Defending Rights & Dissent, Author at Defending Rights & Dissent

September 28, 2023

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 28, 2023

90 Organizations Tell AG Carr: Drop Cop City RICO Charges!

On September 5, 2023, the Georgia Attorney General’s office handed down an indictment of 61 Stop Cop City protesters, organizers, and 2020 racial justice advocates. The indictment alleges a conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

September 28, 2023

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 28, 2023

Civil Liberties Advocates’ Statement on PCLOB Section 702 Report

Today, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) issued its long-awaited report on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The report, endorsed by a majority of the Board’s members, sheds new light on abuses over the past

September 7, 2023

A Stop Cop City protest sign says "Don't Let Atlanta Become a Police State"

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at September 7, 2023

Georgia’s latest assault on Stop Cop City: RICO charges and conspiracy theories

Defending Rights & Dissent condemns the RICO indictments leveled against 61 forest defenders, racial justice activists, and community organizers as a tool intended only to repress dissent and suppress political organizing. The indictments, made public by the office of Georgia

August 10, 2023

Graphic of McCarthyite newspaper and Code Pink activist

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at August 10, 2023

McCarthyism is back, and it’s coming for the peace movement

Defending Rights & Dissent condemns in the strongest possible terms the increasing McCarthyite attacks on leftwing and peace groups critical of US-policy towards China. As tensions between the US and China escalate, we have unsurprisingly seen attacks against those who

July 18, 2023

Capitol building, where the Rules Committee considered the inclusion of an Espionage Act reform amendment

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at July 18, 2023

House Judiciary Set to Act on Privacy and Press Freedom Bills

UPDATE July 19, 2023: Both bills passed out of committee this morning. The vote on the PRESS Act was unanimous in favor. The Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale vote was unanimous in support, but for a “present” vote from

June 16, 2023

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at June 16, 2023

Honoring Daniel Ellsberg means keeping up the fight

Today, the country lost one of its fiercest champions for peace, disarmament, and press freedom. In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg risked his personal freedom to alert the public that its government had continuously lied to them about the Vietnam War. Dan

June 16, 2023

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at June 16, 2023

Chip Gibbons Discusses Trump Indictment on Democracy Now!

How do we thread the needle between opposing the use of the Espionage Act against whistleblowers and truthtellers, while also fighting to hold figures in power accountable? DRAD Policy Director Chip Gibbons insightfully untangles the need for accountability without legitimizing

June 14, 2023

Donald Trump, who has been indicted under the Espionage Act

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at June 14, 2023

Statement on the Espionage Act Indictment of Donald Trump

Yesterday, Donald Trump pled not guilty to charges related to his storage of classified documents. Charges against Trump include obstructing justice, concealing documents from an investigation, lying, and violating §793 of the Espionage Act by retaining national defense information. Defending

June 8, 2023

UK High Court of Justice, which decided to deny Julian Assange's appeal against extradition.

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at June 8, 2023

Statement on UK High Court Decision on Assange Extradition

The following statement can be attributed to Chip Gibbons, Policy Director, Defending Rights & Dissent: We are extremely disturbed by today’s decision by a UK High Court Judge to reject Julian Assange’s appeal against extradition to the US. Although we

April 25, 2023

Members of the African People's Socialist Party at a rally

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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

One of the documents leaked by Jack Teixeira, who is now facing charges under the Espionage Act

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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

Published by Defending Rights & Dissent at 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