January 20, 2021
Published by Sue Udry at January 20, 2021
a new federal domestic terrorism statute or list would adversely impact civil rights and — as our nation’s long and disturbing history of targeting Black Activists, Muslims, Arabs, and movements for social and racial justice has shown — this new authority could be used to expand racial profiling or be wielded to surveil and investigate communities of color and political opponents in the name of national security
January 7, 2021
Published by Suraj K Sazawal at January 7, 2021
On the same day in February 2018 that would have been the 23rd birthday for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teenager killed by George Zimmerman in 2014, Philadelphians woke to find their city vandalized. Overnight, downtown store windows had been shattered,
January 7, 2021
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at January 7, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Defending Rights & Dissent and Justice for Muslims Collective are non-partisan organizations. We are unwavering in our commitment for people in a democracy to exercise their sacred right to select for themselves their own leaders. Yesterday, a
January 4, 2021
Published by Patrick G. Eddington at January 4, 2021
On January 4, Westminster Magistrates’ District Court Judge Vanessa Baraitser finally handed down her long-awaited decision regarding the American government’s extradition request on radical transparency activist Julian Assange. In short, she denied the U.S. government’s extradition request—not because she bought
December 18, 2020
Published by Suraj K Sazawal at December 18, 2020
The entire roster for the Boston Celtics basketball team recently called on the state’s lawmakers to reject the Governor’s last-minute amendment to a police reform bill that would cut proposed restrictions on the government's use of facial recognition technology.
December 7, 2020
Published by Sue Udry at December 7, 2020
It’s unclear when Timuel Black joined our board. I only know that I met him in 1992, and he was a longtime board member even back then. But what is clear is that his energy, wisdom, and insight has helped
December 4, 2020
Published by Chip Gibbons at December 4, 2020
Fifty-one years ago today, the Chicago Police murdered Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. The murder happened during a police raid that was orchestrated by the FBI as part of its notorious Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). With COINTELPRO, the
November 30, 2020
Published by Sue Udry at November 30, 2020
US law enforcement and military agencies have been buying their way around the Fourth Amendment using loopholes in federal privacy laws to access vast troves of our personal data. As we all know, private companies like Facebook, Google, and Verizon,
November 24, 2020
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at November 24, 2020
Defending Rights & Dissent has filed an amicus brief on behalf of Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine. In 2015, student supporters of Palestinian human rights sought to form a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) student club at Fordham
November 18, 2020
Published by Chip Gibbons at November 18, 2020
Last month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a once-secret National Security Agency bulk surveillance program was illegal and likely unconstitutional. The court was able to rule on the program thanks to disclosures by Edward Snowden. Snowden’s revelations
November 11, 2020
Published by Patrick G. Eddington at November 11, 2020
Despite the esteem politicians claim to hold for veterans, behind the scenes, the FBI and even the Army is willing to spy on vets.
November 9, 2020
Published by Suraj K Sazawal at November 9, 2020
This is no time to relax. Reining in our country’s runaway executive branch must begin now, even as the current occupant of the White House grasps at his last days in office and before the new administration has a chance
October 23, 2020
Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at October 23, 2020
Today, Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) sent a letter to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council,
October 21, 2020
Published by Suraj K Sazawal at October 21, 2020
These past few months have been hard but inspiring. Protests against racial injustice continue in Portland, Louisville and across the nation as countless Americans refuse to be silenced by aggressive and excessive policing and a polarizing president that stokes racial