October 31, 2022
Published by Cody Bloomfield at October 31, 2022
Yet again, intelligence agencies have stepped outside of the law to conduct politically-motivated surveillance of protesters. This time, DHS was the culprit. According to an internal DHS report, agents assigned to Portland during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests drew up
October 14, 2022
Published by Cody Bloomfield at October 14, 2022
If extradited, Julian Assange faces up to 175 years in prison under the Espionage Act – a draconian sentence intended to deter other journalists and truthtellers from revealing the long shadow of the American empire. On Saturday, October 8, DRAD
October 11, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at October 11, 2022
37 years ago today, Alex Odeh was assassinated at the offices of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) as part of a coordinated bombing campaign to silence activists. For decades, Defending Rights & Dissent has stood in solidarity with ADC in
October 7, 2022
Published by Cody Bloomfield at October 7, 2022
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we remember how the FBI surveilled and repressed AIM and other indigenous liberation movements. In 1969, American Indian Movement (AIM) activists occupied Alcatraz Island, invoking the Sioux Treaty of 1868, which grants unused federal lands to
September 30, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 30, 2022
Did the CIA use a Spanish security firm known as UC Global to spy on WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange while toying with plans to assassinate or kidnap the Australian national? In spying on Assange, did the CIA and UC Global
September 30, 2022
Published by Cody Bloomfield at September 30, 2022
Two decades of the War on Terror make it clear that incremental reforms are insufficient to ameliorate the harms of a global system predicated upon Islamophobia and violence. Tendrils of the War on Terror encircle the globe and extend deep
September 19, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 19, 2022
The proposed resolution intends to adopt the working definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) along with its 11 contemporary examples. Anti-Semitism is a reprehensible form of bigotry, however, several of the examples attached to the IHRA definition incorrectly equate constitutionally-protected criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, effectively chilling free speech.
September 15, 2022
Published by Patrick G. Eddington at September 15, 2022
This coming Saturday will mark the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by 39 of the 41 delegates to the convention that crafted America’s current form of government. The document they circulated to their respective states for ratification
September 14, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 14, 2022
Defending Rights & Dissent helped organize a letter from nearly 50 civil rights, human rights, and civil liberties groups who are united in opposing the Countering Violent Extremism framework to address hate violence in the United States. We sent the
August 31, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at August 31, 2022
Since the Department of Justice unsealed a warrant showing the Espionage Act was one of the reasons for a search of Donald Trump’s home, the media has been awash with misinformation about the Espionage Act. Confounding matters further has been
August 25, 2022
Published by Patrick G. Eddington at August 25, 2022
Americans are, once again, debating what is “age appropriate” sex education in light of the rise of the prominence of issues around gender, identity, and sexuality. And while much of the “groomer” rhetorical fire has been aimed at entertainment giant
August 16, 2022
Published by Suraj K Sazawal at August 16, 2022
Even before the FBI carried out its search warrant of his Florida home for “national defense information or classified material” taken from the White House, the former president frequently boasted how his administration prosecuted national security leaks more aggressively than
August 15, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at August 15, 2022
No one is above the law. Not a sitting president. Not a former president. And certainly not Donald Trump. We know too often the powerful are treated to a different set of rules. Presidents and other high level officials lie
August 1, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at August 1, 2022
On Friday July 29, 2002 the FBI raided homes and offices associated with the African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Solidarity Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri. These related groups describe their political views as socialism and
July 30, 2022
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at July 30, 2022
The US observes National Whistleblower Day today, but despite this nominal recognition, whistleblower protections in many ways remain threadbare, and the most chilling threat to truth-tellers looms larger as ever in the continuing and expanding use of the Espionage Act.