Defending Rights & Dissent

April 25, 2023

Defending Rights & Dissent Statement on Indictment of African People’s Socialist Party Members

Defending Rights & Dissent expresses its concern with the indictment of three members of the African People’s Socialist Party, along with one member of Black Hammer, for allegedly acting as unregistered foreign agents of Russia. According to a Department of
April 14, 2023

DRAD Statement: Jack Teixeira and the Espionage Act

Earlier this morning Jack Teixeira, a 21 year old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was charged with two counts under §793 of the Espionage Act for unlawfully obtaining and communicating national defense information.  Additionally, Teixeira was charged under
March 6, 2023

69 Organizations Urge that Domestic Terrorism Charges Against Defend the Atlanta Forest Protesters Be Dropped

69 environmental, human rights, and civil liberties organizations sent a letter to Georgia prosecutors urging them to drop domestic terrorism charges against Stop Cop City/Defend the Atlanta Forest protesters. The charges represent a draconian escalation seemingly intended to chill First
January 24, 2023

We Mourn the Passing of Victor Navasky: Long-Time Board Member, Crusading Journalist, Historian of the McCarthy Era, Staunch Civil Libertarian

Defending Rights & Dissent mourns the passing of longtime board member Victor Navasky.  Victor was a pioneering journalist, editor, and publisher.   “Victor was a powerful voice on our Board of Directors for over 30 years. His deep knowledge and astute
January 23, 2023

The Killing of ‘Cop City’ Protester Tortuguita Terán is a Blow to Dissent

On January 18, state troopers shot and killed Tortuguita Terán, an environmental activist protesting forest destruction in DeKalb County, near Atlanta, GA. Defending Rights & Dissent is dismayed by this repression of dissent and condemns it in the strongest possible
January 19, 2023

Civil Society Groups Condemn the Prosecution of Haoyang Yu

Although the Biden Administration has put an end to the “China Initiative,” biased prosecutions against Chinese Americans haven’t stopped. Defending Rights & Dissent recently sent a letter expressing concern about the prosecution of Mr. Haoyang Yu to the US Attorney’s
January 11, 2023

Congressional Oversight Over Domestic Surveillance Is Needed, But It Must Be Serious, Not Partisan Score Settling

Yesterday, in a party-line vote, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for the creation of a committee to study the “weaponization of the federal government.” Although the select committee will be housed within the Judiciary Committee, non-Judiciary
January 9, 2023

Guantánamo at 21: Upcoming vigils, rallies, and events to mark the anniversary

Wednesday, January 11th is the 21st anniversary of the opening of the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay. Across the country, local coalitions will host commemorations, and a national virtual event featuring Guantánamo survivors is also scheduled. Please join one of
December 12, 2022

It’s Time to Pass the PRESS Act!

Defending Rights & Dissent joined Freedom of the Press Foundation and a coalition of nearly 40 press freedom, civil liberties and other organizations urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to advance the PRESS Act to a vote before Congress adjourns.
December 8, 2022

Press freedom and civil liberties organizations call on the Biden administration to end Assange prosecution

“It is time for the Biden administration to break from the Trump administration’s decision to indict Assange – a move that was hostile to the media and democracy itself. Correcting the course is essential to protect journalists’ ability to report
December 5, 2022

DRAD Stands With Rail Workers

Defending Rights & Dissent opposes the decision of President Joseph Biden and the United States Congress to override the will of rail workers and impose upon them a contract they rejected. The right to collective bargaining, the right to form
November 28, 2022

DRAD Joins with 90 LGBTQ+, Human Rights, Civil Liberties, and Tech Policy Groups Concerned About KOSA

Defending Rights and Dissent has joined with 90 other organizations – all of us fighting to protect youth privacy, safety, and access to information –  to voice our concern about the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). While it sounds benign,
November 23, 2022

The FBI should not let Israel get away with the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh

On May 11, 2022, an Israeli sniper murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.  The Al-Jazeera reporter was wearing a blue press vest while covering an Israeli raid on a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.  Abu Akleh’s family
November 23, 2022

First a fist bump, then carte blanche for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

On October 2, 2018, Washington Post columnist and journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. His body was reportedly dismembered. Khashoggi was a critic of the Saudi government. US intelligence concluded that Crown Prince
November 21, 2022

The FTC Should Step In to Prevent the Government From Violating the Fourth Amendment By Buying Our Personal Data

Defending Rights & Dissent joined 17 other anti-surveillance organizations urging the Federal Trade Commission to look closely at the government’s use of commercially available data to evade legal restrictions on the collection of personal information, and to exercise the full