegasink2002 at lycos.com
>
>"The Aftermath-the Patriot Act" A special educational forum is planned for
>Thursday June 17 scheduled at Savannah State University-Elmore Theater for
>6:30 p.m. by the Fellowship of Reconciliation;
>
>WANTED: Stop Racial Profiling, June 20 from 1-5 PM Connor's Temple Resource
>Center, 714 MLK BLVD. @ Gwinnett St. by the We the People Coalition
>
>July 3 PUBLIC HEARING 7:00 p.m. at ILA UNION HALL, 221 E. Lathrop Ave.,
>Community leaders to run this hearing will include; Joyce Griggs (We the
>People Coalition), Brett Hulme (AFL-CIO), Chester Dunham (APRI), Father
>Angus (St. Mathews Episcopal Church), and Kellie Gasink (National Coalition
>to Repeal the USA Patriot Act & Green Party of Chatham County).
>
>Atlanta, Ga; contact Ray Miklethun atlantabordc at yahoo.com 4th of July
>Potluck Picnic at Candler Park from 10am to 5pm
>
>Athens, GA; contact Dan Everett ever216 at bellsouth.net
>
>Augusta, GA; contact Denice Traina yboty at aol.com on July 3, PUBLIC HEARING,
>Main Library on 9th and Green Street at 7pm.
>
>Macon, GA; contact repealnow at lycos.com
>
>---
>New York City, contact Jerry King 718.596.1991 or Primella Dixit at
>prem_dixit at verizon.net or 212-533-2125.
>
>Tueday May 27, 2003 @ 8pm Free Lecuture about the Patriot Act @ All Saints
>Church in Sunnyside Queens, All Saints Church, 4312 46th Street Sunnyside,
>NY 11104, 718-784-8031
>
>A Press Conference by NYCBORDC is planned for May 28 concerning the NYC
>anti-Patriot Act resolution submitted by NYCBORDC noon 12:00 p.m. at steps
>of City Hall;
>
>JUNE 14, RALLY AND MARCH TO STOP THE POLICE STATE AND PROTEST BUSH'S WAR OF
>CONQUEST, NYC, JUNE 14, 2 P.M. NEW YORK - The US government has been
>steadily taking away our "inalienable" rights ever since the tragedies of
>Sept. 11, 2001, and incrementally for years. Convergence beginning at 2:00
>p.m. at the south end of Union Square (north side of 14th St.), at the
>statue of George Washington.
>
>JUNE 14, EMERGENCY RAP SESSION/DISCUSSION on Police Brutality at 4:00 p.m.
>Project Reach, 1 Orchard Street between Canal and Division Streets (F train
>to East Broadway) BY October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality,
>Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation.
>
>June 21, A special educational forum on the PATRIOT ACT is planned 6:00 p.m.
>by the All Souls Unitarian Church at 80th Street and Lexington Ave.
>
>[NYCAnti-War] two important demos, 6/21 & 6/23 United for Peace and Justice
>------ Save the dates now for two key upcoming protests, on June 21 and June
>23, both being supported by UFP NY.]
>
>*JUNE 21: PROTEST POLICE BRUTALITY The Justice Coalition for Alberta Spruill
>and Ousmane Zongo The Issues Have Not Gone Away ... We Are Not Going Away
>... Until We Get Justice Demand Justice and Change in Police Policies and
>Practices Rally at 11:00AM, Saturday, June 21, 2003 City Hall Park
>
>*JUNE 23: PROTEST PRESIDENT BUSH Bush is coming to NYC to raise money for
>his re-election campaign. Planned Parenthood and advocates for reproductive
>freedom are calling on all opponents of the Bush regime to make our voices
>heard Protest at 5:00PM, Monday, June 23, 2003 Sheraton Hotel, 7th Avenue
>and 52nd Street
>----
>Boston, Ma, Zosia Jean Young dropitlykitzhot at yahoo.com ;
>
>The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, possessing a strong
>North Shore presence via the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn
>in Swampscott, has declared the PATRIOT Act a Study/Action Issue for the
>2003 General Assembly in Boston later this month. http://tinyurl.com/ebx0
>Voices Of Hope To Be Raised In Song (New London Day, CT)The festival will
>include performances by choirs from All Souls Unitarian Universalist
>Church.... http://tinyurl.com/ebx1
>June 26-30, 2003: Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts
>
>-----
>
>Pittsburgh, Pa. contact Allison Smith smitha at warhol.org
>
>Philadelphia, Pa; July 3 at 10am Women's march vs ROTC, cuts &
>privatization; 12 noon demonstration vs the death penalty; 4pm Avenging the
>Ancestors Coalition demonstration at the National Constitution Center; On
>Friday July 4th, join thousands in Philadelphia to protest George W. Bush.
>8am protest, 10am rally, 12noon march, 2pm closing event (the culmination of
>a July 4th Week of Actions in Philadelphia**) Unite to Demand a total change
>in priorities: **An End to U.S. Occupation of Iraq -- Bring the Troops Home
>** No Endless Wars, Occupation, Colonialism or U.S. Empire ** Repeal the USA
>Patriot Act, Restore Civvil Liberties, End Election Fraud & Corruption ** No
>to Racism, Sexism, and Attacks on Immigrants ** No to Privatization, Cuts in
>Education, Welfare, Veterans & Other Benefits & Services ** Money for Human
>Needs -- Not the Pentagon War Machine sponsored by International ANSWER and
>co-sponsored by United for Peace and Justice
>
>July 6 - Interfaith Prayer Vigil.
>
>------------
>
>Tucson, Az; contact James Hannley jhannley2 at msn.com
>--------------
>
>
>Lawrence, Kansas; on July 2 contact Don Phipps jazzman at sunflower.com
>
>Kansas City, Kansas & Kansas City, MO contact Janice Matthews
>woman42 at comcast.net
>--------------
>Gainsville, Florida; contact Beth Scrivener eascrivener at gru.net
>
>St. Petersburg, Florida contact Jay Shaft freethoughtinmedia at yahoo.com
>
>Tampa, Florida contact Jay Shaft freethoughtinmedia at yahoo.com
>
>Lakeworth, Florida; April Cartwright aldwjc at mindspring.com
>---------------
>Port Townsend, Wa. contact Pam Dionne pmd at literarysalt.com
>
>Greater Seattle, Wa. contact Pam Dionne pmd at literarysalt.com
>
>---------------
>
>Cleveland, Oh contact Dana Starvaggi danam2004 at msn.com
>
>The Cleveland coalition of groups sponsoring July 3rd are meeting next on
>Wednesday June 4 at 7:30 pm at University Circle Arabica. Contact: Ann
>Averbach 216-295-1824 mariposahada at yahoo.com
>
>Cincinnati, OH, contact Alice Stringer moonsquirrel2 at excite.com
>
>Kent, OH contact David Kessler dkessler at kent.edu
>
>-------------------------------
>
>Detroit, MI contact repealnow at lycos.com
>
>Lansing, MI contact repealnow at lycos.com
>
>-------------------------------
>
>Washington, DC contact repealnow at lycos.com
>
>-------------------------------
>
>Augusta, Maine contact repealnow at lycos.com
>
>Belfast, Maine contact Maizy Meyers mmeyers at acadia.net
>
>Party outdoors on July 12th from 1-4 p.m. near Harbor Park (on the
>pedestrian's path to the simultaneous "Arts in the Park"), banners waving
>around the perimeter, musicians, lots of literature and a table (with stones
>so the petitions don't blow away) and get signatures! Oh yes, and water!
>This will be timely because the Belfast City Council will be considering a
>resolution to declare Belfast a CIVIL LIBERTIES SAFETY ZONE just 3 days
>later on July 15th
>
>Portland, Maine contact Erin E. Finn rageresistrefuse at hotmail.com
>
>-------------------------------
>
>Lexington, KY contact David Fitts dfitts at qx.net
>
>-------------------------------
>
>Northern Virginia and Falls Church, Va contact Adrienne Nicosia
>rnicosia at starpower.net
>
>----------------------
>
>Los Angeles, Ca Schedule for Peace and Social Justice Convergence Friday,
>June 20 - Friday, July 5 (This is an initial schedule and still subject to
>change) Main Convergence- Arts in Action: 1919 W. 7th Street 4th Floor For
>More Information, Call: (213)413-1778, e-mail: PJFest at A... Web:
>http://www.PJFest.net 6/20 (Fri) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Arts in Action: Opening
>Ceremony for the Peace and Social Justice Convergence 6/21 (Sat) 11:00 AM -
>7:00 PM, MacArthur Park: Sol Festival Organized by Sol Foundation, and Sol
>Festival has declare is in solidarity with Peace and Social Justice Festival
>as an anchor event for the PJ Fest. For more information, web:
>http://www.solfoundation.org 6/22 (Sun) 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM, West Hollywood
>Park: In solidarity with West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade & Festival for more
>information, check: http://www.lapride.org 6/23 (Mon): TBA 6/24 (Tue) 8:00
>PM - 11:00 PM, Echo Park Film Center, 1200 N. Alvarado St.: Youth Struggle
>Night and Film Showing, co-sponso
>r with Youth Student Network of Oct 22 Coalition, featuring 2-hour film
>"Justifiable Homicide," and discussion afterward. 6/25 (Wed) 8:00 PM - 12:00
>AM, Arts in Action: Peace and Justice Film Festival 6/26 (Thu) 7:00 PM -
>11:00 PM, Luna Sol Café, 2501 West 6th St.: Peace and Justice Spoken
>Word/Open Mike Night, co-sponsor with Luna Sol Café/Book Store, we invite
>artists, performers, poets please come to express yourself! 6/27 (Fri) 7:00
>- 11:00 PM, Arts in Action: Political Prisoner Night, co-sponsored with
>Jericho Amnesty Coalition-LA. A benefit Hip-Hop concert with LIQDZUNSHINE
>and other bands, speakers, videos and spoken word, in solidarity with the
>struggle to free political prisoners. Speakers from Asians for Jericho and
>Mumia, New Panther Vanguard Movement, ARA-Los Angeles and Anarchist Black
>Cross. URL: http://www.geocities.com/jerichoamnestycoalitionla 6/28 (Sat)
>7:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Arts in Action: Palestine Struggle Night, co-sponsor
>with Women in Black/Palestine Aid S
>ociety Web: http://www.Palestine-Aid-Society.org http://www.wib-la.org 6/29
>(Sun) 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Peace and Justice Book Fair-Venice Beach Peace with
>Justice Center, 1020 Victoria Ave. at Lincoln Blvd: Free admissions,
>co-sponsor with ICUJP. 6/29 (Sun) 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Arts in Action. Peace
>Conference -War In Iraq and the "Healthcare Not Warfare" campaign in So.
>California: Co-sponsor with Coalition for World Peace, a political/cultural
>event by one of the leading antiwar/peace groups in Los Angeles. URL:
>http://www.CoalitionForWorldPeace.org 6/30 (Mon): TBA 7/1 (Tue) 8:00 PM -
>11:00 PM: Asian People Struggle Night, peace movements across the Asia, from
>Korea to Philippines, location: TBA, co-sponsor with Asian Pacific American
>Labor Alliance-Los Angeles. 7/2 (Wed) 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Arts in Action "A
>Celebration in Support of the Constitution" Neighbors for Peace & Justice
>and FPNN will co-host an evening to Celebrate and Support the Constitution
>of the USA: Join the fe
>stivities to learn more about what is happening to our Civil Right and Civil
>Liberties and what you can do to take a pro-active role within your
>community to protect the future of our Constitution. We will have speakers,
>music, poetry and film for your enjoyment and education. 7/3 (Thu) 8:00 PM -
>11:00 PM: Immigrants Struggle Night, co-sponsor with different immigrant
>groups, a night to discuses the current immigrant bashing, anti-immigrant
>sentiments in this country, as well as the impacts on PATROTIC ACT I/II. 7/4
>(Fri): in solidarity with Farce of July at east LA, an annual Chicano music
>and poetry event held on the 4th of July, this event is to honor of our
>ancestors and the spirit of resistance of all indigenous people. URL
>http://www.xicanorecordsandfilm.com 7/5 (Sat): Closing Ceremony
>
>Mount Shasta, Ca June 1 Town Hall meeting contact Donald Nobach
>star-man-sedona at rocketmail.com
>
>Petaluma, Ca contact Elaine Lucia PetalumaCRDG at attbi.com
>
>Placer County, Ca contact Christina Mettert guardian658 at yahoo.com
>
>Santa Rosa, Ca contact Linda Harlow lindamayharlow at msn.com
>
>Santa Cruz, Ca contact John Gibson chefspal at yahoo.com
>
>Santa Monica, Ca contact Kevin McKeown kevin at mckeown.net
>
>In Santa Monica, the League of Women Voters "The League of Women Voters of
>Santa Monica invites the public to attend an informational panel to discuss,
>and illuminate the controversial post 9/11 Patriot Act. The panel is
>comprised of representatives of FBI American Civil Liberties Union, League
>of Women Voters, Santa Monica Public Library Santa Monica YMCA Community
>Room 1332 6th St., Santa Monica Saturday May 31 12:00 Noon Admission is
>Free"
>
>South Alameda County, Ca contact Harry Scott hamescott at aol.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Columbia, SC: "Celebrate Our Bill of Rights" Day Saturday July 5, 3-4:30pm
>Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 5 Points Columbia, SC Speakers, music, and
>interactive theater Learn about the Patriot Act, what it is, how it affects
>your rights and our community Sign a petition to pass a resolution against
>the Patriot Act in Columbia Speakers include: Merrill Chapman, founder of
>"Thinking People", Charleston, SC Denyse Williams, South Carolina ACLU Poet
>Heather McCalman Sponsored by the Carolina Peace Resource Center and the SC
>Progressive Network Contact: Amanda Martin, amanda at carolinapeace.org
>(803)748-0456
>
>Asheville, NC contact Cecil Bothwell rollingthunder at main.nc.us
>
>Los Cruces, NM contact Anne Wing awing at zianet.com http://www.peaceaware.com
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>"Abdullah" is a Georgia Southern University undergraduate engineering
>student. He wants to get some training, get a degree and get on with a
>career. He is just like every other Georgia Southern undergraduate, except
>for a few detail: he ia a Muslim, an Arab and the target of U.S. government
>racial profiling under the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act.
>
>The corporate-owned media has deliberately failed to provide information on
>the thousands of people who have been victimized by the PATRIOT ACT. Maybe
>because these victims are mostly non-citizens, maybe because they are mostly
>non-white, maybe because the corporate-owned media has been ordered to hide
>America's march to fascism. In any event, here is a local PATRIOT ACT horror
>story.
>
>"Abdullah" is not his real name. He enrolled at the University of South
>Florida in Tampa. In August 2001, he transferred to Georgia Southern
>University. His immigration status was and remains legal, under the laws
>that govern student visas in this country.
>
>It was finals time in December 2002. The rest of the GSU student body was
>ready to sink or swim, but Abdullah wasn't allow to get in the
>water.Instead, he was stopped two men claiming to be FBI agents at the door
>of his statesboro classroom, who said: "We want to speak with you." 
>
>The agents informed the student that there was a "problem with your visa".
>The "FBI agents" said that Abdullah had not informed the INS when he
>transferred schools. 
>
>Abdullah reportedly cited, correctly. that this was incorrect because
>foreign student transfers between universities within the United States do
>not require any student communication with the INS office. Colleges and
>universities provided this sort of information to the INS--pro forma,
>students were not in the loop.. 
>
>Law aside, the "agents" then placed handcuffs on Abdullah and took him to
>the GSU registrar's office.  The alleged FBI agents then left Abdullah in
>the office for over an hour while they went to the international advisor to
>look over Abdullah's paperwork. Didn't they say there was a problem with his
>visa, his paperwork? Why didn't these "FBI agents" have the offending
>evidence, fouled paperwork, in-hand?
>
>Abdullah was taken in handcuffs to his home, which was only a short distance
>away.  Abdullah was left in the livingroom in handcuffs, while the "FBI
>agents" looked through his personal belongings in the bedroom. There was no
>search warrant. There was no protocol of evidence in effect.
>
>The "FBI agents" said they found Abdullah's passport, driver's license and
>I-20 student visa document.  These were all the documents that Abdullah was
>required to possess. What else did they find or see is unknown.
>
>Based upon what they allegedly found or saw, the "FBI agents" took the
>chained Abdullah from Statesboro to a Savannah detention center, yet to be
>defined, where he was fingerprinted and photographed.
>
>"I was bought to a big table, somewhere in Savannah. I was in handcuffs. One
>of the FBI agents said:' You have three choices: you can accept deportation
>right now; you can wait to have a judge decide your case; or you get out on
>bond until the judge decided his case." 
>
>Abdullah was then told that bond would not be available to him because of
>new regulations and what did he wish to do
>
>All of the above took from 12:00 p.m to 12:00 a.m.  Abudullah was then
>driven to the Chatham County Jail, where he waited in the hallway from
>midnight to 6:30 a.m., when Abdullah was first given food and water.  Three
>days later Abdullah was allowed to speak with an attorney by telephone.
>Abdullah was then placed in an INS van and driven to Moultrie, Tenn.
>Abdullah was taken to a prison cell with 30 people and was held for 10 days.
>Abdullah was then taken to Atlanta and finally taken to court.  Abdullah was
>finally able to meet his attorney for the first time.  At first the judge
>said that the bond was $20,000.  Then Abdullah attorney's was able to show
>the judge and the prosecutor that the statutory law clearly showed that a
>transfer from one university to another university within the United States
>does not require personal communication to the INS office from the person
>with a student visa.  The prosecutor was asked to research the law and then
>researched the law for a ha
>lf hour.  Finally, the prosecutor could find no other law and the judge said
>the bond would be set at $5,000.  This bond was paid.  The reason that
>Abdullah was able to have a lawyer and that his bond was paid was that his
>embassey had been informed of his arrest and offered immediate assistance.
>
>Abdullah thought this ordeal was over and that he was going home.  Instead,
>Abdullah was placed into an INS van and driven back to Moultrie, Tenn.
>Abdullah stated that he was now free to leave.  Then he was told that he
>could not go, that the prison had lost his file and he would have to wait.
>The next day at 10:00 p.m., Abdullah was informed that his file had been
>found and that he could go.  The prison officials refused to return to
>Abdullah his passport, driver's license, 1-20 Paper, and $50.  Abdullah left
>as soon as he was told that he could go.  He stated that he is paying alot
>of money to go to school here and the reason is that he wishes to receive a
>better education.  Abdullah also obtained an education in racial
>discrimination.

-- 

Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu