| TOMORROW:ATLANTA DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARTY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE | ||||
ATLANTA DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARTY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE Saturday, January 29, 2011 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm In front of CNN Center, 190 Marietta Street, NW, Atlanta, GA A demonstration will be held on Saturday in downtown Atlanta in support of the brave Egyptian people who are fighting for their freedom, dignity, and rights. Organizers hope to show the Egyptian people that American people are behind their struggle. In addition, the protest aims to expose the dire situation in Egypt, and to encourage the U.S. media to expand their coverage of growing movements for freedom and democracy in North Africa.
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Friday, January 28, 2011
Saturday, January 29-ATLANTA DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARTY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE
Monday, January 24, 2011
[HumanRightsAtlanta] listening alert: Emily Guzman, wife of Steward detainee, Pedro Guzman, on WABE Tuesday
Hello all,
Our friend Emily Guzman will be on WABE tomorrow; you can listen to her family’s story live on Storycorps TOMORROW (Tuesday) at 7:30AM or 12:45PM on Atlanta Public Radio at http://www.pba.org/schedules/.
You can find out more about the case of Emily Guzman’s husband, Pedro Guzman, who is currently detained at the Stewart Detention Center, here: http://www.logansdad.org/; and sign the petition calling for his release from detention here: http://immigration.change.org/
Best,
Azadeh
Azadeh N. Shahshahani
National Security/Immigrants' Rights Project Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
1900 The Exchange SE, Suite 425
Atlanta, GA 30339
770-303-8111
Monday, January 17, 2011
Georgia Rural Urban Summit Capitol Days 2011
Capitol Days 2011
Georgia Rural Urban Summit compiles a running calendar of the days when there is an organization planning to be at the Capitol. If your group has a Lobby Day, Legislative Reception or other special event scheduled for the Capitol during this legislative session, please send info tolobbywatch@aol.com
Date/Group/Contact – as known at this time
January
Jan. 18 – By the People Day (General Advocacy Training ACLU-GA) lskinner@acluga.org
Jan. 21 – Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (annual Policy Conference www.gbpi.org
Jan. 24 – United Way (legislative reception) amintz@unitedwayatlanta.org
Jan. 25 – By the People Day (General Advocacy & Immigrant Rights) lskinner@acluga.org
Jan. 25 – Interfaith Children’s Movement (legis. Kickoff mtg) www.
Jan. 26 – Georgia Women for Change (Capitol Briefing) www.gwomen.org
February
Feb. 1 - By the People Day (General Advocacy Training ACLU-GA) lskinner@acluga.org
Feb. 3 – Stop Violence Against Women Day (Ga Comm. on Fam. Violence) Jennifer.thomas@gaaoc.us
Feb. 7 – Catholic Archdiocese Lobby Day www.archatl.com/
Feb. 8 - By the People Day (General Advocacy & Voting Rights) lskinner@acluga.org
Feb. 8 – Georgia State AFL-CIO (legislative reception) daniel@georgiaunion.org
Feb. 10 - Interfaith Children’s Movement (lobby day) www.
Feb. 10 – Ga Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (legis. Reception) www.gcapp.org
Feb.15 – By the People Day (General Advocacy & Education Day) lskinner@acluga.org
Feb. 15 – Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty www.gfadp.org
Feb. 15 – Unlock the Waiting List Advocacy Day www.unlockthewaitinglists.com
Feb. 16 – Planned Parenthood Young Leaders a.nicholeenglish@gmail.com
Feb. 22 - By the People Day (General Advocacy & Immigrant Rights) lskinner@acluga.org
Feb. 24 – 13th Annual Disabilities Day (Rally & Advocacy) www.gcdd.org
March
March 1 - By the People Day (Women’s Reproductive Health Day) lskinner@acluga.org
March 3 – National Muscular Sclerosis Society Day kyle.pinion@nmssga.org
March 8 - By the People Day (Anti-Racial Profiling Day) lskinner@acluga.org
March 9 – March is For Women Day (Feminist Women’s Health Center) www.feministcenter.org
March 15 - By the People Day (Criminal Justice Day) lskinner@acluga.org
March 22 - By the People Day (General Advocacy Training) lskinner@acluga.org
March 29 - By the People Day (General Advocacy & Immigrant Rights) lskinner@acluga.org
March 31- Caesar Chavez Day (Rally & Press Conf.) www.galeo.org
* And each Wednesday, beginning Jan. 26 will Be Women in the Halls / Our Voice Beyond Choice held at 9:00 am Coverdell Legislative Office Building room 306 hosted by Planned Parenthood of Georgia Education Fund and Feminist Women’s Health Center a.nicoleenglish@gmail.comPPGA or a.k.rogers78@gmail.com fodderellwc@gmail.com FWHC
Human Rights Groups Call for Immediate Arrest of Jean-Claude Duvalier
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Mario Joseph, Av., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), mario@ijdh.org, 509-3701-9879
Mario Joseph, Av., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), mario@ijdh.org, 509-3701-9879
Brian Concannon Jr., Esq., Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (Boston, MA), brian@ijdh.org, 541-263-0029
Ira Kurzban, Esq. IJDH Board Chair and attorney in Jean-Juste v. Duvalier, (Miami, FL) ira@kkwtlaw.com, 305-444-0060
Human Rights Groups Call for Immediate Arrest of Jean-Claude Duvalier
January 17, 2011-Port-au-Prince and Boston- Today, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) and the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) call on the Government of the Republic of Haiti to comply with Haitian law and arrest ex-President Jean-Claude Duvalier, who returned to Haiti on a commercial flight yesterday.
· A July 3, 2009 order from the First Court of Public Law, of the Federal Court of Switzerland, which notes that the Haitian government had informed it of current criminal proceedings against Mr. Duvalier as late as June 2008;
· The Decision of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Jean-Juste v. Duvalier, No. 86-0459, dated January 8, 1988, finding Mr. Duvalier liable for over $500,000,000 for his misappropriation of public monies for his personal use; and
· An extensive accounting of Mr. Duvalier’s misappropriation of public funds conducted for the Haitian government by a U.S. accounting firm between 1986 and 1990, establishing the theft of over $300,000,000 U.S.D. of public funds.
This legal documentation is supplemented by an extensive public record of Mr. Duvalier’s human rights violations, including the torture and disappearances of political dissidents at the Fort Dimanche prison and other crimes committed by organizations under his control, including the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Volunteers for National Security (Tontons Macoutes).
Mr. Duvalier is not protected against prosecution by any statutes of limitations. According to Article 466 of the Haitian Code of Criminal Procedure, the proceedings for misappropriation of funds are not proscribed because of the continuing prosecution of the case from 1986 to 2008. The political killings and torture are not proscribed because they are crimes against humanity, which are imprescriptible under international law.
The BAI and IJDH believe that if there are not any arrest warrants outstanding against Mr. Duvalier, that the information available in existing legal proceedings and Mr. Duvalier’s 25-year flight from Haitian justice clearly justify the immediate issuance and execution of an arrest warrant. The BAI and IJDH offer their assistance, including their extensive documentation of Mr. Duvalier’s crimes, to Haitian authorities conducting a serious investigation.
###
French
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
CONTACTS:
Mario Joseph, Av., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (Port-au-Prince, Haïti), mario@ijdh.org, +509-3701-9879
Brian Concannon Jr., Esq., Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haïti (Boston, MA), brian@ijdh.org, 541-263-0029
Kurzban Iran, Esq. Président du conseil de l’IJDH et avocat dans le dossier de Jean-Juste c. Duvalier, (Miami, FL) ira@kkwtlaw.com, 305-444-0060
Organisations des Droits de l'homme lancent un appel pour l'arrestation immédiate de Jean-Claude Duvalier
Le 17 Janvier 2011-Port-au-Prince et Boston Aujourd'hui,
l'Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) et le Bureau des Avocats Inter nationaux (BAI) demandent au gouvernement de la République d'Haïti de se conformer à la loi haïtienne en procédant immédiatement à l’arrestation de l’ex-président Jean-Claude Duvalier, qui est rentré en Haïti le 16 Janvier 2011 par un vol commercial d’air France.
· Un arrêt de 3 Juillet 2009 de la Première Cour de droit public de la Cour fédérale de la Suisse, qui note que le gouvernement haïtien l’avait informé d’une procédure pénale en cours contre M. Duvalier depuis Juin 2008;
· Un arrêt du tribunal fédéral du district sud de Floride dans le dossier de Jean-Juste c. Duvalier, n ° 86-0459, en date du 8 Janvier 1988, qui a prononcé une condamnation civile contre M. Duvalier pour plus de $ 500 000 000 (U.S.) pour son détournement de fonds publics à des fins personnels, et
· Un compte rendu comptable de détournements M. Duvalier de fonds publics mené pour le gouvernement haïtien par un cabinet de comptables des États-Unis entre 1986 et 1990, établissant le vol de plus de $ 300 000 000 U.S. de fonds publics.
Cette documentation juridique est complétée par un volumineux dossier public des violations des droits humains de M. Duvalier, y compris les tortures et les disparitions d'opposants politiques de la prison de Fort-Dimanche, et les crimes commis par les milices sous le contrôle de M. Duvalier, y compris les Forces Armées d’Haiti et les Volontaires pour la Sécurité Nationale (Tonton Macoutes).
Les crimes de M. Duvalier ne sont pas prescrits. D’après l’article 466, du Code d’Instruction Criminelle de la République d’Haïti, les poursuites pour détournement de fonds ne sont pas prescrites à cause des actes d’instruction et de poursuite qui ont été enclenchés de 1986 à 2008. Les assassinats et tortures politiques ne sont pas prescrits, car ils sont des crimes contre l’humanité, qui sont imprescriptibles selon le droit international.
Le BAI et IJDH croient que s’ il n'y a pas de mandats d'arrêt contre M. Duvalier, que les informations disponibles dans les procédures judiciaires existantes et la fuite de M. Duvalier depuis 25 ans de la justice haïtienne justifient clairement la délivrance immédiate et l'exécution d'un mandat d'arrêt. Le BAI et IJDH offrent leur assistance légale et juridique, y compris leur documentation extensive de crimes de M. Duvalier, aux autorités haïtiennes si elles veulent le poursuivre réellement.
Le BAI et IJDH croient que s’ il n'y a pas de mandats d'arrêt contre M. Duvalier, que les informations disponibles dans les procédures judiciaires existantes et la fuite de M. Duvalier depuis 25 ans de la justice haïtienne justifient clairement la délivrance immédiate et l'exécution d'un mandat d'arrêt. Le BAI et IJDH offrent leur assistance légale et juridique, y compris leur documentation extensive de crimes de M. Duvalier, aux autorités haïtiennes si elles veulent le poursuivre réellement.
BAI et IJDH rappellent à tout le monde que les crimes commis sous le règne de la dictature des DUVALIERS sont imprescriptibles, parce que ce sont des crimes contre l’humanité. Par conséquent, ils encouragent toutes les victimes des DUVALIERS à porter plainte. Les avocats du BAI et IJDH sont disponibles pour les assister aider et les accompagner par devant les Tribunaux et Cours tant nationaux qu’internationaux.
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Sunday, January 16, 2011
National Call and Fax in Campaign blitz for Oscar Lopez
| Time | Wednesday, January 19 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm |
|---|---|
| Created By | |
Once a week, starting Wednesday January 19 from 1-4 EST, National Boricua Human Rights is calling for a National Call and Fax in Campaign blitz for Oscar Lopez until further notice Parole Board Phone call-in script US Parole Board phone: (301) 492-5990 Hi, my name is ______________ and I live in Chicago [NY, etc.] The Parole Commission should parole Oscar López # 87651-024 immediately, in spite of the hearing examiner’s recommendation to deny parole. IF YOU HAVE TIME, USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1) Oscar has the support of a broad sector of Puerto Rico’s civil society as well as Puerto Rican and Latino communities throughout the United States. 2) Oscar was not accused or convicted of causing injury or taking a life. He was never accused or con-victed of participating in the 1975 Fraunces Tavern bombing or any other action that resulted in injury or death. 3) President Clinton’s determination that Mr. López Rivera’s sentence was disproportionately lengthy, and his offer that would have resulted in Mr. López Ri-vera’s release in September of 2009. ========================== We are in the second phase of Campaign to Free Oscar Lopez Rivera-Effective Immediately The Parole Board has not come to a decision yet. As of today, the National Boricua Human Rights Network launches the second phase of the campaign for Oscar López Rivera's freedom! With a letter, fax and phone-in campaign, the NBHRN and the Puerto Rico-based Comité Pro-Derechos Humanos are urging the parole commissioners to reject the wrong-headed and politically punitive recommendation of the parole examiner. We intend to flood the Parol Board with letters until they respond. We estimate this will take 6-8 weeks, so every day counts. Please keep close track of the letters sent/faxed to the Parole Board. Please forward far and wide and post and repost. PLEASE SEND OR FAX LETTERS, NOT BOTH, AS THE PAROLE BOARD WILL BE KEEPING TRACK OF THEM. Please contact me with any questions. thank all of you for all of your work on this campaign, LET'S FREE OSCAR, |
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
A power-to-the-people email I'm sharing with you all.......................... The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have this message. This is one idea that really should be passed around. Congressional Reform Act of 2011 1. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below.. A. Two Six-year Senate terms B. Six Two-year House terms C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms 2. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. 3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. 4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time. THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. Please keep it going. |
Saturday, January 15, 2011
[HumanRightsAtlanta] Stop Cuts in Social Spending and the Public Sector - Atlanta Public Sector Alliance
Atlanta Public Sector Alliance
542 Moreland Ave. SE ▪ Atlanta, Ga. 30316
Phone: 404-401-8817, Fax: 404-627-5016, email: terencec
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2011
New Report Finds Conservative Policies Worsen Racial Economic Gap,
Hit Black And Latino Communities the Hardest
Hit Black And Latino Communities the Hardest
State of the Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom?
Atlanta, Ga – Conservative attacks on government, public sector workers, social safety nets and the progressive tax system widen the racial economic divide because they disproportionately harm Blacks and Latinos, according to a new report. These findings were released today by United for a Fair Economy inState of the Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom?, released in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
“Through their policy proposals, Republican leaders – at all levels of government – are suggesting that we postpone not only the recovery, but also the prospect of a better future,” said Brian Miller, Executive Director of United for a Fair Economy and co-author of the report. “GOP austerity measures will ratchet down the standard of living for all Americans, while simultaneously widening our nation’s racial and economic divide.”
Because of policy making by Democrats and Republicans, Georgians face teacher and state employee furloughs, MARTA layoffs and service cuts, the closing of the dialysis clinic at Grady, tuition and fee hikes in the University System of Georgia, and eliminating CTRAN service. These are just a few examples of the attacks on our human rights. Economists project a $1 billion deficit in the state’s 2011 budget. So, we can expect things to get even worse. Regardless, our public institutions and state government have a moral responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfill our human rights.
State of the Dream 2011 documents show the conservative agenda increases economic inequality and deepens the racial divide. Forty-two years after Martin Luther King’s death, Blacks earn only 57 cents, and Latinos 59 cents, to each dollar Whites earn. The tax cuts advocated by conservatives will worsen this divide by flowing disproportionately to wealthy White households, while the proposed cuts to social safety nets and the public sector work force will disproportionately harm African-Americans and Latinos,particularly women of color. Notable findings from the report include:
- Tax Cuts: New data in State of the Dream 2011 document that Whites are 3 times as likely as Blacks, and 4.6 times as likely as Latinos, to benefit from income tax cuts for those earning over $250,000.
- Public Sector Jobs: Blacks are 1.3 times as likely to work in a state government job than the general workforce, and 1.7 times as likely to work for the federal government in particular. Additionally, Blacks and Latinos are more likely to achieve professional parity there due to civil rights protections unique to the public sector.
- Job Creation: With an official unemployment rate of 15.8% for Blacks, 13% for Latinos, and 8.5% for Whites, Republican opposition to public investments and direct job creation programs disproportionately hurts Blacks and Latinos, while hindering the recovery from the Great Recession for the entire economy.
- Social Safety Net: Financial cushions allow families to survive un- and under- employment; Blacks hold only 10 cents of net wealth, and Latinos hold 12 cents of net wealth, for every dollar that Whites hold, making unemployment insurance, Social Security and public assistance vital to the economic well being of these groups. Among retirement age adults, for example, 60% of Blacks and 65% of Latinos depend on Social Security for over 80% percent of their income, compared to only 46% of Whites.
The report calls for more protection of government employees, who perform valuable functions for society, and additional federal aid to the states. Georgia received $3.4 billion dollars in stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, which saved or created 26,086 jobs. Similar job-saving stimulus from the federal government, combined with state-level progressive tax reform, will help Georgiaaddress its racial wealth disparities.
We must be clear that the profit motive or market operations - with their inherent injustice - have no place in government or the public sector. We must build a people’s movement to protect and revitalize this essential part of our society which is the basis for civilization. We have to overcome the single-issue fragmentation that currently exists between our issues. We must rely on ourselves and the power of our organization to defeat these attacks and hold our leaders accountable. TOGETHER, WE CAN WIN!
The Atlanta Public Sector Alliance (APSA) is an organization individuals and community, worker and religious organizations who strive to improve the human rights of all. Through our Human Rights Charter Campaign, we use public education, persuasion, and movement building to hold Metro Atlanta accountable to human rights principles and standards as it relates to numerous issues including but not limited to public health, housing, education, and transportation. More at: www.
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