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Please take a moment to review the following presentation in reference to civil rights in the 1960's and even in present day
America. Posted February 16, 2010.
| 
An Afghan land mine victim ambles by a wedding party in progress in Kabul, Afghanistan. Kabul
is full of amputees tooling around on its streets as living reminders of two decades of war. (Photo by Chris Hondros)
|
October 23, 2009 URGENT
ACTION: Tell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that you support banning landmines and want to see the United States join
the Mine Ban Treaty without delay. [click here to take this action] Dear K.
Even when conflicts end, landmines
continue to claim thousands of lives every year and maim thousands more. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has an opportunity
to get US landmine policy right by agreeing to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. 156 governments have already joined. It's time for
the United States to step up.
The US participated in creating this international treaty, but the Clinton Administration
decided at the last moment against signing and set 2006 as the year the US would join. The Bush Administration then reversed
course, announcing it would never join the Mine Ban Treaty.
What makes this surprising is that the United States
is already compliant with the main points of the Mine Ban Treaty. For example, the US hasn't used antipersonnel mines since
1991 and hasn't exported or produced them for over a decade. And the US is the world's largest contributor to cleaning up
mine fields and victim assistance!
It's time the US agreed to the Mine Ban Treaty and reinforced President
Obama's commitment to protecting civilians and working together to make the world safer for the future.
URGENT ACTION: Tell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that you support banning landmines and want to see the United
States join the Mine Ban Treaty without delay. [click here to take this action]
Tell your friends about this action: [click here]
Thank you for lending your voice for war's civilian victims!
Sincerely,
Marla B
|
CIVIC
Updates and Email Alerts
1700 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20009 : 202.558.6958 |
 CODEPINK is proud to co-sponsor portions of Malalai Joya's book tour
which announces the release of her
bold new memoir, A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice.
And we invite you
CODEPINK Women Say NO to War
October 22, 2009
Dear K.,
When CODEPINK
cofounder Jodie Evans met with President Obama last week
http://bit.ly/3CkV48, she asked him to bring more Afghan women to the table. While
we hope he will take this suggestion to heart and involve
more women in the
negotiation process, we are not going to sit around idly waiting for it to happen.
We are helping
to bring voices of Afghan women to the public, and invite you to hear
them.
CODEPINK is proud to co-sponsor
portions of Malalai Joya's book tour
(http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Malalai-Joya/49986851/author_appearances) which
announces the release of her bold new memoir, A Woman Among Warlords: The
Extraordinary Story of an Afghan
Who Dared to Raise Her Voice. And we invite you
read this book with us!
>> When
you donate $25 to CODEPINK through Facebook, we will send you a copy of
Malalai's book. For a $50 donation, we will send
you a signed copy-wonderful
holiday gifts for the amazing women in your life! To donate, please click here
(http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=203). * Please
make sure to check 'Share my name, billing address, and donation amount with
CODEPINK WOMEN FOR PEACE'
so we know where to send the book!' Email Paris with
questions! (pariscodepink@gmail.com
)
When we were in Kabul, we asked who the most famous woman in Afghanistan is and the
answer
was always Malalai, She has also been called "the bravest woman in
Afghanistan" and was the youngest female
minister in the country's new Parliament.
She was suspended from her position in 2007 for daring to criticize the warlords
and
drug barons in her midst. Since then, she has survived several assassination
attempts; she is now accompanied
at all times with armed guards and sleeps only in
safe houses, but she refuses to be silent. We are deeply inspired by
her courage,
and her continuing work to better the lives of Afghan women.
Malalai will be appearing in New
York, Providence, Washington D.C., Boston, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Bellingham, as well as several locations
in
Canada. Click here for more details
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Malalai-Joya/49986851/author_appearances.
CODEPINK is also cosponsoring several talks by Zoya, a member of RAWA, the
Revolutionary Association of
the Women of Afghanistan
(http://www.rawa.org/rawa/2009/10/03/afghan-women-resist-occupation-and-fundamentalism-rawa-tour-usa-2009.html).
To find out if she's coming to your area, visit our Women Say No to War site:
http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?id=5119
Thank you for supporting the brave Afghan women who are putting their lives on the
line to share their
stories.
In solidarity,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Paris, Rae, Suzanne,
Tracy
and Whitney
LOCAL ACTION HIGHLIGHTS!
Last Saturday, October 17, CODEPINKers joined marches
around the country, from
Boston [http://www.codepinkalert.org/userdata_display.php?modin=54&uid=8964] to
Florida to San Francisco
[http://www.codepinkalert.org/userdata_display.php?modin=54&uid=8968], with our
message to end the tragedy of the US military invasion, bombing and occupation of
Afghanistan! (Only
add in if Zoya's tour is big part of alert--feel free to take
out:) New England activists heard Afghan woman leader and
RAWA speaker Zoya speak at
the rally. CODEPINK was quoted in the SF Chronicle.
(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/18/MNAR1A78H4.DTL) Thank
you for joining us in the streets in vibrant pink!
| 
|
Dear K.,
Eight years ago today the United States invaded
Afghanistan. Just months later, CIVIC's founder Marla Ruzicka was there to help civilians harmed by those first airstrikes.
Since then, CIVIC has made tremendous strides in getting proper recognition and amends to Afghan war victims.
Take
the Afghan Civilian Assistance Program for example, which CIVIC helped create with the US Congress. It has
expanded exponentially and is now reaching war survivors in all corners of Afghanistan. This year alone we helped secure
more than $17million for this critical program. Remember: none of that money comes to CIVIC; it goes directly
to Afghanistan.
Or our work with US and international forces, which is paying off.
We've trained troops on how to avoid and properly address civilian harm, recognize the debilitating impact of civilian casualties
on their mission and contributed a year's worth of documentation on civilian harm to the debate about a new approach in Afghanistan.
We're proud to have influenced the current thinking on sparing civilian lives.
You support has made
big steps like these possible.
Are
you up for the next challenge?
How about for an Afghanistan-wide system of compensation
for civilians harmed in the conflict? That's what we're working toward and I firmly believe we'll be successful.
We want all civilians harmed by this conflict to receive the recognition and help they deserve - every single one of them.
How about for Afghanistan's neighbor, Pakistan? Just as we did last year in Afghanistan,
we're sending a Harvard Fellow to Pakistan for the year to assess civilian harm there and document what help Pakistani war
victims need. I'm excited to introduce you to this new CIVIC program and to Chris, who you can read more about here:
LINK TO BLOG Expanding our work means a need for additional funds. Please consider supporting
our work in Afghanistan and Pakistan. CLICK HERE, DONATE NOW
Thank you for your partnership. As always, our thoughts and our efforts are
with the many thousands of civilians who bear so much suffering in war.
Cheers all,
Sarah
|
CIVIC Updates and Email Alerts
1700 Connecticut Ave NW Washington,
DC 20009 : 202.558.6958 |
 |
Do You Read Banned Books?
It's Time to Reform the Patriot Act
Obama Administration Will Not Seek Indefinite Detention Legislation
New State Secrets Policy: Like the Fox Guarding the Henhouse
ENDA Hearing Marks a Momentum-Boosting Turning Point
Fighting for Free Speech at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh
Law & Order Tackles Accountability for Torture. Will We Have It
in Real Life?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE ACLU!
Your involvement is the life-blood of our
organization and makes possible all that we do to defend our most basic liberties.
Fighting for Free Speech at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh
After the ACLU successfully sued to
force the city of Pittsburgh to allow several groups to hold demonstrations around the G20 Summit, it seemed that free speech
would prevail in the Steel City.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Following the court ruling, the Pittsburgh
police department engaged in a pattern of harassment of G20 demonstrators, singling out the Seeds of Peace Collective, one
of several groups providing food support to the protestors.
The police repeatedly tried to intimidate members
of the collective, citing them with minor traffic violations, illegally searching their bus, towing their legally parked bus,
detaining and charging members walking home with loitering, repeatedly demanding identification, and pressuring private property
owners to rescind their permission for the collective to park its bus.
Despite evidence of systematic harassment,
a federal judge refused to grant a temporary injunction to stop the harassment in a second lawsuit.
The ACLU and
the National Lawyers Guild dispatched over 150 legal observers to monitor law enforcement’s treatment of the protestors
throughout the week.
>> Learn more about the ACLU and the G20.
>> Read The New York Times blog post about the G20 protests, which includes a video featuring an interview with ACLU-PA
Legal Director Vic Walczak.
Law & Order Tackles Accountability for Torture. Will We Have It in Real Life?
"Jack,
you want to prosecute a member of the Bush administration for assaulting suspected terrorists?"
"The
word is ‘torturing.’ And yes -- it’s about time somebody did."
If you watched Law &
Order last week, you saw that the "Jack" laying down the gauntlet on accountability for torture is veteran
district attorney Jack McCoy. What McCoy understands is that in America, the rule of law applies to everyone. No one is above
the law, not even (and some might say especially) the most powerful.
In this fictionalized but typically "ripped
from the headlines" episode, McCoy decides to prosecute an author of a Justice Department legal memo authorizing torture,
as well as his co-conspirators up the chain of command, including Vice President Cheney.
In real life, there has
yet to be an investigation into the high-level authorization of torture, a crime that has stained the reputation of our nation
at home and abroad.
Last month, Attorney General Eric Holder appointed a special prosecutor to conduct a preliminary
review into whether federal laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of some specific detainees. It was a good
first step and a positive sign given President Obama’s commitment to "looking forward" at the unfortunate
expense of enforcing the law. But a narrow investigation limited to interrogators and contractors in the field is woefully
inadequate.
Last Friday’s Law & Order episode, through its script, takes on the need to look
ourselves squarely in the eye. "It’s hypocritical to defend our values with torture," says the retired Army
captain. Toward the end of the episode, the assistant D.A. declares, "[I]t is not disloyal to hold our officials to the
highest standards of conduct."
Indeed. In fact, it is the epitome of loyalty and patriotism to do so. Now
the question is, in real life, will Attorney General Holder rise to the occasion?
>>Learn more accountability for torture.
Do you know somebody who would be interested in getting news about the ACLU and what we're doing to protect civil liberties?
Help us spread the word about ACLU Online — forward this newsletter to a friend.
| October
2 , 2009
Do You Read Banned Books?
 What do The Grapes of Wrath, Little Red Riding Hood, Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
and Playboy have in common? Every one of these works has been censored somewhere in the United States.
Censorship comes in many forms. Whenever a school board librarian, newspaper editor, politician, or store owner tries to take
away your right to decide what you want to see, hear or read, that is censorship.
In honor of Banned Books Week,
which ends to tomorrow, October 3, take our quiz to see which of the following classic novels of the 20th
century have also been banned or challenged.
It's Time to Reform the Patriot Act
Three
provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to expire on December 31, 2009. These impending sunsets are a perfect opportunity
for Congress to re-assess the government’s unchecked spying powers and to make crucial changes to ensure that innocent
Americans’ most private information will remain just that -- private. The Senate Judiciary Committee just marked up
a bill that would amend the Patriot Act and the NSL statute on Thursday. Legislation to reform the Patriot Act is moving fast.
Let your members of congress know that you support bold action on Patriot Act reform.
>>Take Action: Please contact your members of Congress right now and tell them it is high time to reform the PATRIOT Act and do away with
overbearing surveillance policies.
>>Learn more about the Patriot Act.
Obama Administration Will Not Seek Indefinite Detention Legislation
It was reported last week that the Obama administration will not seek legislation or issue
an executive order to institute a system of indefinite detention without charge or trial which would have made it more permanent
and harder to end. According to the reports, the administration backed away from seeking legislation because it believes the
federal government already has the power to detain terrorism suspects indefinitely under the congressional resolution passed
after 9/11 authorizing the president to use force against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
This isn’t the end of
this issue by a long shot. The U.S. is still holding people without charge at Guantánamo Bay, and it’s critical
that once the prison camp is closed, the administration does not continue to indefinitely imprison detainees elsewhere for
terrorism crimes. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking more information about indefinite detention at Bagram Air Force Base
which could become the new Guantánamo -- except with more prisoners, in harsher conditions, and no access to lawyers.
"While the Obama administration is wise not to seek legislation or issue an executive order that would formalize
an unconstitutional system of indefinite detention, it remains deeply troubling that the administration continues to maintain
a de facto system in which detainees are held indefinitely without charge or trial,” commented Anthony D. Romero, ACLU
Executive Director.
Locking people up indefinitely without charge or trial violates our most fundamental laws
and values. The American system of justice demands that we don't simply imprison people when they are suspected of a crime;
we try them in a court of law where real justice can be achieved without compromising fundamental rights.
New State Secrets Policy: Like the Fox Guarding the Henhouse
Months after Attorney General Eric Holder said he would release the Obama administration’s
new policy on the use of the state secrets privilege, it’s finally out. The thrust of the new rule: Holder must approve
any invocation of the privilege.
Unfortunately, that’s not much different from the Bush administration’s
policy, which was to invoke the privilege to terminate entire lawsuits at the outset.
Ben Wizner, staff attorney
with the ACLU National Security Project, filed two cases challenging the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. In the
first case, brought on behalf of Khaled el-Masri, the district court and appeals court both accepted the government’s
state secrets claim, and the Supreme Court refused to hear the case. In the second case brought against Boeing subsidiary
Jeppesen Dataplan, the district court sided with the government when it invoked the state secrets privilege, but the appeals
court reversed that decision. The Department of Justice is now asking the appeals court to rehear the case before a full panel
of judges.
“On paper, this is a step forward. In court, however, the Obama administration continues to defend
a broader view of state secrets put forward by the Bush administration and to demand that federal courts throw out lawsuits
filed by victims of torture and illegal surveillance,” said Wizner. “In recent years, we have seen the executive
branch engage in grave human rights violations, declare those activities ’state secrets,’ and thus avoid any judicial
oversight or accountability. It is critical that the courts play a meaningful role in deciding whether victims of human rights
abuses will have an opportunity to seek justice. Real reform of the state secrets privilege must affirm the power of the courts
to reject false claims of ‘national security.”
Real reform must start in Congress. House and Senate
bills were introduced a few days after DOJ lawyers invoked the state secrets privilege before the 9th Circuit in our Jeppesen
case.
>>Take Action: It’s time for Congress to reassert its role as a check on executive power. Without state secrets legislation, we’ll
only have more secrecy and less accountability.
ENDA Hearing Marks a Momentum-Boosting Turning Point
Last week, the House Education and
Labor Committee held a hearing on the recently introduced Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017). This legislation,
which now has the bipartisan support of 181 members of the House of Representatives, would prohibit employment discrimination
against people based on their sexual orientation (which remains legal in 29 states) and gender identity (which remains legal
in 38 states). The legislation will provide sorely needed and long overdue federal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) individuals, who unfortunately still face widespread employment discrimination.
If the huge
line of people attempting to get into the hearing was any indication, this legislation has certainly generated a lot of interest
on the Hill. From the outset, it was apparent just how far the momentum had swung to those who support the passage of this
critical legislation.
Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), one of just three openly gay Members of Congress,
spoke with pride about how Wisconsin was the first state, in 1982, to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Additionally, in her testimony in support of ENDA, she specifically cited the ACLU’s 2007 report entitled “Working
in the Shadows: Ending Employment Discrimination for LGBT Americans.”
There is a very strong possibility
that the full House of Representatives will soon be voting on ENDA, and then it will go to the Senate which already has 40
co-sponsors for its bill. Please contact your representative and senators and urge them to support this common sense legislation.
Fundamental fairness demands nothing less!
>>Take Action: Urge Congress to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Join us on...
|
American Civil Liberties
Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2400
Geraldine Engel, Lisa Sock and
Shannon
Scanlan, Editors
|
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Dear
ACLU Supporter,
If you are on Facebook, you've undoubtedly seen the quizzes that are so popular on the site. Perhaps
you or your friends have even taken some.
These quizzes might be fun. But it’s
shocking just how much of your information quizzes can access and how little Facebook does to safeguard that information.
That's why we've created our own Facebook quiz that demonstrates what could be revealed when you, or your friends,
take any other quiz on Facebook.
Take our Facebook quiz
and find out: What do quizzes really reveal about you?
We know it's
a little weird to warn you about Facebook quizzes by asking you to take a Facebook quiz -- but at least you know who we are
and that we have a real privacy policy that we're committed to upholding. Can you say the same for every
unknown developer of every quiz you or your friends take?
Chances are you can't. Our quiz shows you firsthand
how Facebook allows any quiz developer to access your personal information—including religious and political views,
sexual orientation, pictures, groups, and posts. And how most of your personal information can be exposed even if
it's your friend, and not you, who takes one of these quizzes.
If details about your personal life are
collected by a quiz developer, who knows where they could end up or how they could be used. Shared? Sold? Turned over to the
government?
It's time for Facebook to upgrade its privacy controls to give you control of your personal information.
Take our Facebook quiz and take action to
protect yourself now.
Start by taking the quiz and changing your own Facebook privacy settings—and then
sign our online petition and demand that Facebook give you real control over your own information
by default! Sincerely,
Eric, Gerri, Lisa, Shannon, Suzanne and Jeremy
ACLU
Online Team P.S. Even if you’re not on Facebook, you can sign our online petition to demand better privacy protections.
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY
10004
|
|
|
|
|
 | Dear K., The media are derailing the health care debate. All summer, I've been outraged as
headlines and newscasts fed public hysteria about "death panels" and "socialized medicine" at the expense
of substantive coverage of the issues. Health care is literally a life-and-death concern.
But the media are failing, and fear is winning. Fight Fear-Mongering in the Media:
Donate to the Free Press Action
Fund Last night was no exception. President Obama took the unusual step of making his case to a
joint session of Congress with his arguments for health care reform, but the headlines are all about one disruptive congressman
who shouted “you lie” during the speech. For the past 24 hours, the media have
focused on the controversy surrounding Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst, but not on the substance of his claim -- that the president
lied about coverage for undocumented immigrants -- which is demonstrably false. Once
again, the media are distracting us from the facts surrounding a vital national issue. We Need a Real Debate:
Help Us Hold the Media Accountable Free Press is working hard to create a media system where Big Media’s tiresome echo chamber
doesn’t dictate public policy. We're: - Building a citizen movement to hold the media accountable
as they continue to pursue ratings instead of the truth;
- Creating a more diverse and independent media system
that would provide an antidote to this kind of irresponsible journalism;
- Supporting quality journalism and
strong public media to help restore real debate;
- Pushing for media policies that benefit all of us,
not just giant corporations;
- Empowering citizens and journalists with an open and accessible Internet
free of corporate gatekeepers.
One thing is clear: The media aren’t doing their
job, and we need to hold them accountable. With your help, we can do it. Thank you,
Josh Levy
Online Campaign Manager
Free Press Action Fund
P.S. It’s not just about health care. The media have failed on just about every issue
you care about. We need to fix the media now or our democracy will falter. It's that simple. If you agree, please contribute what you can. You are
receiving this e-mail as an opt-in subscriber to Free Press' E-activist Network. You can unsubscribe or manage your account at any time.  | |
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Having trouble viewing this email?   |
| | Dear K., Last week, 521 local and national
organizations joined together to send a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to terminate the Department of Homeland
Security's (DHS) controversial 287(g) program, a legacy of the Bush Administration that has caused serious civil and human liberties
abuses, including public endangerment and racial profiling. Please ask Jacksonville Sheriff John H. Rutherford to reject the
287(g) program. Since its inception, the
287(g) program has drawn sharp criticism from federal officials, law enforcement, community groups, and the media, and has
led to the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents based on their appearance or accent. Why are so many people joining together to fight the 287(g) program? The failures of the program
are well-documented. Reports from various organizations and institutions have all found that the program is riddled with ploblems,
including: Numerous instances
of unlawful racial profiling A
threat to public safety by providing immigrants with a disincentive to trust authorities Wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents An almost complete lack of oversight by the
DHS Great unnecessary costs
to the localities implementing the program Interference with local law enforcement's ability to accomplish their primary goal of protecting the communities
they police
Now is the time to join together to safeguard against civil and human liberties abuses under the 287(g) program. Thank
you for using your voice to restore fundamental fairness for all in our immigration enforcement policy. |
|
| The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures
and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. | |  |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. We value
your privacy. Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your subscription preferences,
visit Subscriber Center. To ensure delivery to your Inbox and to enable images to load in future mailings, please add "acluflonline@aclufl.org"
to your address book or safe senders list. © American Civil Liberties Union of Florida4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 340 | Miami, FL 33137 | P: 786-363-2700  |  | August 28, 2009 Dear
Friend, On Monday, Attorney
General Eric Holder announced he was asking a veteran prosecutor to review whether a full investigation
should be conducted of CIA misconduct in the interrogation of detainees during the Administration of George W. Bush. This is an important breakthrough, ending
years of impunity for the systematic torture and brutalization of detainees. It happened only because each of you,
and millions of other Americans, insisted on legal accountability for those who violated our country's laws. It was your commitment
to the rule of law that has started us on the way to justice. But we can't be too self congratulatory. Attorney General Holder's actions are a beginning--a very important
beginning, but still only a beginning. Even his call for a criminal review has prompted fierce and vitriolic criticism. That
is why he needs to be supported in the steps he has taken, but encouraged to go further.  Send a letter to Attorney General Holder and tell him he must hold those at the top accountable and we will add you to our Citizen's Arrest Action
Team to keep you in the loop about war criminals whereabouts and opportunities to slap pink cuffs on them! When you send your
letter you will get FREE "Torture Team" cards too!
Will this beginning blossom into a full scale effort to uncover
Bush Administration misconduct and criminality? Will
this review become a full blown criminal investigation? Will that investigation encompass not only CIA agents but contractors
acting at their behest? Will it go up the ladder to those who ordered the torture and abuse? Will the investigation stop at
the "I was just following orders" defense that was firmly rejected at the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World
War II and its modern Bushian version--I was just following the guidance of the Justice Department? What happens next will depend on YOU. Let the Attorney General know we support his first step, but that it must
lead to real justice, where the rule of law is upheld against those at the top rungs of political power, not just those at
the bottom and where the false claims of national security do not trump the clear requirements of the constitution.
Justice is in our hands!
|
|
|
It's About Persistence
You Weren’t Meant to Hear This
Government Must Disclose Justification for 5-year Gag on Internet Provider
Students with Disabilities Face Corporal Punishment at Higher Rates
Public Housing Policy Tears Families Apart
The Enforced Disappearance of Mustafa Setmarian Nassar
When Kosher isn’t Kosher
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE ACLU!
Your involvement is the life-blood of our
organization and makes possible all that we do to defend our most basic liberties.
The Enforced Disappearance of Mustafa Setmarian Nassar
In October 2005, Mustafa Setmarian Nassar,
a Spanish citizen of Syrian origin and an influential Islamic theorist, was apprehended by agents of the Pakistani government
and handed over to U.S. officials. Nassar’s wife and family have not heard from him since. They do not know where he
is located; they do not know if he is alive or dead.
The ACLU, together with Alkarama for Human Rights and Reprieve
sent a request to the U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, asking that the Working Group take up
Mr. Nassar's case with the government of the United States and requested that the Working Group fully investigate the specific
circumstances of Mr. Nassar's enforced disappearance at the hands of the U.S. government.
Similar requests were
also sent to Martin Scheinin, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism,
and Manfred Nowak, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, on Mr. Nassar's behalf. These requests implicate the government of
the United States as well as the governments of Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Syria and Spain who were all involved in some
capacity in Mr. Nassar’s enforced disappearance as part of the "extraordinary rendition" program.
>> Learn more about Nassar’s case.
ACLU Lawsuit Charges Georgia Kosher Laws Are Unconstitutional
The State of Georgia’s Kosher
Food Labeling Act mandates that any food labeled kosher in that state must be certified to be in accordance with "orthodox
Hebrew religious rules and requirements."
Which isn’t a problem, unless you’re a Reform or Conservative
or other, non-Orthodox Jew in Georgia.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Kosher
Food Labeling Act. By mandating that any food sold as kosher in the state of Georgia must meet the "Orthodox Hebrew religious
rules and requirements," the challenged statute delegitimizes alternative interpretations of kosher adhered to in other
Jewish communities.
The lawsuit was filed in Fulton County Superior Court on behalf of Shalom Lewis, rabbi of
Congregation Etz Chaim in Cobb County who, as a conservative Jew, is unable to fulfill his rabbinical duties to supervise
food establishments because his theological interpretation of the kosher laws differs from that of Orthodox Judaism.
"Having the state choose which rabbis are 'legitimate' and which are not puts many rabbis in a precarious position,"
said Debbie Seagraves, Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia. "Congregations rely on their rabbis to provide the
kind of religious guidance that this state law prohibits them from providing, unless they are Orthodox. The state of Georgia
should not hold the power to define who is 'official' Jewish clergy. That is clearly a matter of faith, not the proper role
of government."
According to the ACLU's lawsuit, the Kosher Food Labeling Act violates the religious liberty
guarantees of both the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions by endorsing only "Orthodox Hebrew religious rules and requirements"
and criminalizing the practices of the many people across the state who, while seeking kosher products, subscribe to interpretations
of kosher that differ from those of Orthodox Jews.
>>Read the complaint.
Do you know somebody who would be interested in getting news about the ACLU and what we're doing to protect civil liberties?
Help us spread the word about ACLU Online — forward this newsletter to a friend.
| August
15, 2009
It's About Persistence
By Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, ACLU
I hope you will take a few moments to read -- and watch!
-- this edition of ACLU Online. It's all about what I love best about the ACLU and its supporters -- persistence. When we're
fighting for what's right, we don't ever back down. Take the issues of torture and accountability. It's on the map right now
for only one reason: you and the ACLU put it there and we refuse to let it go away.
TORTURED LOGIC -- the new video we released last week -- is the latest example of that persistence. It's our newest approach to keeping
the pressure on for an independent investigation of the Bush torture program -- one that follows the evidence wherever it
leads.
In this week's issue of ACLU Online, you can also read about how the ACLU is standing against injustice
and fighting for the most vulnerable across the country. In Maryland, the ACLU is challenging a policy that bans friends and
relatives from a housing project even if they are invited guests. And we just released a report about corporal punishment
used against the most vulnerable in our schools -- the disabled. Injustices like these occur in every corner of the country
and, with your help, the ACLU is there to stand up against them.
So, take a minute to read about how the ACLU
is fighting against injustice -- and shore yourself up for more tough-minded ACLU action in the weeks ahead.
Keep
standing strong.
You Weren’t Meant to Hear This
Oliver Stone, Rosie Perez, Philip Glass and a host of talented performers have come together
to expose something our government tried to keep secret from the American people.
The Bush torture memos brought
to light by the ACLU reveal a systematic program of torture so appalling that it would be a moral outrage to let those who
authorized it escape a criminal investigation.
The chilling and clinical nature of these memos really sinks in
when you hear them read aloud. These memos shamefully contorted the law to justify the crime of torture, and now it’s
time for those responsible for this dark episode in our history to be held accountable to the American people.
The
video’s release comes amid recent news reports suggesting that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is considering appointing
a prosecutor to investigate torture. However, press reports indicate that Holder envisions an investigation narrow in scope
that would focus only on low-level interrogators and contract employees.
There is ample evidence already in the
public domain that the widespread and systemic torture of detainees was authorized at the highest levels of the Bush administration.
We cannot move forward confidently knowing that the abuses of the past will not be repeated by future administrations as long
as everyone knows that the powerful people who perpetrated and enabled these serious crimes got off scot free. The attorney
general should appoint a special prosecutor who will follow the facts where they lead, whether it be to prisons overseas or
to the halls of power at home.
>>Watch Tortured Logic now. Then send it to Attorney General Eric Holder and ask that he appoint an independent prosecutor.
Government Must Disclose Justification for 5-year Gag on Internet
Provider
A federal court has ruled that the government must reveal portions of the evidence it
has relied on to justify its continued gag order on an Internet service provider (ISP) that the FBI served with a national
security letter (NSL) more than five years ago. The ruling, which requires the government to produce an unclassified summary
of that evidence as well as a redacted version of a secret declaration it filed in June, came in a lawsuit brought by the
ACLU on behalf of the ISP.
Under a Patriot Act provision, the FBI uses NSLs to demand personal customer records
from ISPs, financial institutions and credit companies without prior court approval. The FBI routinely imposes gag orders
on NSL recipients which prohibit them from disclosing information about the FBI's demand for sensitive customer records.
"The government's reliance on completely secret evidence to justify this five-year-old, unconstitutional gag
order undermined our John Doe client's right to a fair process," said Melissa Goodman, staff attorney with the ACLU National
Security Project. "The court was right to find that the government cannot continue to silence Doe based entirely on evidence
we are not even allowed to see, let alone given a meaningful opportunity to refute."
Because the FBI imposed
a gag order on the ISP, the lawsuit -- now called Doe v. Holder -- was initially filed under seal, and even today
the ACLU is prohibited from disclosing its client's identity. The FBI continues to maintain the gag order even though the
underlying investigation is more than five years old and even though the FBI abandoned its demand for records from the ISP
over two years ago.
>>Learn more about the case.
Students With Disabilities Face Corporal Punishment at Higher
Rates
In the 2006 -- 2007 school year, nearly a quarter of a million school children were subjected
to corporal punishment in public schools. Impairing Education, a report released this week by the ACLU and Human
Rights Watch, finds that students with disabilities -- who have a right to appropriate, inclusive educational programs that
give them the opportunity to thrive -- are nonetheless subjected to this violent discipline at disproportionately high rates.
Corporal punishment -- from paddling, to throwing children into walls or floors -- is routine in public schools
in many parts of the United States. Impairing Education documents many such cases. No student should be subjected
to these abusive forms of discipline, but students with disabilities, who already face extra challenges, can be particularly
vulnerable to physical or psychological harm from these punishments.
The use of corporal punishment on children
with disabilities violates the right to freedom from cruel, degrading treatment and violence guaranteed to them under international
human rights law. Children with disabilities have the right to an inclusive education, yet corporal punishment impinges on
this right and creates barriers to their success.
No child should be hit, especially the most vulnerable.
>>Take Action: Stand with the ACLU against corporal punishment.
>>Learn about ways you can help end corporal punishment.
Public Housing Policy Tears Families Apart
What if the government told you your family couldn’t live together? That your father,
or your son, or your boyfriend couldn’t even come over to your house to visit? That if he did visit you, he would be
arrested, prosecuted for trespassing, possibly incarcerated, and you could be evicted?
That’s exactly what
the city of Annapolis, MD, is telling its public housing residents.
The city’s public housing authority
maintains a list of people -- currently over 500 -- who are banned from being on or near public housing property. The housing
authority claims that all of these people are a danger to the community, but the fact is many of them have never been convicted
or even charged with a crime, while others committed minor offenses years ago and have long since served their time. Still,
they can’t get off the list.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit earlier this week to challenge the policy that unlawfully
bans certain individuals from being on or near public housing in Annapolis, Maryland, even when they are invited guests of
tenants. Under the policy, Annapolis public housing residents who allow banned friends and family members into their homes
are subject to eviction.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, charges that the banning
policy violates the rights of public housing residents and their families and friends to free association, privacy and quiet
enjoyment in their own homes.
"This policy doesn't promote public safety, it prevents parents from raising
their children," said Ariela Migdal, a staff attorney with the ACLU Women's Rights Project. "Separating people from
their families doesn't make public housing safer, it just aggravates social problems."
>>Learn more about the Annapolis public housing ban and the ACLU case challenging it.
Join us on...
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American Civil Liberties
Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2400
Geraldine Engel, Lisa Sock and
Shannon
Scanlan, Editors
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Click here to view SS Corporation Press Release July 2, 2009
Just In From the ACLU: THE SUMMER OF DEATH Posted August 01, 2009 Dear K., In less than one month, John Marek will be put to death by the State of Florida. If the execution
proceeds as planned, he will be the 68th person killed by our state government since executions were reinstated in 1979. The Florida Supreme Court issued an indefinite stay in the execution, allowing for oral arguments after Marek's accomplice,
Raymond Wigley, confessed to being the actual killer of Adella Simmons. Despite testimony from three of Wigley's former cellmates,
justices were not convinced. The stay was lifted and Governor Crist has set the new execution date for August 19th. Write Governor Crist today or call him at 850-488-7146 and tell him to STOP signing Death Warrants.Tell him to issue a moratorium on all executions
and convene a blue-ribbon panel of experts to determine the efficacy of capital punishment. Over 23 prisoners have been exonerated from Florida's Death Row. Governor Crist has the power to stop signing Death
Warrants. We need your help to call on Gov. Crist — we need your voice to end capital punishment in Florida for good.
Write to Governor Charlie Crist today and tell the governor that you oppose the death penalty and are requesting a moratorium on executions. | | | Florida exonerates more people from death row than any other state,
and it’s only a matter of time before the state kills an innocent person, or evidence is uncovered that we have
already done so; | | The death penalty system discriminates on the basis of socioeconomic
status, race, and geography; | | The death penalty violates the right to be free from cruel
and unusual punishment — a basic right guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States; and | | Florida has inadequate representation for persons facing capital punishment. Too many attorneys are
inexperienced and overworked, and with the current budgetary crisis, the predicament will only get worse. |
The United States is the only advanced Western democracy that still fails to recognize capital punishment as a profound
human rights violation and as a frightening abuse of government power. Learn more about the death penalty, and support the ACLU’s work by becoming a member today. Thank you for speaking out on this important issue, and as always, for your continued support of the ACLU’s work
in Florida. | |
The American Civil Liberties
Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working
daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual
rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to showstoppacorp@hotmail.com. We value your privacy.
Read our Privacy Statement online. |
| Dear ACLU Supporter,
There are no two sides
to the debate over indefinitely detaining individuals without charge or trial.
Indefinite detention means allowing
the government to imprison people for an unspecified period of time without charging them with a crime and without holding
a trial.
That would fundamentally alter the character of our democracy. It would also gut the very meaning of
the Fifth Amendment which guarantees due process. In short, it would be a human rights disaster.
The ACLU
has been gearing up for a big legislative battle to stop any and all proposals to create a new system of indefinite detention.
But now, news reports reveal a more immediate threat.
According to an article in the Washington Post
last week, a strategy is taking shape in the White House that would authorize indefinite detention -- not through legislation,
but with a presidentially signed executive order. And just hours ago, the president's press secretary said they would now
go through Congress. One thing is clear: the Obama administration is seeking the power to indefinitely detain individuals
without charge or trial.
What is also clear is that whether through executive order or legislation, indefinite
detention is un-American.
You and I have to respectfully urge the President to make sure that idea never sees
the light of day.
President Obama needs to hear from you. Let him know that -- whether through legislation or executive
order -- you are firmly opposed to indefinite detention.
The key to stopping dangerous ideas is to act decisively right from the start. In the weeks
ahead, it’s going to be up to you and the ACLU to lead a sustained effort to stop indefinite detention. And we can’t
wait until this dangerous proposal is issued -- especially not when the President is being pressured by advisors within the
White House to immediately sign an executive order.
We need everyone who believes in the Constitution and the American
system of justice to let the President know that preserving our values and the rule of law is a top priority.
This
principle is fundamental: In America, we do not imprison people indefinitely without charges or a trial.
Our democracy
and the rights that we cherish cannot rely on the wisdom of individual people in the government. It must rely on the Constitution
and the rule of law. And we know that our justice system has successfully prosecuted terrorist suspects in the past and there
is no reason to think it cannot do so in the future.
President Obama needs to hear from you. Let him know that -- whether through legislation or executive
order -- you are firmly opposed to indefinite detention.
Please stand with the ACLU and do everything you can to reach the President with our message:
the only way to put the civil liberties and human rights outrages of the Bush administration behind us is to end them.
They cannot be amended, tidied up, or recalibrated; they must be rejected and dismantled if we hope to reclaim an
America we can be proud of again. We’re counting on you to personally commit to an all-out effort to reject indefinite
detention -- starting right now and carrying forward for as long as it takes to succeed.
Remember, we need as many
voices on this as possible. After you take action, please ask your friends and family to join the fight. And thank you for everything you do.
Sincerely,
| 
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union |
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York,
NY 10004
|
|
|
July 2, 2009 5:45 p.m. SS Corporation Press
Media Release: Concerning Abuses of Staff Journalists in the City and State of Jacksonville, Florida. Dear Supporters, Clients, Friends, and Family, Today
our employees and clients of the SS Corporation have decided to go forward to reveal true circumstances surrounding our current
state of business. Since 2007 our company has been targeted by the local military, British Airways and Flytele, and local
church goers and other contracted businesses and citizens to in effect, destroy our personal and business reputations, as
well as attempt to physically harm employees and family of our company to cause possible mental impairments via the use of
extreme stalking tactics and abuses of varying degrees. When the targeting first began in 2007, we determined it to be deviating
from a single source however, after many investigations, reports, claims, and research we have found that Mayor J. Peyton,
the staff of British Airways/Flytele, other contracted city companies including JPD, JFR, SWS, JEA, DCSB and other entities
and persons have taken part in a conspiracy (founded upon factual data via witnesses) that our business has been purposely
attacked and the owner of the company temporarily incapacitated due to unforseen events. We are asking for your assistance
in standing up for what is right and to fight back against these people who feel because we are a minority, that we are not
allowed the same rights as the owners of the Folio and the Buzz. While these business owners have been allowed to officially
operate their businesses without being reprimanded or targeted, we are still being advised that blacks are not allowed the
same rights and that we should move. The city of Jacksonville Mayored by Mayor J. Peyton, is still not operating under the
Constitutional Rights of the Laws of Government and Authority and continue to spread lies and criminal demise among our community
as divisory tactics including persons in the media. Today we are laying it all on the
table in effort to fight for our rights to receive monetary support from the local government as well as other programs, to
put back together what these persons have attempted to destroy. We know for a fact that British Airways, Mayor Peyton, and
local Church Officials including First Baptist are responsible for much of the terror our staff has experienced. Washington
has worked alongside the local Jacksonville Government in effect, to support and review via military tactics, whether or not
we deserve to continue to be citizens of Jacksonville or the U.S. It saddens and sickens us to know that our lives are at
stake because we are minorities and are attempting to optimize our legal rights under the 5TH Amendment. Any future
assaults upon our integrity, lives, or character will be documented and filed along with our other legal claims. We are confident
that the various organizations and persons who are working with us to see this case through, will find that all of our human
and civil rights as citizens under the United States Government Rule of Law have been violated and we have received nothing
less than extreme abuse for driving while black. We are embarrassed to have to bring this information up front to our supporters
but if nothing comes of this except an apology and settled legal claims, we would at least feel compensated. It is our option
to decide what life we want to lead, not Mayor John Peyton’s or British Airways nor the U.S. Government as long as we
are following the due process of the United States Rule of Law. Cultural differences are just that differences. We are appalled
and once again embarrassed of the tactics used by the local and national government to in effect destroy our reputations while
working alongside family and business persons to demolish any future and further opportunities. We are asking for monetary
compensation via law suits settlements and a public apology. Instead of the state concerning themselves with assisting a business
and persons whose lives were in danger they decided to join forces with various persons and entities to tear down what they
had not attempted to build. What if it was you? We are living in the year 2009, it is time that the local government and contracted
companies who have violated our rights be held accountable. We nor our staff have committed any crimes. We should not be treated
as such nor be intentionally denied the right to be left alone and not be blackballed. We
know for a fact that we are a force to be reckoned with and fortunately, we choose to unite people regardless of their cultural
backgrounds. If you are interested in supporting the above ideals please feel free to contact us via email at corp@showstoppamagazine.com or showstoppacorp@hotmail.com. May our tragedies make way for a better tomorrow.
It is never too late. We will continue to reach to our local and national supporters for assistance and have copied claims
to many civil rights organizations so these persons and entities may serve as witnesses to these assaults. Please feel free
to offer your response to us via email or phone. We would like to thank anyone who has read or attempted to assist us with this issue. Sincerely, Legal Dept. SS Corporation ShowstoppaMagazine.Com Atty:Anonymous
Due to the alert level of our staff cc:kr thw sk |
 |  |  | | |  | Dear k, We told you Wednesday about the case of Abdolfattah Soltani,
a leading Iranian human rights advocate, who was one of hundreds of individuals rounded up by Iranian authorities,
detained and cut off from his family and the rest of the outside world. Soltani has for years stood by
individuals who have suffered human rights abuses in Iran. And by putting himself in the line of fire, he too has become a
target of the Iranian government's brutal repression. Hundreds of thousands of people have stood up for their
rights inside Iran. Now, hundreds of thousands of Amnesty supporters from across the globe must stand with them.Amnesty must carry out our full mobilization in defense of human rights in Iran even as we continue
to respond to human rights emergencies across the globe. Act now. Lend your immediate support as Amnesty shines a light on efforts to deny people their basic human rights. |  | With our global reputation for defending human rights and providing independent reporting on severe human rights abuses,
Amnesty has a vitally important role to play in this urgent situation. As you read this, Amnesty International
is investigating and reporting on the human rights situation in Iran — releasing lists of prisoners of conscience like
Abdolfattah Soltani and documenting the use of bloody violence to crush dissent and deny Iranian citizens their freedom of
expression and association. Help us ensure that we can continue to be there for human rights defenders in Iran and around the world. Your tax-deductible gift will help us match the courage of Iran's human rights defenders with the persistence and determination
required to overcome decades of repression and fear. Thank you for standing for human rights in Iran. Sincerely,  Larry Cox Executive Director Amnesty International USA
| | | | DO
NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use
our interactive online help system. Subscribe to our RSS feeds. ©
Copyright 2009 | Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza | New York, NY 10001 | 212.807.8400 |
|
| June 25, 2009 Dear
Friend,  We believe in moving forward as a nation, but the responsible way forward requires us to look back as we go. It requires us
to enforce our own laws and recommit ourselves to the principles upon which our nation was founded. Thus
far the U.S. has failed to prosecute anyone up the chain of command for abuses that have occurred in the highest offices of
the United States of America. It is high-time for some high-crime accountability and if the Attorney General
won't do it we have cuffs and we aren't afraid to use them (we have videos to prove it)!
In response to an ACLU lawsuit, the Justice Department released four key memos (read the memos here) about the Bush administration's illegal torture program. These memos provide shocking confirmation of high-level involvement
in the sadistic interrogation methods the Bush administration authorized in the war on terror. Call on Attorney General Eric Holder TODAY, in solidarity with events and rallies across the country! Send a note to him directly here then call 202-514-2001 and tell him to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute crimes
of the Bush Administration! Check out our Citizen's Arrest 'How-To' guide here and get our newest buttons to wear every day until the crimes are prosecuted (special thanks to Bay Area CODEPINKers Susan &
Cynthia for the pins!) Today across the country,
from LA to DC, CODEPINKers will join national actions calling for prosecution of those who authorized
torture. In San Francisco, former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern will speak at our Bye Bye Bybee rally calling for "Torture
Judge" Bybee to resign; in Berkeley, we will protest outside "Torture Professor" John Yoo's home; in Pasadena
we will demonstrate at the 9th circuit federal court with speeches by Mimi Kennedy & Jodie Evans. Find more events here and see more PINK actions here.
As we stand on the shoulders of the peace and social justice activists who came before us, we know that change
will not occur unless citizens stand up for their rights under the law.
Ready for some justice,
Blaine,
Dana, Desiree, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jean, Jodie, Medea, Nancy K, Nancy M, Paris, Rae and Stacy |
|
|  |
ShowstoppaMagazine.Com WealthWatch:
What's Bella's Worth ; And It’s Getting Crazier
June 19, 2009 According to one Online Research Company Bella’s Business Self Worth is
so valuable that she’s one of America’s Most Loved and is on at least two states most hated lists. She’s
so hated that her security level is at Red alert daily alongside that of her co-workers etc. and she has been called things
she’s never attempted to do. One of her competitors appears to be a well known artist or two and the city of Jacksonville
ran by Mayor J. Peyton where independent entertainment companies aren’t welcomed, at least not without a fight and we’re
talking life threatening fights. Even with all of the credibility assassination attempts Bella still holds her head up high
stating, "you know what, they just keep on hating. It’s one thing to hate, it’s another to hate someone so
much that you assassinate their character in front of the world by saying and doing things that will ruin that person’s
reputation or at least, make people look at the person or business as saying those untrue things and question them or their
organization. As if to say, what is the deal? When you have to stoop to dishing dirt before dirt needs to be dished,
that obviously means you are an all time threat. Right now, the bounty on my head per year is presently assessed at somewhere
between $4 million to $10,000,000.00 a year according to one research company. This isn’t a game. A lot of people tried
to stop me before I even had a chance or went through the gate good." She is even suing a past
partner who attempted to ruin her reputation about things from the past- things Bella knows never happened and that this
person who is saying they should tell the truth. "I've learned a lot during the past few years and what I've learned
most is that the future doesn't involve a lot of paper and that you have to fight for what you believe in or reality will
make you fight. I've joined a few civil rights groups and have began a career in that area as well. I've also
been told that everyone isn't meant to be successful and that I'm deaf and that I don't listen. I say, this is my life." Need a business marketing deal? Interested in presenting us a business proposal? Feel free to
email us at corp@showstoppamagazine.com. Showstoppa
asks for your continued well wishes and support. Marketing
Dept. The SS Corporation/Wealth Watch
| | | Dear Supporter,
For the past year, we have been working hard to ensure that religious liberty is protected by keeping government policies
from advancing religious principles, and by protecting an individual's ability to practice his or her faith. The ACLU continues
to utilize litigation, legislation, and public education and advocacy to make sure our religious freedom remains intact. We
invite you to read the highlights below of the ACLU of Florida's recent work in the area of religious freedom. The complete 2009 Religious Freedom Report is also available online. As always, we appreciate your membership and financial support, which allow us to continue protecting civil liberties. LEGISLATION
Other legislative activities included constant
monitoring of proposed legislation to inject “Intelligent Design” into public school science curricula, opposing
legislative initiatives to create two license plates that endorse a particular religion, and opposing a bill that would have
paid for religious counseling for marriage license applicants by drastically increasing the license fee. Fortunately, all
of the proposed legislation has failed. LITIGATION Doe v. Santa Rosa County School District
When students approached the ACLU complaining of prayer being sponsored and promoted by school officials in Santa Rosa
County School District (SRCSD), we promptly investigated the complaints and discovered that schools were holding religious
services and conducting prayer in a variety of school settings. After demands that these practices stop were refused by the
School Board, we represented the students in a lawsuit against the SRCSD. The evidence was so overwhelming that after just
a few months, the court ordered all school officials to refrain from promoting their personal religious beliefs.
First Vagabond Church of God v. City of Orlando
The ACLU of Florida is representing First Vagabond Church of God, a church for the homeless, and Pastor Brian Nichols
in their challenge of an Orlando ordinance that prevents the church from feeding the homeless (“breaking of bread”)
as part of its service in the same park each Sunday. The case was tried last year and the court ruled that the city's ordinance
violates the Free Exercise Clause. The city appealed the trial court’s decision to the federal appeals court, in which
the case is now pending.
ACLU of Florida v. Dixie County, Florida
In January 2006,
the Dixie County Board of Commissioners approved the placement of a five-foot, six-ton granite display, including the admonition
to “Love God and Keep His Commandments” at the base. A case was filed, and a year later the county began asserting
that the courthouse steps are a public forum and that the monument is the speech of the person who donated it. The county
later added disclaimers to the display asserting it is the individual’s speech, not the county’s. The ACLU will
be filing a motion for summary judgment this summer, asking the court to decide the case without the need for trial. PUBLIC EDUCATION The
ACLU of Florida has also engaged in a variety of outreach and advocacy work. We have represented a Native American tribe
in its negotiations with county officials about hosting a spiritual festival; petitioned the state Department of Corrections,
in coordination with the Sikh Coalition, to modify grooming requirements for prisoners to allow Sikh inmates to keep unshorn
hair; and worked with a Catholic sex offender and his parole officer to enable him to attend church services. We are also developing an outreach program directed to religious leaders that focuses on finding ways to work together
on areas of concern to religious institutions and their congregants, such as religious freedom, rights restoration for ex-felons,
discrimination of all types, and many other civil liberties issues affecting our communities. |
|
The American Civil Liberties
Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working
daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual
rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. We value your privacy.
Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your |
 Arn Pearson, Common Cause (CauseNet@commoncause.org) | | |  You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk | | Wed 6/10/09 4:05
PM | | K .
Randolph |
| Dear K., Standing
up for what's right often takes courage.
Standing up for what's right in direct defiance of your superiors at the
Pentagon and White House takes uncommon courage.
Common Cause is launching a campaign to commend
the members of the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGs) who refused to carry out orders to torture detainees at
Guantanamo and other prisons, and who spoke out in defense of basic human rights.
Please sign our letter of thanks to these brave JAGs today! We
will deliver the letters of commendation – with your signature! – and a "Common Cause Award for Uncommon
Courage" around the 4th of July, the most patriotic of our nation's holidays.
Let's join together to celebrate
the integrity and bravery that these JAGs exhibited, even during one of America's darkest chapters.
Common Cause
will continue to push for a truth commission to investigate allegations of torture, and for justice for those involved. But
we believe that now is the time to recognize the courageous JAGs who risked their careers to defend the ideals
and principles upon which our great nation was built.
Please add your signature to the letter of commendation today!
And don't forget to pass this message on to your friends so that we can show an outpouring
of support to these Judge Advocates.
Thanks for all you do.
Sincerely,
Arn Pearson
and the rest of the team at Common Cause
P.S. Attorney General _______recently said, "In our current
struggle against international terrorism, when others surrendered faithful obedience to the law to the circumstances of the
time, it was the brave men and women in the JAG Corps who stood up against the tides, many times risking their careers to
do so. We all can learn from their example." Click here to read the stories of the JAGs we are honoring.
Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization
with chapters in 38 states. Our mailing address is 1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Our phone number
is (202) 833-1200.
|
 | June 3, 2009 Dear Friend, Our government is continuing to hide behind the skirts of Afghan
women, using their plight to justify military actions in the region. Yet where is the leadership
that will truly support the women of Afghanistan and peace? When only 5%
of the $864 billion dollars spent on the War on Terror since 2001 has gone to development, how can we say
we're making life better for the women whose countries are being destroyed? General Petraeus himself has suggested that a counter-insurgency doctrine should be 80%
development, 20% military, yet, as the Congressional Progressive Caucus notes, the supplemental funding bill
does not come close to reflecting this ratio. Just Monday, leadership of both houses have escalated what was 91 billion
to almost 100 billion. Now it is full of earmarks, including eight huge C-17 cargo jets sought by the Boeing
Co., that Obama had on his list of eliminations last month. We can't turn our backs for a minute. We and the women of Afghanistan
and Iraq are being robbed. This is a total outrage.
As negotiators work on reconciling the supplemental funding bill between the House and the Senate this week, please call your
representatives at 1-800-517-5696 and tell them they have spent far too much money on violence, weapons and
war; it is time to demand a 80-20 development/military funding ratio. If you haven't already, please also sign
our petition asking for real leadership for the women of Afghanistan here. To learn more about what we can do to
help the women of Afghanistan, be sure to listen to See Jane Do's interview with Sweeta Noori, director of Women for Women in Afghanistan, and see other interviews from our Afghan Women Speak Out interview project on PINKTank! Thank you for standing in solidarity
with our Afghan sisters and standing up against outrageous war funding. Peace,
Allison, Audrey, Blaine, Dana, Desiree, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janna, Janet, Jean, Jodie, Liz, Lori,
Lydia, Medea, Nancy, Pam, Paris, and Rae |
|
|
Having trouble viewing this email?
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| | | | | Dear K.,
In just twenty-four hours, the State of Florida would have resumed executions by lethal injection,
ending the life of John Richard Marek. Even then-Governor Jeb Bush recognized that the capital punishment system is flawed
when, in 2006, he issued a moratorium on executions following the botched execution of Angel Diaz. Yesterday, the Florida Supreme Court issued an indefinite stay in the execution, allowing for oral arguments at the
state’s highest court on May 20 to hear new evidence. The ACLU of Florida, along with other human rights groups, is
calling on Governor Crist to impose a moratorium on all executions to allow for a comprehensive study of problems in the death
penalty system in Florida. In addition to Marek, Gov. Crist signed a death warrant for the execution of David Johnston on
May 27 at 6:00 p.m. Write Governor Crist today and tell him to issue a moratorium on all executions, and to convene a blue-ribbon panel of Floridians to study not only
the efficacy of the death penalty, but also whether it is economically justified in a recession. Following the moratorium, the governor should launch an investigation into the state’s leading record of the number
of people ordered by the courts to be released from death row due to exoneration based on withheld or newly discovered evidence
or evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. We need your help to call on Gov. Crist — only by Floridians speaking out will
we be able to make a difference. Write to Governor Charlie Crist today and tell the governor that you oppose the death penalty and are requesting a moratorium on executions, including: • | With never-before-seen budget shortfalls, the state could
save millions of dollars each year by replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole; | • | Florida exonerates more people from death
row than any other state, it’s only a matter of time before the state kills an innocent person, or evidence
is uncovered that we have already done so; | • | The death penalty system discriminates on the basis of socioeconomic
status, race, and geography; | • | The death penalty violates the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment — a basic
right guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States; and | • | Florida has inadequate representation for persons
facing capital punishment. Too many attorneys are inexperienced and overworked, and with the current budgetary crisis, the
predicament will only get worse. |
The United States is the only advanced Western democracy that still fails to recognize capital punishment as a profound
human rights violation and as a frightening abuse of government power. Learn more about the death penalty, and support the ACLU’s work by becoming a member today. Thank you for speaking out on this important issue, and as always, for your continued support of the ACLU’s work
in Florida. | |
|
The
American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working
daily in the courts, legislatures and communities
to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to showstoppacorp@hotmail.com. We value your privacy.
Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your subscription preferences,
visit Subscriber Center. To ensure delivery to your Inbox and to enable images to load in future mailings, please add "acluflonline@aclufl.org"
to your address book or safe senders list. © American Civil Liberties Union of Florida4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 340 | Miami, FL 33137 | P: 786-363-2700 |
|  | |  |  |  |
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Whether you are just getting started or a seasoned activist, The Animal Activist's Handbook: Maximizing Our
Positive Impact in Today's World, coauthored by PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich, is an essential addition to
any library. Enter to win a copy now! | | |
 | | Are You the Cutest Vegetarian Alive?
It's time for peta2's annual Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest! Last year's winners, Kelly and Leonard, were
almost too cute to be true. Can you up the ante on cuteness this year? If you are between the ages of 13 and 21, enter here! | | |
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Photo Courtesy of JB Russell |
Remembering Marla
Today we celebrate the life of CIVIC's visionary
founder, Marla Ruzicka, tragically killed in Baghdad four years ago.
Her vision and spirit live on in
our daily work. In fact, just a few days ago we received news that President Obama included funding for the Marla
Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund in his budget request to Congress, for the first time ever! This nod shows real progress
for CIVIC's work and for recognition of civilians in armed conflict. It is something we can all be proud of.
We can and will make more headway this year with your continued help. Will you give to CIVIC today in Marla's memory? Donate here
Thank you for all you do to support our mission. As ever, we are grateful for your commitment to war's
civilian victims.
Best,
Marla Keenan
Associate Director
PS. We know the economy is
tough, so if you prefer to set up a small monthly donation, you can do that here: Click here to set up a monthly donation |
CIVIC Updates and Email Alerts
1700 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20009 : 202.558.6958
|
See the following link for the actual site and pictures of these persons. More
Research soon. Please review for future cases.Women on Death Row in Duval County
Florida...it's the Law.Women Who Have Received The Death Penalty in Florida| | Bertha Hall | 23, and Gordon Denmark, 22, were sentenced 10/9/26 to the electric chair for the killing
of her grocer husband. The death sentences of Hall and Denmark were commuted in 1929. She was sentenced from Duval County
and released in late 1934 or early 1935. |
| | | Billie
Jackson | WF, was sentenced in Duval County on 2/1/27
for the stabbing death of her musician husband. Her sentence was commuted seven months later by Gov. Martin and she was released
in 1935-36. |
| | | Ruby McCollum | BF, born 1901 was sentenced in Suwannee County in 1954. She was convicted
of shooting a doctor in Live Oak on 8/3/52 and spent two years in jail awaiting death until the Florida Supreme Court reversed
the sentence. She was sent to the state mental hospital in Chattahoochee before re-trial and remained there 20 years before
she was released to her family in 1974. |
|  | Irene Laverne
Jackson DC# F00970 | BF, born 6/26/19, was,
with her son and another man, sentenced to death in Pasco County 4/24/62 for murdering her husband for his insurance money.
A new trial had been ordered and she was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for second degree murder in the second
trial on 2/6/64. She was paroled on 1/17/72 and discharged from parole status in 1980. |
|  | Maria Dean
Arrington
DC# 149933 | BF, born 8/16/33, was sentenced form Volusia County on 5/22/68 to twenty years
for manslaughter in the death of her husband. While out of prison on appeal bond, she sought revenge against the public defender
who unsuccessfully defended two of her children on felony charges. On 12/6/68, in Hernando County, she was sentenced to death
for first degree murder in the killing of the secretary of the Lake County public defender. While at Florida C.I., she escaped
by cutting through a heavy window screen. She became the second woman ever to be named to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted
List. She was captured two years later, on 3/14/72 in Marion County. She was sentenced to 10 more years for escape. Her death
sentence was commuted to life on 8/28/72 when the U.S. Supreme Court determined capital punishment laws unconstitutional.
She is in prison at Lowell Correctional Institution. |
|  | Sonia Jacobs DC# 149957 | WF, born 8/24/47, was
convicted in 1976 for her part in the shooting deaths of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and his friend, a Canadian constable
on vacation. Jessie J. Tafero was also sentenced to death for the same crime. Jacobs began her sentence at Broward C.I. on
8/20/76. Her sentence was overturned by Supreme Court on 3/26/81 and she was resentenced to life with a 25-year minimum mandatory
term. On 10/9/92 her case was reversed on appeal. She plead to second degree murder, time served and was released on 10/9/92. |
|  | Kaysie B. Dudley DC# 160874 | WF, born 7/24/63, was sentenced to death in Pinellas County on 1/27/87
for the murder of her mother's employer, a wealthy Redington Beach widow, on 9/30/85. She was resentenced to life with
25 year minimum mandatory on 10/2/89. She is at Lowell Correctional Institution. |
|  | Carla A. Caillier DC# 160904 | WF, born 9/11/63, was sentenced
in Hillsborough County on 3/19/87 for the murder of her husband on 11/20/86 in Tampa. She was re-sentenced to life with a
minimum mandatory 25 years on 7/26/88. |
|  | Dee D. Casteel DC# 161033 | WF, born 6/5/38, was sentenced in Dade County on 9/16/87 for the 1983 murder
of an 84 year old woman. The woman had begun asking about her missing son, who Casteel and a fellow employee had ordered killed
a month before. Casteel paid two mechanics to kill the woman. Her death sentence was vacated on 12/6/90. She was resentenced
to life on 12/19/91 and died at Broward Correctional Institution on October 7, 2002. |
|  | Deidre Hunt DC# 161918 | WF, born 2/9/69, was sentenced from Volusia County on 9/13/90 for the 10/20/89
shooting murders of two men she involved in a murder for money scheme. She was videotaped shooting one of the men by her co-defendant
Kosta Fotopoulos, her former boss and lover. She plead guilty. She was resentenced to life on May 7, 1998. She is at Homestead
Correctional Institution. |
|  | Andrea Hicks
Jackson DC# 279567 | BF, born 2/26/58, was sentenced in Duval County on 2/10/84, for the murder of a Jacksonville
police officer. She shot the officer five times when he tried to arrest her on 5/17/83 for filing a false report about a vandalized
car. She was the first woman in Florida to have her death warrant signed, which occurred on 3/7/89. Her warrant was stayed
on 5/4/89 by the Florida Supreme Court. She was resentenced to life on June 16, 2000. She is at Lowell Correctional Institution. |
|  | Ana Marie
Cardona DC# 162180 | WF,
born 11/26/61, was sentenced from Dade County for the torture murder of her three-year-old son. The boy was nicknamed "Baby
Lollipops" because of the tee shirt he was wearing when the police found his beaten body. The sentence was vacated on
November 22, 2002 and she was released from prison. |
|  | Virginia Larzelere DC# 842556 | WF,
born 12/27/52, was sentenced from Volusia County on 5/11/93 for masterminding the killing of her husband, an Edgewater dentist.
She was resentenced to life on August 1, 2008. She is at Lowell Correctional Institution. |
|
Back to the top Women Who Have Been Executed in Florida | Judias Goodyear Buenoano DC# 160663 | WF, born 4/4/43, was sentenced in Orange County on 11/26/85, for the 9/16/71 death of her
husband by poisoning him with arsenic. Nicknamed the "Black Widow," Goodyear was also convicted (and sentenced to
life) for the May 13, 1980 drowning murder of her paralyzed son in Santa Rosa County. She had two death warrants signed and
stayed. On March 30, 1998, the state of Florida executed Bueonano. She was the first woman to die in the electric chair in
Florida. |
|  | Aileen C. Wuornos DC# 150924 | WF, born 2/29/56, was sentenced from Volusia County on 1/31/92 for the December 1, 1989
shooting murder of a Clearwater businessman. She has been implicated in the deaths of several other men. She was executed
on October 9, 2002. |
|
Back to the top Women Currently on Death Row | Tiffany Cole DC# J35212 | WF,
born 12/3/81, was sentenced from Duval County on March 6, 2008 for her role in the double murder of a Jacksonville couple
who was buried alive. She is currently on death row at Lowell Correctional Institution. |
|
STOPPA PRESS PAGE Welcome
to our Stoppa Press Page where we feature daily entertainment media political and social news to keep you informed
of what's going on in the world today and how it affects you. Suggestions? Please feel free to email them
to us at stoppamedia@hotmail.com. Thank you for your patience as we continue to grow our business and content on this page.
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Prosecution': Why Bush's CIA Team Should Worry About
Its Dark Embrace of Torture
By Liliana Segura, AlterNet
The New Yorker's Jane Mayer discusses the fallout from the Red Cross' shocking
report on CIA torture and its serious legal implications. Read more »  | | No Baby for Old Men?
By Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee
If men's
biological clocks tick just as loudly as women's, does it mean we're closer to equality? Read more » |
Having trouble viewing this email? |
| | | Dear ACLU
Member, The U.S. Supreme Court has never heard a case on excessive use of force with Tasers by police officers. That may change
soon… In February, the ACLU of Florida filed a certiorari petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that a law
enforcement officer’s excessive use of force with a Taser is unconstitutional. The Taser abuse incident was captured by a videocamera mounted on the patrol car dashboard of the Washington County, Florida Sheriff’s Deputy, Jonathan Rackard. Deputy Rackard administered three five-second-long 50,000 volt discharges of a Taser to Jesse Buckley with the Taser
in “drive-stun” mode, which means that the device was pressed directly against the skin instead of from a distance.
The ACLU lawsuit alleges that the deputy’s actions violate the Fourth Amendment, since his only purpose was to inflict
pain upon an already-handcuffed nonviolent nonresisting arrestee to make him stand up. Speak out about police excessive use of force. Write a Letter to the Editor today in of your local newspaper
today supporting the ACLU’s petition to the Supreme Court. Buckley’s lawyers, James V. Cook of Tallahassee, and Michael Masinter of Miami, posted the appalling video on YouTube and after a recent New York Times article highlighting the case, views of the video jumped by 10,000. The Supreme
Court ordered Rackard to reply to the ACLU’s petition, and the nine justices will soon decide whether to take this first-of-its-kind
case. Mr. Buckley was arrested on March 17, 2004, after refusing to sign a traffic citation during a routine traffic stop.
He was handcuffed and voluntarily exited his vehicle, obviously in emotional distress, then fell to the ground. The arresting
officer was under no apparent threat, as documented by the police car-mounted camera, yet “tased” Mr. Buckley
three separate times. Each tase lasted five seconds, leaving 16 burn marks on his skin, some severe enough to produce keloid
scars. Although Mr. Buckley never once actively resisted arrest nor attempted to flee, the officer continued to tase him.
The federal district court held that the officer violated the fourth amendment, and that he was not entitled to qualified
immunity, but by a split decision, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel reversed that opinion, held that the first two
tasings were a constitutionally reasonable use of force, and that no clearly established law would have warned Rackard that
the third was constitutionally unreasonable. The 11th Circuit denied rehearing the case before the entire Circuit Court of
Appeals, and upon denial the ACLU petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. Other federal courts of appeal have squarely
held that police officers may not inflict pain through the use of tasers or chemical sprays to compel a nonviolent individual
who is not actively resisting arrest to obey police commands. The ACLU of Florida and James Cook are confident that the Justices will recognize the egregious harm to Mr. Buckley
and the insult to the Fourth Amendment, and are encouraged that the Court ordered a response to our petition. |
|
| The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily
in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights. | | |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. We value
your privacy. Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your subscription preferences,
visit Subscriber Center. To ensure delivery to your Inbox and to enable images to load in future mailings, please add "acluflonline@aclufl.org"
to your address book or safe senders list. © American Civil Liberties Union of Florida4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 340 | Miami, FL 33137 | P: 786-363-2700 | Sat 4/04/09 2:39 PM | | showstoppacorp@hotmail.com |
| 
Dear ACLU Supporter,
For five long years,
the ACLU has been fighting to unearth government documents that would show the origins and scope of the Bush administration’s
torture program.
In two weeks, we may finally get some of the crucial documents we’ve been asking
for.
As a result of a critical ACLU Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the Justice Department agreed on
Thursday to consider an April 16th public release of key memos that authorized the CIA to torture detainees.
As we move closer and closer to the truth, it is essential that you and other ACLU supporters reinforce the demand that
those responsible for illegally authorizing torture are held accountable.
You signed the ACLU's petition demanding
that Attorney General Holder appoint a special prosecutor for detainee abuse. Thank you.
Can you help keep the momentum going by asking a friend to sign today?
There are still crucial sets of memos that must be revealed, including the infamous Bybee and Bradbury
memos.
The first, written in August 2002 by the head of the Bush administration's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC),
Jay S. Bybee, was the cornerstone of the CIA torture program.
The second set of memos, written by OLC lawyer
Steven Bradbury in May of 2005, authorized the CIA to subject prisoners to torture methods including waterboarding. They were
written in anticipation of Congress’s decision to make it clear that laws against cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment
applied to the CIA.
Collectively, these memos supplied the framework for an interrogation program that permitted
the most barbaric forms of abuse, violated domestic and international law, alienated America's allies and yielded information
that was both unreliable and unusable in court.
Using national security as a pretext, the Bush administration
managed to suppress these memos for years. If these memos are released on April 16, it will be due to your consistent support
of the ACLU. And the facts revealed in these memos will only heighten the demand for a thorough criminal investigation.
Please tell everyone you know to sign the ACLU’s petition calling on the
Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor.
A special prosecutor can follow the facts wherever they may lead -- from Justice Department memos to White
House torture meetings to secret government torture cells around the globe.
No one is above the law. And if we
want to restore our country to an America we can be proud of again, we must know the truth about what our government did in
our name.
Thank you for supporting the ACLU as we continue to drive towards the truth and for joining us in the
next step -- demanding accountability.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director
ACLU
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY
10004
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Just In ACLU Press Release March 27, 2009
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Dear ACLU Supporter,
Americans should never
be afraid to learn the truth about our government -- no matter how ugly it may be.
It’s been six years since the first reports
of detainee abuse and nearly five years since Abu Ghraib. A recent report from the International Committee of the Red Cross
provided undeniable documentation of torture at Guantánamo. Yet the Justice Department has failed to prosecute any
civilians for crimes related to interrogation, except a single contractor in June 2004.
Last week, the ACLU sent a letter to Attorney
General Eric Holder calling for the appointment of an independent prosecutor to investigate the interrogation of detainees
in the war on terror.
Help reach the goal of 25,000 citizens calling for a full and fair criminal investigation.
Sign a petition demanding the Justice Department appoint a Special Counsel to
investigate the torture and abuse of detainees.
Despite overwhelming evidence of high-level authorization for these crimes, only low-ranking military personnel
have been arrested and tried.
A thorough criminal investigation is an important step in restoring our values of
liberty and justice and reclaiming our reputation in the world. And an independent prosecutor should follow the facts wherever
they may lead -- from Justice Department memos to White House torture meetings to secret government torture cells around the
globe.
Join the ACLU in fighting for an America we can be proud of again. Please sign the ACLU’s petition to Attorney General Holder calling for
a special prosecutor.
Thanks for standing with us.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director
ACLU
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY
10004
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(Upcoming UNF EVENTS) You heard it here first! UNF Emeriti Book ClubDate: Wednesday,
April 8, 2009
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Location: UNF Alumni Hall (4804 South Kernan
Blvd.)
Cost: Free  The UNF Emeriti Book Club will be reading “Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph” by C. Vivian Stringer.
Stringer's inspiring story of rising to the top through hard work and the love of a close-knit family is one of the strongest
sports memoirs in recent years. As the first coach in NCAA women's history to bring three different teams to the Final
Four, Stringer has loads of fantastic stories to share, particularly the turnaround that resulted in the 2006-2007 Rutgers
women moving from the bottom of their division to the top, winning the nation's respect even before their dignified response
to Don Imus's slurs. This memoir is also about winning off the court, as Stringer describes the heartrending trials that
have tested her endurance and faith: a major crisis with each of her three children; the sudden death of her beloved husband
in 1991; and her own quiet struggle with cancer, discussed openly here for the first time. This meeting of the book club will
be held on Wednesday, April 8th. The Emeriti Book Club meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM in the Office of
Alumni Services located at Alumni Hall. Beverages and snacks will be provided. To join us or for more information please contact
Jamie Spruell at (904) 620.2132 or jspruell@unf.edu. | UNF Alumni Third Thursday at Seven Bridges- FREE DRINK*!Date: Thursday,
April 16, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: Seven Bridges Grille and Brewery,
Southside near Tinseltown
Cost: Free appetizers & one free drink*  Join us at Seven Bridges for a casual evening of fun and networking with fellow alumni and friends. The appetizers are
free, compliments of Seven Bridges. *If you are a newcomer your first drink is on us! If you bring a friend we'll
buy you both one! Be prepared for random UNF trivia games (do you know the words to the alma mater?). Contact Kim
Diamon at (904) 620.2133 or kdiamon@unf.edu for more information. It's one of our most popular events so come on out to Seven Bridges and be part of the scene. You
never know who will be there, but you can bet it will be a fun crowd! | Play a Round fore Scholarships
- Alumni Golf TournamentDate: Monday, April 20, 2009
Time: Registration - 10:00
AM; Shotgun Start - Noon
Location: Deerwood Country Club
Cost: $175/Person - $675/Team
 Mark your calendar for the Play a Round Fore Scholarships Alumni Association Golf Tournament. Join us in our
efforts to provide financial support for deserving UNF students and the Alumni Association. This will be an outstanding opportunity
for you to enjoy a great day of quality golf with friends and associates while supporting a most worthy cause. We are raising
funds through charitable donations, door prizes, and sponsorships. The tournament will take place on Monday, April 20th at
Deerwood Country Club, a premier private course in Jacksonville. The format is Captain’s Choice with a shotgun start.
Players will enjoy 18 holes of golf (including cart), lunch, door prizes, goodie bags, skill contests and an awards banquet.
Visit the Golf Website for more information or contact the Office of Alumni Services at (904) 620.4723. | UNF pride is SWOOPING
around the world! The UNF Family is spread around the world and we want to see it! We are encouraging alumni living overseas or those traveling
abroad to send us photos demonstrating their pride in being Ospreys. All photos should include alumni in their best Blue and
Gray. Please email your pictures to unf-alum@unf.edu and include your full name(s), class years, where you are and any details you'd like to share. Photos are published at
the discretion of UNF Alumni Services based on content, quality and space. SWOOP PROUD IN YOUR BLUE AND GRAY! |
Campus Happenings | UNF Athletics Baseball (Harmon Stadium)
April 4th @ 1:00 PM... East Tennessee State (DH)
April 5th @ 1:00
PM... East Tennessee State
April 7th @ 7:00 PM... University of Central Florida
April 8th @ 7:00 PM... Florida State (Baseball Grounds of Downtown Jacksonville)
Tickets starting at $8.50
To buy tickets, click here to visit Ticketmaster.
Softball (UNF Softball Complex)
April 8th @ 5:00 PM... Bethune Cookman (DH)
April
10th @ 2:00 PM... Kennesaw State (DH)
April 11th @ 2:00 PM... Mercer (DH)
Men's Tennis (UNF Tennis
Complex)
April 3rd @ 3:00 PM... Campbell
Women's Tennis (UNF Tennis Complex)
April 3rd @ 2:00 PM... Campbell
April 4th @ Noon... University of Central Florida | Coggin College
Alumni Networking BreakfastDate: March 26, 2009
Time: 7:30 AM
Location:
Starbucks - located on UNF campus
 Come enjoy a morning cup of coffee with your fellow alumni and hear about the exciting things going on in the Coggin College
and across the UNF Campus.
Please note, in order to park on the UNF campus, you must purchase
a $3 parking permit from the Parking Services booth at the St. John's Bluff entrance to UNF. Parking is available in any
of the white spaces in parking lot 2 or on the 2nd - 4th floors of the garage. This event is open to all UNF Alumni and friends.
For more information, contact Brooke Fry at Brooke.Fry@unf.edu | Osprey Productions Presents: Ben FoldsDate: April 4, 2009
Time:
7:00 PM
Location: UNF Arena
Cost: $15 for Alumni  Coming this Spring to the UNF Arena... BEN FOLDS with special guest Jukebox the Ghost! Over the last 15 years, Ben Folds'
first-class melodic gifts, irony-laced lyrics, and punk-rock tendency to play piano as if it were a contact sport have earned
the North Carolina native a legion of devoted fans of all ages.
All tickets are General Admission! Arrive
early for the best seats/floor space.
Times
7:00 PM - Doors Open
8:00 PM -
Show Starts
For questions or comments, please contact Osprey Productions. Tickets are available at UNF Ticket Box
Office (904) 620.2878. | Annual  Luncheon Presenting Lisa OzDate: Thursday, April 16, 2009
Time: 11:30
AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Hyatt Regency (downtown)
Cost: $50  The Women and Girls' Health Initiative is proud to present Lisa Oz, a producer, writer, actress, and frequent co-host
of Oprah's The Dr Oz Show, as the keynote speaker for our 2009 Annual Luncheon. Lisa has co-authored three New York Times
best selling books with her husband, world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz. As our keynote speaker, she will address
the topic of integrated medicine in "East Meets West." Drawing from Eastern and Western therapies, Lisa encourages
us to be true partners with healthcare providers in promoting our health.
The mission of is to provide targeted women and girls' health education to the greater Jacksonville community. Our ultimate goal
is to fund an endowed Women and Girls' Health Research Professorship at the University of North Florida's Brooks College
of Health. The topics we cover are far reaching, and "East Meets West" is sure to inspire a captivating luncheon.
We hope you will join for our sixth Annual Luncheon on April 16, 2009 at 11:30 AM at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Reservations can be made
online at http://www.unf.edu/brooks/Us/speaker.htm or by phone by calling the UNF Ticket Box Office at (904) 620.2878. | Keep in touch with what's
going on at UNF - Sign up for UNF Update! Alumni are encouraged to subscribe to UNF Update, a monthly e-mail service created to keep members of the community informed
about events at UNF. With UNF Update you will never again miss an important event whether it be a concert, a lecture, a theatrical
production or a sporting event. To join UNF Update's mailing list, visit the website and enter your e-mail address in "subscribe" field. Any questions can be directed to Julie Williams at julie.williams@unf.edu. |
UNF Alumni Association Affinity Partners | Save Big - On Tax Preparation Services April 15 is fast approaching. That means now is the time to prepare and file your income taxes.
This tax season,
are you looking for do-it-yourself software to help you find every possible deduction? The Savings Connection offers you $5
off at ezTaxReturn! Or, are you looking for professionals to navigate the tax code so you don't have to? In that case,
you can save $25 at Jackson Hewitt. Either way, you can maximize your returns AND your savings with The Savings Connection.
Find these deals by visiting the savings connection website and enter code 10951. If you need help, call (866) 714.7238 for assistance. | GEICO is Hiring! Ready for another member benefit? Try GEICO and see how much you could save on car insurance. Visit their website or call 1-800-368-2734.
Despite a struggling economy, GEICO is stable, growing and able to supply the community
with new, much needed jobs!
We're looking to hire over 100 enthusiastic, motivated, customer service oriented
people for newly created positions in our Customer Service, Sales, and Claims departments in the Lakeland area.
Apply
online at careers.geico.com. |
For current stories related to UNF visit In The News. Please refer to the University Calendar for more campus happenings. Contact the Office of Alumni Services at (904) 620.4723 or (800) UNF-GRAD or e-mail unf-alum@unf.edu for information.
If you have a disability and require accommodations for these occasions, please contact the UNF
Disability Resource Center at (904) 620.2769 or (904) 620.2969 for TDD/TTY five days before the event to enable us to provide
you with a reasonable accommodation. |
| |
Message From Mayor John Peyton: Jacksonville's Plan for Economic Recovery | Wed 3/18/09 4:01 AM | | Mayorjohnpeyton@coj.net |
Dear Friends: Today
I announced an aggressive plan to secure federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Jacksonville’s
local economic recovery efforts. The federal bill, passed last month by President Barack Obama, aims to infuse nearly $800
billion in new spending and tax cuts into the economy. An investment of that magnitude must
begin and end with local government, local industry and local non-profits that stand ready to assist Jacksonville citizens.
The national economic downturn has slowed local markets and Jacksonville continues to suffer from sluggish real estate and
construction industries, an unemployment rate that stands at 8.5 percent, and one of the worst foreclosure rates in the nation. As we aggressively pursue funding, I have three primary goals for the allocation and expense of federal recovery
dollars on the local level. This money must provide the immediate fuel for new investments in our community, stimulate the
local economy in a meaningful way and ensure transformation change for our community – the result of which will stand
the test of time. As mayor, I have an obligation to see that this money is responsibly and appropriately
put toward new programs, new projects and new investments that will reenergize the local economy today and benefit our community
long-term. We will be seeking money to hire and deploy new police officers in our neighborhoods, to improve the efficient
movement of goods into and out of our port and to ensure the health of the St. Johns River by increasing funding for storm
water improvements and septic tank remediation. The opportunities for investments through the
stimulus plan are broad and massive. There is money for workforce training, housing, public schools, colleges and universities,
healthcare and every other segment of this community. As a community we will pursue what Jacksonville rightfully deserves,
and the only limitations to our success will be the power of our creativity and the strength of our partnerships. Through formula-based grants, Northeast Florida already expects to receive nearly $145 million for local transportation
projects and $10 to $15 million through Justice Department, Housing and Community Development and Energy grants. As a community
we will also submit applications for competitive grants and will compete with other governments, non-profits and any other
qualifying organization across the country. Discretionary funding will be awarded by federal agencies and we will rely heavily
on our Washington delegation to help secure this funding. If we are to maximize Jacksonville’s
overall funding allocation, this community must speak with one voice in Washington. We are working closely with local independent
authorities, the school board, community leaders, the business community, neighborhood organizations and non-profits. All
will play a role as we prioritize the highest and best needs for our entire community, not just one organization. I encourage you to visit www.coj.net for more information about Jacksonville’s plan to seek federal funding. I also invite individuals, businesses
or organizations interested in learning how to apply for federal money to an Economic Stimulus Summit, hosted by my office
and U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown from 8 a.m. to noon on March 23 at the FCCJ Downtown campus. Federal officials from the Departments
of Health and Human Services, Transportation, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Small Business
Administration will be on hand to answer specific questions regarding the distribution of these recovery funds. Please RSVP
by calling Rep. Brown’s district office at (904) 354-1652. As we move forward, I ask for
patience. We find ourselves in unprecedented times and, as I’ve said before, this process is much like riding a bicycle
as we attempt to build it. It is my hope that the President’s plan works and that local efforts will restore confidence
in our markets, increase spending and ultimately revive our local communities. The true measure of success will come when,
through the proper allocation of stimulus dollars, our communities are not only self-sustaining, but a place for innovation,
expansion and progress. Sincerely, John Peyton Mayor
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: This is a public service message.
Please do not report this e-mail to your ISP as spam! If you are not interested in receiving
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Due to Overwhelming Demand, New Dates Just Added!
Tyler Perry's"The Marriage Counselor" Beacon Theatre • April 28 – May 3
Also playing April 7 – 12|
| Due to overwhelming demand, 8 more performances of Tyler Perry's “The Marriage
Counselor” have been added! In addition to the 8 performances on April 7 – 12, the play will also be
performed on stage at the Beacon Theatre on April 28 – May 3. Tickets are on sale NOW!
Click here to purchase your tickets.  |
Upcoming Shows Steve
Harvey
With Special Guest
Newphew TommyRadio City Music
Hall Saturday, May 9 &
Sunday, May 10
| 
Kiss
FM Mother's Day Concert
Beacon Theatre
Sunday, May 10
2
Shows! | 
The
Ultimate
Doo-Wop Show
Beacon Theatre
Saturday, June 6 |  Aretha
Franklin
Radio
City Music Hall
September 17 |  | | | | |
 | MSG Insiders receive exclusive ticket alerts, contests, and special
offers. Click here to tell us the music and entertainment you like. | |
 | Tickets
for people with disabilities, subject to availability, may be purchased through Ticketmaster, Beacon Theatre's Box Office
or Beacon Theatre's Disabled Services Department at (212) 465-6115. |
| |
 |  | | |
|
| 
| | |  | | U! S! A! We're Number .... 15?
By Dalton Conley, The Nation
A
new report shows that in terms of aggregate health, education, purchasing power, security and general well-being, the U.S.
has been in decline. Read more » |
| | PEEK and Video: The hottest buzz and videos on the web | |
| |
|
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| | | | | | | | | | | | Hip Hop Grub Spot, Sha Money XL, Chuck Creekmur, and Others to Serve as Panelists at State of Black
Student Summit
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA,
March 10, 2009 – Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Student Government Association (SGA) along with the Florida
State University Black Student Union will present the Third Annual State of the Black Student Summit on April 2 through April
3, 2009 in Gaither Gymnasium. This year’s theme is “The Pursuit: How Obama and Hip-Hop Can Renew America’s
Promise.”
The two-day event will feature workshops
and two panel discussions ranging in topics from Hip-Hop’s influence on politics to the business of Hip-Hop and its
economic impact on entrepreneurship and pop culture. Confirmed panelists include Chuck Creekmur, Co-CEO of AllHipHop.com;
Ryan Ford, Director of Creative Strategy at the Cashmere Agency; Joshua Fahiym Ratcliffe, President Hip Hop Grub Spot and
Former Editor-in-Chief of The Source Magazine; Donna Brazille, Democratic Strategist; Sha Money XL of G-Unit; Tony Shellman,
Co-founder of Parish Nation clothing (Enyce and Mecca); 25-year old Tony Payton, Jr., Democrat Pennsylvania House of Representatives;
Amy Andrieux, General Manager of The Source Magazine; Woodie White, Global Brand Manager for LRG; Jacques-Philippe Piverger
as Principal Investor at AIG Investments and Co-Founder of The Council of Urban Professionals; Corey Boddie, Entertainment
Attorney (Jermaine Dupri and Beyonce); and Lee Hawkins, Journalist for CNBC and the Wall Street Journal. “The State of the Black Student Summit was first presented to the campus community
by SGA in 2005 as a vehicle by which our students could access the wisdom and unique experiences of accomplished intellectuals,
artists, and innovators,” says Andrew Collins, FAMU’s student body president and university trustee. Hip-Hop Grub Spot, the title sponsor for the event and the first hip-hop themed healthy
food franchise, expressed their excitement about their involvement with The Summit. Joshua Fahiym Ratcliffe, president of
Hip-Hop Grub Spot and former editor-in-chief of Source Magazine states, “This is a great opportunity for everyone involved,
because it will show how Hip-Hop can be a tool of progress for its most important stakeholders, the students.” Other
corporate sponsors include Red Bull, Myspace, and The Source Magazine. “This
is the first time the two universities have come together for an event of this magnitude. We are really excited about the
event,” Marcus Winder, Florida State University Black Student Union co-chair for the Summit. “We are very excited for a chance to partner with SGA to bring an array of distinguished guests
that can not only speak, but deliver real opportunities for our students in the forms of internships,” says Sean Mitchell,
Florida A&M University Student Government Co-chair of The Summit. The
event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For more information, contact Co-chair, Kianta Key at sbss08@gmail.com. For corporate sponsorship or guest information, contact Co-chair, Sean Mitchell at sbss.sponsorship@gmail.com. http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=163 |
| 
| | | | | PEEK and Video:
The hottest buzz and videos on the web | |
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March 3, 2009 12:39 p.m. Know Your Rights or You Could Unexpectedly Receive Unfair Charges and
Fines. The States Attorneys office for Duval County contacted one of our employees this morning
in regards to their child missing 16 days of school and left a message at the staff members child's school to contact
them however, when the SS staff member contacted the States Attorneys office over a year ago and filed a claim, the claimant
never received a response even after going to the states attorneys office more than several times. It should also be
noted that the amount of days claimed to have been missed by the child are incorrect and are not reflected on the childs report
card. The parent states the family has been going through some very difficult times with the city and it has taken a
toll on the children. Last year one of our children became deathly ill after contriving a near fatal disease which
caused them to go without eating for a little over two months. That's the God's honest truth. The child
had to go on pediasure like she was a baby. This virus was contracted while the child was at a Duval County School.
The child could not eat table food for almost three months and survived mostly on liquids. This year, this same family
is faced with more problems from the State of Florida. This is partly due to an ongoing battle with the local government. They
have yet to have contacted us about our States Claims Filings which we will negate when we appear in court next month.
It hurts my heart to see them harm children. It's good that their is a Truancy system in place, but due to all of
the recent warnings about my child's grades when they were not truly in danger of failing along with watching her
so closely, makes us question the State's motives, especially after our recent findings dealing with privacy laws.
It is clear they are continuing to harrass our employees. Know your rights. Please read the following information
below. Duval County Public Schools Philosophy Everyday, over two million students are absent from school in America. Students cannot learn if they are
not in school. Personnel in the Duval County Public Schools believe children have a right to a quality education. Consequently,
many programs and services are offered to meet the unique needs of students, and to make their school experiences as rewarding
as possible. In Duval County, education is considered a family affair. Parental involvement is strongly encouraged,
as students' attitudes toward school are usually reflective of their parents'. The most damaging problem resulting
from irregular school attendance is that it often leads to academic failure, which ends in grade retention. Research shows
that students who are absent two or more days from school each month achieve 25% less than their classmates. Non-attendance
or truancy problems are not just problems for the school district. These problems, which influence the dropout rate, permeate
the entire community and create a social and economic dilemma that affects all aspects of our society. Through the collaborative
efforts of the home, school, and community, a greater contribution can be made to keep students in school regularly so that
they can learn the skills necessary to become self-reliant and productive citizens. What is compulsory school
attendance? Florida Statute 1003.2 states that all children who have reached the age of six years or who will
reach six years of age by February 1 of any school year but have not yet attained the age of 16, are required to attend school
regularly during the entire school term. What is the legal responsibility of a parent / guardian for his/her
child's school attendance? Florida Statute 1003.24 states that each parent of a child within the compulsory
attendance age shall be responsible for such child's school attendance. The absence of a child from school shall be prima
facie evidence of a violation of this law. Florida Statute 1003.27 (7) (9) states that the parent who refuses or fails
to have a child under his/her control attend school regularly shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable
by law. What is the role of the school when a child is truant? Contact the parent to determine
the reason(s) for the absences. Require the parent to justify each absence. Talk with the student to determine if there
are school-related reasons for absences. Use school-based resources to try to solve truancy problems and document all
attempts to assist the student. Refer the student to the school-based Attendance Intervention Team when she/he accumulates
5 unexcused absences within a calendar month or 10 unexcused in any 90-day period. For all additional follow up, a complete
referral form will be forwarded to the District-Level Attendance Office through the school mail. What is the
role of the attendance social worker? Once a referral is received from a school, the Attendance/Social Worker: Acknowledges
receipt of the referral. Makes contact with the parent/guardian (home visit or phone contact) to assist in solving the
truancy problem. Makes the parent(s) aware of the compulsory school attendance law and consequences for violations. Makes
referrals to community agencies, if needed. Provides feedback and appropriate interventions to schools. Monitors
the student's attendance progress. Notifies the parent that court action may be taken for non-compliance. Makes
referrals to the State Attorney's Office Truancy Arbitration Program (TAP) if the parents do not comply. Makes referral
to the Youth Crisis Center if the student does not comply with the school attendance agreement. What
can schools do to improve student attendance? Encourage regular or improved attendance by awarding certificates,
T-shirts, etc. Send commendation letters to students and parents for improved attendance records. Review student's
attendance records frequently and request interventions when needed. Educate parents about school attendance laws. Initiate
a peer-counseling program for students with poor attendance. Create public awareness of attendance problems in the community
through the news media. What can parents do to improve student attendance? Emphasize the connection
between regular school attendance and getting good grades. Visit the school periodically and become involved. Have
teacher conferences regularly. Monitor attendance by contacting the school. Make education a family priority. For
more information please contact (904) 390-2094 Duval County Public Schools
Student Services Department
1701
Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32207 http://www.coj.com/Departments/State+Attorneys+Office+/Truancy+Arbitration+Program/Duval+County+Schools.htm
 |  | |  | Dear Reader, Shockingly,
hate groups are on the rise in America. The financial meltdown and an African-American President has given racist groups an
extra dose of paranoid motivation. No group in America works harder to fight hate and put these despicable groups out of business
than the SPLC. Support them and people across the country and stand united against hate. 
Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet.org
| |
 | Stand
Strong Against Hate Racism is a serious problem in America. Fueled by immigration fears,
the economic crisis and the election of a black president, racist hate groups increased their numbers again in 2008. The Southern
Poverty Law Center has documented a staggering 926 hate groups operating in our country - a more than 50% increase since 2000. As the ranks of hate
swell, people of goodwill must stand up and be counted. Please add yourself to our interactive map as a voice for tolerance - and find out which hate groups are active in your area. Hate
group leaders are exploiting the election of a black president and difficult economic times to swell their ranks and their
anti-Semitic, white supremacist propaganda is promoting violence. - A neo-Nazi leader was quoted in USA Today
saying "When the economy suffers, people are looking for answers. ...We are the answer for white people."
- The
day after President Obama was inaugurated, a white man in Massachusetts killed two black people and raped and gravely wounded
another. His arrest derailed his plan to also invade a synagogue and kill as many Jews as possible. He'd spent six months
reading racist websites and concluded they "spoke the truth about the demise of the white race."
At
the Southern Poverty Law Center, we not only track and expose the activities of racist extremists - we have a proven history
of using innovative legal strategies to put them out of business. We recently won a $2.5 million verdict against the leader
of the Imperial Klans of America for the brutal beating of a teenage boy of Latino descent in Kentucky. You
can join people across the country who are standing strong against the hate, racism and intolerance infecting our communities, schools and political debate
by adding yourself to our map. Thank you for standing strong against hate.  | Sincerely,
Morris Dees
Founder |
|
|
AlterNet does not share, sell, or rent our subscribers' addresses.
Occasionally we do send out announcements
or offers
we think our readers would find interesting or useful.
To unsubscribe from these appeals, visit
http://www.alternet.org/newsletter/unsubscribe/
| | Thu 2/26/09 9:07 PM | | stoppamedia@hotmail.com |
Having trouble viewing this email?
|
| | | Just In.
It has been a busy week for civil liberties all across the Sunshine State, and we're excited to tell you about the
important work that we are doing. There has never been a more important time to be a member of the ACLU. We rely on the strength of our membership to defend civil liberties and there is a lot of work to be done in Florida. Below
is a sampling of some of the headlines we have been making this past week. City of Clearwater
Tramples on Small Business Owners' Rights; Fish Mural and First Amendment Display Targeted Local business owners Heriberto and Lorraine Quintero spruced up their recently purchased bait
and tackle store with a mural of local fish to make the business, and community, more attractive. Never did they imagine that
they would find themselves embattled with the city over the First Amendment. The City of Clearwater issued code violations to the bait shop claiming that a mural of game fish and marine life is
not "art work," rather it is advertising "signage" for the business. After paying fines to the city, the
Quinteros hung a banner over the mural as an act of political protest, proudly displaying the text of the First Amendment.
The city continued threatening the Quinteros, ordering them to remove both the banner and the mural. "Only in Florida could a business owner be targeted and fined for displaying artwork; and then in protest of the
fine, display the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution - and then be ticketed for that," said Howard Simon, Executive
Director of the ACLU of Florida. "Unfortunately, public officials disregard constitutional freedoms all the time, but
punishing citizens for displaying the Constitution may be a first." The ACLU of Florida and our Pinellas County Chapter filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the city from further proceeding
against the Quinteros for exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech and political protest. Read more here >>See photos here >> Habeas Denied to
Lake County Mother of Three Tavares Police tore Fany Cote apart from her husband and three young children last week in
an unlawful arrest, followed by a week of detention without pressing charges. Police responded to a domestic violence call
placed by Cote's sister who was allegedly being strangled by her boyfriend, but when police arrived, arresting Cote on
an outstanding immigration violation was more important to them than protecting Cote's sister from the assault. The ACLU of Florida filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on Monday in federal court to have Cote brought before a judge and released from the Lake County Detention Center. The judge
immediately ordered Tavares Police to provide cause for her detention within a week. However, shortly after the order, federal
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrived and whisked her away to a detention facility in Orlando. | | | Photo
credit: Ernesto Sendic Vargas Mendoza |
Yesterday, the ACLU participated in a news conference and rally in downtown Orlando to protest the unlawful conduct by Tavares police, the denial of habeas to this mother of three
children, and interference by local police in enforcing federal immigration law. Read the Orlando Sentinel's coverage here >>See photos from the rally here >> New ACLU Video
Highlights Florida Case to Mark the Anniversary of Tinker v. Des Moines To mark the 40th anniversary of the
U.S. Supreme Court's landmark case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District, the ACLU released a video
this week about a recent Florida case that relied upon Tinker to uphold students' right to free speech. "Students like Heather Gillman, who speak up for what they believe in and hold schools
accountable, should be highly commended. History will be made either by people's action or inaction, and I've found
it's a lot more interesting and meaningful to take action," said Mary Beth Tinker, one of the plaintiffs in the historic
Supreme Court case. The video includes an interview with Mary Beth Tinker, as well as the polemical comments from a high school principal
as he testified in a videotaped deposition that he banned students from wearing any sort of rainbow symbols - including the
logos for Apple Computers and the long-running children's television show "Reading Rainbow" - because he felt
they symbolized gay rights. The ACLU sued the school on behalf of Heather Gillman, a student at Ponce de Leon High School,
winning the case in federal court last year. Watch the video here >>Read more here >> ACLU Gets Green
Light from 11th Circuit for Amnesty International Lawsuit The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a district court
decision in our lawsuit on behalf of Amnesty International, stating that the complaint "properly states a valid claim
alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights." The ACLU of Florida filed the federal lawsuit in June 2006, alleging that police officers from Miami-Dade and the City
of Miami prevented members of the human rights organization from exercising their constitutional right to assemble and protest,
despite having obtained a permit from the City of Miami Police Department. The appeals court said in its ruling that "There can be no doubt that it is the long-standing and clearly established
law of this nation that the government may not grant a permit to a political group instructing it where and when it may assemble,
speak and petition with one hand, and then, at the last moment, completely deny the organization the opportunity to utilize
that very permit with the other hand. And there can be no doubt that police conduct knowingly designed to so utterly eviscerate
fundamental expressive freedoms would violate clearly established constitutional law." The lawsuit is one of seven brought by the ACLU as a result of police actions that stifled protest activities during
the November 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) events in Miami. Read more here >> |
|
The American Civil Liberties
Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working
daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual
rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. We value your privacy.
Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your subscription preferences,
visit Subscriber Center. To ensure delivery to your Inbox and to enable images to load in future mailings, please add "acluflonline@aclufl.org"
to your address book or safe senders list. © American Civil Liberties Union of Florida4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 340 | Miami, FL 33137 | P: 786-363-2700 |
|
February 20, 2009 Dear Friend,  During the recent ruthless assault on the people of Gaza when so many people were injured or murdered, I lost my own sister;
she had been ill for many years. The loss of this one person, whose death was anticipated, was such a blow, that when I considered
the losses to the people of Gaza - of mothers, children, fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, and friends, I wondered how the
anguish of so much tragic loss could be sustained. Housing, hospitals, nurseries, libraries, schools, were also lost. Surely
the blow to the human spirit would be intolerable for many, and there would seem little reason for continuing to live.
Going to Gaza is our opportunity (my partner Garrett Larson's
and mine) to express solidarity with the people there. To demonstrate the concern we feel each day for the suffering endured. Read more… Alice WALKER |
We are delighted that Alice Walker and her partner Garrett Larson
will be joining our delegation to Gaza as will 25 other amazing people from around the world. The response to our call to
spend International Women's Day with the women of Gaza has been overwhelming! We were invited to Gaza by the women who run the Gender Division
of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
who work everyday with poor women whose families have been devastated by the occupation and invasion. When we asked them what
we could bring with us in terms of humanitarian aid, they responded,  "Bring the women some nice gift baskets that, in addition to useful products, have
something special for them as women. This is the one day we can really honor them and lift their spirits."
So we have developed gift baskets that will both pamper
and sustain: For $10, you can purchase one of these baskets, to be hand-delivered to a woman in Gaza
for International Women's Day. The baskets will contain vitamins, first-aid materials, and food items, but also sweet-smelling
soaps and shampoos, a beautiful pink head scarf, sweets and tea. Click here to buy one gift basket.
The women of Gaza are living with
grace and resilience under incredibly stressful and dangerous conditions; for $10, you can brighten their
day and remind them that the women of the world are with them in solidarity.
For $50, you can do something special for 5 women. $100 will bring a message of love and
support to 10 women's lives. Please donate today and encourage your friends and family to donate, as well. You can even hold fundraisers in your community to reach as many women in Gaza as possible. To make your gift even more personal, you and your children can send letters
and drawings to 712 5th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 and we'll place them in the baskets. If you wish to deliver the gift baskets in person, click here to find out how you can travel to Gaza with Alice Walker, Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright, Gael Murphy, and other amazing people
from around the globe on March 5--March 12 or how you might join a delegation in the future.
 Thank you for helping to show the women of Gaza that we love and honor them.
In solidarity,
Audrey, Blaine, Dana, Deidra, Desiree, Farida,
Gael, Gayle, Jean, Jodie, Liz, Lori, Medea, Nancy, Paris, and Rae |
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| | | | | PEEK and Video:
The hottest buzz and videos on the web | |
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| | | | | PEEK and Video:
The hottest buzz and videos on the web | |
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This just
in from the ACLU Posted 2-11-09 To Tase or Not to Tase: ACLU Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Answer the Question for First
Time and Book Ban Discussed. In a petition submitted to the United States Supreme Court last week, ACLU of Florida
attorneys and cooperating counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case out of the Eleventh Circuit and rule that
a law enforcement officer's excessive use of force with a Taser is unconstitutional. If the Supreme Court grants the petition
for certiorari and agrees to hear the case, it will be the high Court’s first opportunity to address Taser abuse. The
incident was captured by a video camera mounted on the patrol car dashboard of a Washington County, Florida Sheriff's
Deputy. The deputy administered three five-second-long 50,000-volt discharges of a Taser to Jesse Buckley. The ACLU lawsuit
alleges that the deputy's actions violate the Fourth Amendment, since his only purpose was to inflict pain upon an already-handcuffed
arrestee to make him stand up. Buckley's lawyer, James V. Cook of Tallahassee, Florida, posted the video on YouTube at the suggestion of the dissenting
member of the Eleventh Circuit panel. You can view the video of Jesse Buckley being actively tased by Deputy Rackard and be your own judge. Read the full news item here >> ACLU Will Continue
Appeal to Prevent Book Banning and Censorship in Miami-Dade County Schools The Miami-Dade County School Board voted in
2006 to ban the book "¡Vamos a Cuba!," its English-language version and the other 22 books in a series
from public school libraries. The age-appropriate books, written for children ages five to seven, convey basic facts about
children's lives in other countries, such as the food they eat, the clothes they wear, daily activities, etc., and were
not political in nature. A parent objected to these books, complaining the books did not reflect the repressive nature of
the Castro regime and its denial of freedoms. The ACLU of Florida filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and prevailed in the district court, though
that ruling was overturned on appeal last week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. As book banning is clearly
unlawful and flies in the face of Freedom of Expression, further litigation is being contemplated.
Read more here >> You can also read our Blog Post here >>
Lea nuestro Blog sobre la controversia aquí >> Facebook Controversy
Highlighted in The New York Times High school honor student Katherine Evans was frustrated with her teacher
when she logged onto the networking site "Facebook," from home on her personal computer over a weekend, and vented
against the teacher. Not long after the posting, she was summoned to the principal's office and suspended for three days
for "cyberbullying." Evans sued the principal of her school for ordering her suspension and is asking that the suspension be removed from
her record, so as not to affect her further educational chances and her career. Howard Simon, Executive Director of the Florida ACLU, was quoted in Sunday's New York Times, saying "he
was appalled by the school's position … since when did criticism morph into assault?"
Read the entire New York Times article here >> The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working
daily in the
courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights. |
This email was sent by the ACLU of Florida to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. We value your privacy.
Read our Privacy Statement online. If you no longer wish to receive these updates or would like to modify your subscription preferences,
visit Subscriber Center. To ensure delivery to your Inbox and to enable images to load in future mailings, please add "acluflonline@aclufl.org"
to your address book or safe senders list. © American Civil Liberties Union of Florida4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 340 | Miami, FL 33137 | P: 786-363-2700 |
  {0} ![]()
|
| |
| | | | | | Dear k,
Please join us at the 2009 AGM March 27-29, 2009 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in historic Boston, Massachusetts to help
Amnesty International to grow both the scope of our work and the strength of our movement.
The inauguration of
the nation's first African American president is an occasion loaded with both the promise and the pain of our country's
history. Many hope this moment will mark the end of an era during which our own government led the charge to destroy many
of the very protections the United Nations established 60 years ago with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We now
have an unprecedented opportunity to articulate a positive human rights agenda, hone our strategic advocacy and apply the
power of the AI movement toward our goals.
Our featured speakers and program sessions will focus on topics such
as women’s human rights, building the movement to counter terror with justice, immigrant rights, and responding to critical
human rights crises such as Darfur and Gaza. The AGM will include interactive trainings and policy making sessions. Arrive
by 1:00 pm on Friday to participate in special training sessions and to join our Immigrants' Rights rally at 4 pm.
Early bird registration ends Thursday, February 12th! Register now to take advantage of our discounted
registration. Starting February 13th, registration will increase by $20.00.
In addition, the final deadline for
online registration is February 28, 2009, so please plan to register online ahead of this date. | | You can register online at www.amnestyusa.org/agmAlso, reserve your hotel room now to receive special discounted rates. Use this link to receive a special Amnesty rate.
The hotel is offering newly reduced rates, room rates are below:
$129.00/night
(Single- European/Economy guestroom)*
$149.00/night (Single/Double)
$169.00/night (Triple)
$189.00/ night
(Quad)
*This size room will only hold one guest
Act now to book your hotel room! The group discount is only
available until February 28th.
The website will be updated frequently with more information about the AGM—so
check back often! If you have any questions about the AGM, please contact aiusa-agm@aiusa.org, or call (202) 544-0200.
We look forward to seeing you all at the conference and thank you for your commitment to the human rights movement!
In
solidarity,
Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA | | | | DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages sent to this email address are not read. If you have a question or
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Dear
Reader, The Democratic Republic of Congo is host to the world's deadliest conflict
since World War II. And women and girls have borne the brunt of this horrific crisis, with rape as a weapon
of war on a scale seen nowhere else in the world. But you can do something about it. Tell President-Elect Obama to announce his plan to end sexual violence in Congo. Eastern Congo is the worst place in the world to be a woman in 2008. Rape and sexual violence are routinely
used as a weapon to destroy women, families, and communities. It is time to get serious about ending the conflict and protecting
and empowering Congo's women. The US government is in a unique position to take action immediately. They can promote
peace through aggressive diplomatic efforts, increase UN patrols and support organizations that help keep women safe, and
work to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. Oxfam America has joined with the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign
to raise awareness about the crisis. And by adding your voice, you are helping to raise awareness about the horrors of this
nine-year conflict. Tell the president-elect to announce his plan to end the vicious cycle of sexual violence. And to further strengthen your voice, please tell all of your friends and family, post it on Facebook and
MySpace, or write about it on your blog. The women of Congo are depending on you. Please take action today. Sincerely,
Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America |
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MEDIA
ALERT
Female rap artist and domestic violence survivor, Queen Pen will hold a press conference
to advocate for battered women and children in light of recent NYC
crime report
Who: Lynise Walker, aka Queen Pen - Female rapper, domestic violence survivor, and battered women & children advocate.
What: The New York State Division
of Criminal Justice Services
has issued a report that lists 58% of female homicide victims in 2007 were at the hands of domestic violence. Queen Pen will speak as a voice for advocacy and as a woman who has triumphed over abuse. She will
share her story publicly for the first time and give hope to other victims with the support of city leaders, including New York Senator Eric Adams.
When: Friday, January 16th, Press Session begins at
4pm
Where: Denim Lounge - 1223 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, NY
11216
Attending Supporters: New York Senator Eric Adams, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries,
City Councilwoman Latisha James, Former New York Knicks Player & Activist John Starks, Pershia from The White Rapper show, Nefu
Da Don and Hip Hop Performer Lil Mama. Please visit the following website below for more information on this
event.
http://www.mnsmediagroup.com/
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Dear
Friends: On Thursday morning, I had the tremendous
honor of being one of a select few elected officials to hear President-elect Barack Obama present his American Recovery and
Reinvestment Plan at George Mason University. I was honored to be invited to Washington, D.C., along with 20 other metropolitan
mayors, as the President-elect addressed the country on the importance of taking swift action to restore trust and confidence
in our nation’s economy and provide jobs for millions of Americans. This visit is indicative of the ongoing work that
the city is doing to ensure that Jacksonville’s message is being heard at the federal level.
As part of my time in D.C., the other
mayors and I first attended a briefing with Robert Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the
new administration’s economic stimulus plan. This was a great opportunity for the leaders of cities like Jacksonville
to convey to the new administration how local governments are poised to put federal dollars to work in our communities, immediately.
Since
discussion of a potential infrastructure plan first started, I have been working to make sure Jacksonville’s message
is heard. Along with the city’s independent authorities and three beaches communities, we have developed a list of construction-ready
projects that could break ground within 90-120 days and would pump more than $760 million into our local economy. With assistance
from the federal government, Jacksonville could begin to address its own rising unemployment and foreclosure rates, do our
part to help restore the nation’s economy and complete needed infrastructure projects.
As a city, we understand that we cannot
rely solely on federal funds to jump-start our local economy or meet local infrastructure needs. However, supplemental investments
from the federal government will assist us in staving off additional financial crises caused by the nationwide recession,
and continue to help keep Jacksonville’s residents working.
As the national discussion continues to focus on the new administration’s
economic recovery plan, know that Jacksonville has a seat at that table and is prepared to make good use of federal dollars
as they become available. Despite the seemingly never-ending bad news regarding our nation’s economic stability, today,
I am hopeful. Capital project funding is the quickest economic stimulus available, particularly if it is matched by additional
local funding. President-elect Obama is committed to taking dramatic action to lift our nation to its feet so that our cities
and communities may once again grow and prosper, and I am committed to working with his administration to do that for Jacksonville.
Respectfully
yours, John Peyton Mayor This
just in from BMI. Posted here December 1, 2008. 
|  | BMI eBulletin
(A monthly update for BMI songwriters and composers)
News
American Youth Symphony To Present Jerry
Goldsmith Project
Awards
Juanes Wins Big at Latin Grammys
Casey Beathard, Taylor Swift,
Hank Williams Jr. Top BMI Country
Awards
American
Music Awards Swept by BMI Artists CMA Awards Toast BMI
Country A-List
Musicians Hall of Fame Inducts BMI Legends
BMI Foundation, Pepsi Blue Carpet Bash Announce Scholarship
Recipients
Career
When Copyrights Go To Court
21st Annual Pete Carpenter Fellowship
Film Composing
Fellowship Opens
FedEx Offering Exclusive BMI Savings Opportunity
Free Online Marketing,
Promotion Services Available Through
Muzlink
Exclusive Savings and Benefits for BMI Affiliates
Showcase
Information
American Youth Symphony To Present Jerry Goldsmith Project
The American
Youth Symphony, in conjunction with the Film Music Society, will embark on a three-year multi-disciplinary project celebrating
the music of Jerry Goldsmith with a symposium and an orchestral performance on December 7, at Royce Hall on the campus of
the University of California at Los Angeles. Both events are free of charge. Oscar-nominated composer David Newman, president
of both the AYS and FMS, will conduct newly assembled suites from Goldsmith's original, Oscar-nominated scores for A Patch
of Blue, The Sand Pebbles and Patton, along with excerpts from Planet of the Apes and The Blue Max that Goldsmith himself
arranged for concert performance. Read more Juanes Wins Big at
Latin Grammys
International star Juanes led the BMI charge at the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards, where he walked
away with a win in every category in which he was nominated: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music
Video for "Me Enamora," along with an Album of the Year trophy for La Vida...Es Un Ratico and Best Male Pop Vocalist.
BMI had 70% of the awards represented by American PROs, with Gloria Estefan, Café Tacvba, Gustavo Santaolalla, Julieta
Venegas (SGAE), and Anibal Kerpel each taking home two awards. Read more
Casey Beathard, Taylor Swift, Hank Williams Jr. Top BMI Country Awards
The 56th Annual
BMI Country Awards celebrated the genre's elite on Tuesday, November 11 at BMI's Music Row offices in Nashville, where
Casey Beathard earned his second BMI Country Songwriter of the Year crown, while Taylor Swift's smash "Teardrops
on My Guitar" garnered Robert J. Burton Song of the Year honors. Publishing powerhouse Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville
claimed its seventh consecutive Country Publisher of the Year title, and an all-star tribute recognized Hank Williams, Jr.
as a BMI Icon. Read more American Music Awards
Swept by BMI Artists
BMI artists swept the 2008 American Music Awards, held Sunday, November 23 in Los Angeles.
As fans voted online for their favorite stars, many of the night's euphoric moments belonged to international pop-flavored
neo-soulster Chris Brown, whose domination with wins in the Pop-Rock Favorite Male Artist and Soul-R&B Artist categories
culminated with the acquisition of evening's grand prize, Favorite Artist of the Year. Additional winners included Rihanna,
Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Three 6 Mafia, Jordin Sparks and Linkin Park, among others.
Read more
CMA Awards Toast BMI Country A-List
BMI artists and songwriters walked away with
a slew of the CMA Awards on Nov.12, including Female Vocalist, New Artist, Vocal Group and Vocal Duo of the Year. Carrie Underwood,
Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Alison Krauss and Tony Brown were among the evening's big winners. Read more
Musicians Hall of Fame Inducts BMI Legends
The Musicians Hall of Fame inducted another
class of the American musical elite on October 28 in Nashville. The overwhelming majority of 2008 inductees are longtime BMI
songwriters: Booker T. and the MGs, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, The Crickets, Duane Eddy, Al Kooper
and Billy Sherrill were among the inductees. See photos
21st Annual Pete Carpenter
Fellowship Film Composing Fellowship Opens
The BMI Foundation has announced the opening of the 21st annual Pete
Carpenter Fellowship for aspiring film composers under the age of 35. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to
work for 4-5 weeks with BMI composer Mike Post, Pete Carpenter's partner and friend and writer of such TV themes as NYPD
Blue, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and Law and Order. In addition, the winner will receive a $3,000 stipend for travel and
expenses. Applications for the 2009 Pete Carpenter Fellowship will be available online at bmifoundation.org, via email, or by writing to Linda Livingston, BMI Foundation,
8730 Sunset Blvd., 3rd Floor West, Los Angeles, CA 90069. The postmark deadline for entries is January 26, 2009.
When Copyrights Go To Court
You don't know how they got hold of it, but you're sure
that the latest chart-topper is an obvious rip-off of one of your prized creations? Songwriter101.com legal beagle Gary "The
Barrister" Roth talks about what the options are when a songwriter discovers that a song he or she has written has been
appropriated by another person or, more likely, that someone has taken his or her song and used it without getting the proper
licenses. Get the legal lowdown here. Remember, if you're not already a Songwriter101 member, you'll have to register to get the full text (don't
worry - it's free). BMI
Foundation, Pepsi Blue Carpet Bash Announce Scholarship Recipients The BMI Foundation and Pepsi Blue Carpet Bash have announced the winners of the 2008 Music Enrichment Fund Scholarship,
an annual competition for young songwriters and composers. Scholarships are awarded to the best three songs or instrumental
compositions in any Latin genre. Daniel Diaz, Daniela Blau and Pablo Latapi received awards totaling $20,000 for their winning
compositions. Read more
FedEx Offering
Exclusive BMI Savings Opportunity With published
reports about DHL's reduced capabilities, it is important to have service choices and flexibility in order to effectively
manage your costs. As a BMI member, you are eligible for special benefits to help you save money with discounts on select
FedEx® and FedEx OfficeSM services. Save up to 21% on select services. Sign up now - it's free. Click here to create a new FedEx account or enroll your existing account in the discount program and use pass code BYZ456 or call
1-877-863-6064.
Free Online Marketing,
Promotion Services Available Through Muzlink
Muzlink is offering BMI affiliates free online music marketing
and promotion and will link your music, videos, homepage, live dates, downloads, streaming and CD sites, MySpace and Facebook
pages to more fans, offering more ways to be seen, heard and discovered. Sign up and enter all of the required information, including the BMI validation code, BMIJAN2007. Muzlink is easy to use and free
to music makers and lovers worldwide.
Exclusive Savings and Benefits for BMI Affiliates BMI is proud to announce exclusive marketing programs with preferred companies that offer you great savings and help
you advance your career. Please check out the great deals with Berklee Online School of Music, CRUNK!!! Energy Drink,
Disc Makers, Fast Forward My Royalties Program by Lyric Financial, FedEx/Kinkos, Muzlink, The Production MarketPlace (PMP),
Song Tank, and Sonicbids. These offers are exclusive to BMI affiliates so don't miss out!
Company
Promotional Code/Sign-Up
Berklee Music
Create a "Member sign in" account
CRUNK!!! Energy Drink Promotion
Code BMI
DiscMakers
Special Offer Code DMBMI FedEx
Passcode BYZ456 FastForwardMyRoyalties Program Valid BMI Member Number Muzlink
BMI Validation Code BMIJAN2007 The Production MarketPlace (PMP) Discount Code X147RTZ Song Tank
User Name and Password Sonicbids
Promotional Code SonicBMI
Showcase Information
BMI showcases in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and other
cities across the country and throughout Europe offer new talent an exciting opportunity to perform in a professional environment.
They also provide established writers a chance to monitor new musical trends and see what's happening at the grass-roots
level. Please contact your local BMI Writer/Publisher office for details about showcases in your area or visit the events section of our website. The upcoming showcase lineup includes:
Los Angeles Dec. 1 - Acoustic Lounge
at Genghis Cohen (740 N. Fairfax Ave.)
Jan. 5 - Acoustic Lounge at Genghis Cohen (740 N. Fairfax Ave.)
Nashville
Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - 8 off 8th at the Mercy Lounge (1 Cannery Row)
London
Dec. 4 - The BMI Sessions Christmas Party in association with Club Fandango at the 229 Club (229 Great Portland Street,
London W1W 5PN)
Nassau, Bahamas
Dec. 4-8 - Nassau Songwriters Festival at the Green Parrot
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Dear ACLU Supporter,
I’ve never done
this before. In my entire seven years as the ACLU’s executive director, I have never asked you to sign a presidential petition written in appreciation and support, rather than in outrage and protest.
That’s how dramatically
different things can be now.
After eight years of a Bush administration that thumbed its nose at the
Constitution and the rule of law, it was incredibly gratifying to see President-elect Obama in his “60 Minutes”
interview affirm his intentions to reject torture and put an end to the Guantánamo prison camp and its sham military
commission system which have been a stain on America’s name at home and abroad.
Just last
week, you helped the ACLU run a full-page ad urging Barack Obama to take the lead on these critical issues. And now, using
language strikingly similar to the words we use to describe the horrors of Guantánamo Bay, the President-elect has
confirmed his promise.
I hope you felt a special sense of achievement upon hearing his close
Guantánamo pledge because it wouldn’t have happened without you and the ACLU.
Watch Barack Obama’s strong words. (This will take you to CBSnews.com.) Then, affirm your support for bold action!
Our task now is to do everything we can to maintain momentum for a January 20th executive order.
Immediately closing Gitmo and shutting down the military commissions can be a powerful first step on the long road to a full
restoration of our fundamental freedoms.
The naysayers are already working to snuff out our hopes
for immediate action with their “go slow” warnings.
They want us to believe that our
greatest aspirations for American freedom are “impractical,” “too difficult,” or “better left
for another day.”
In the face of that kind of resistance, we’ve got to have Barack
Obama’s back. We have to be as loud and vigorous as ever -- supporting the President-elect’s clearly-stated intentions
and sweeping aside any and all objections to swift action righting the intolerable wrongs of the Bush administration.
Watch Barack Obama’s strong words. Then, affirm your support for bold action!
Don’t miss this opportunity to sign the first freedom-affirming ACLU petition of the Obama era.
Let the President-elect know that we’re eager to support energetic Day One efforts to defend freedom and advance justice.
For freedom,
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director, ACLU
© ACLU,
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
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This message from Civil Rights.org just posted today, November 17, 2008. Scroll down to see the
message received recently from the American Civil Liberties Union. Thank you. Join the ACLU and create real change
for the better in America. | Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund | November 13, 2008 |
100-Day Countdown to the DTV Transition On November 10, 2008, civil rights advocates joined government officials and broadcast industry representatives in a press
conference to mark 100 days until most television stations will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to digital. > Read More Victory on Equal OpportunityOn
November 4, Colorado became the first state to reject a ballot initiative that would have amended their state constitution
to ban equal opportunity initiatives in the higher education, employment, and contracting. > Read More New Report Details Rise
in Pregnancy Discrimination ClaimsPregnancy discrimination claims against employers increased 65 percent from 1992
to 2007, according to a new report released by the National Partnership for Women and Families on October 29 to commemorate
the 30th anniversary of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. > Read More | Event: Strengthening
Unemployment Insurance to Support Economic RecoveryLabor commissioners from Maine and New York and policy experts
will discuss measures to strengthen the Unemployment Insurance program to help prevent a deep and prolonged recession and
increased poverty. November 14 in Washington, DC. > Read More and RSVP LCCR Member SpotlightThe
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, inter-faith, advocacy organization that is committed to non-violent action to
achieve social, economic, and political justice. The SCLC joined the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance and LCCR
to sponsor the 3rd Annual Mississippi Unity Conference in Gulfport, Miss., on Oct. 23-35. > Read More > View all LCCR coalition members | This Week in Civil Rights is published
weekly by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, 1629 K Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 ~ About LCCREF ~ Contact Us ~ Privacy Policy If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for our email lists. |
|
| This message was sent
to stoppamedia@hotmail.com. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving This Week in Civil Rights,
click to unsubscribe. To stop ALL email from CivilRights.org, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). |
This message just in from the ACLU. Posted November 17, 2008. We are certified
members of the ACLU.
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Dear ACLU Supporter,
Imagine the rebirth
of pride in your country when President-elect Obama acts on Inauguration Day and, with the stroke of his pen, closes Guantánamo
Bay.
With a single move, he can end one of the most shameful chapters in American history and reclaim
our lost liberties. On Monday, the ACLU launched our all-out campaign urging Barack Obama to take this important step on January
20th. The potential for change is already palpable -- but we must keep the pressure on to make it happen.
Some of Barack Obama’s closest advisors are now reporting in the press that President-elect Obama intends
to move quickly. Our full-page ad in the New York Times has clearly struck a chord.
Our goal
is to make January 20th the first day in a year filled with progress as the ACLU and our supporters work month by month to
restore the Constitution and reclaim our fundamental freedoms.
Help the ACLU go all-out to restore our freedoms. Become a Guardians of Liberty monthly donor now.
By becoming a monthly donor today, you can help get the ACLU an extra $100,000 that will help our work to restore
freedoms.
With your help, we can blanket the country with ads, videos and grassroots events telling Barack Obama
he has our support for bold action on the first day of his presidency.
And then, we can move forward from that
day with the momentum we need to make 2009 a year of enormous progress for freedom and justice in America.
I can promise you this: The ACLU won’t stop working until we’ve reclaimed the full measure of our
freedom. And your monthly pledge can provide the steady stream of support the ACLU needs to set America on a steady path of
progress toward the full restoration of our fundamental freedoms.
Help the ACLU go all-out to restore our freedoms. Become a Guardians of Liberty monthly donor now, and help us get an extra
$100,000.
We’ve been preparing for this moment for some time. And -- from the day we persuade Barack
Obama to close Guantánamo Bay until the day we remove the last vestiges of the Bush administration’s assault
on our civil liberties -- the entire ACLU will keep working. - ACLU attorneys who went to court
to expose Abu Ghraib, take on the Patriot Act, end warrantless spying and stop the CIA’s involvement in torture won’t
stop until every last “war on terror” abuse is ended.
- Our legislative advocates who have
fought to protect freedom over these last eight years will keep working with members of Congress -- starting with newly-elected
ones -- until we’ve built support for decisive action restoring our fundamental freedoms.
- ACLU offices
all across the nation are organizing grassroots events to demonstrate the breadth of support for immediate action closing
Gitmo, shutting down military commissions, and banning torture.
We won’t leave any stone
unturned until we convince Barack Obama to spark a global celebration by simply refusing to tolerate the injustice of Guantánamo
Bay for a single day of his presidency.
Help the ACLU go all-out to restore our freedoms. Become a Guardians of Liberty monthly donor now.
Your decision to become a monthly donor today can help us reach our goal of 2,000 new monthly donors by December
1st. When we reach that goal, we will get a $100,000 matching gift, giving us even more resources.
Let’s
not miss this opportunity by failing to act. Don’t let timid “wait and see” advice throw Barack Obama off
course. On January 20th, we can say goodbye to George Bush and goodbye to the shame of the Guantánamo Bay prison he
created nearly seven years ago.
Closing Guantánamo is within our grasp. But we won’t stop until we’ve
reclaimed every ounce of freedom lost, sacrificed or jeopardized in the dark days we’re putting behind us.
We are closer than we’ve ever been to something we’ve dreamed of for a very long time. And your decision to
make a monthly donation as a Guardian of Liberty can play a vitally important role.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director, ACLU
© ACLU,
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
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Official Press Release from the ACLU Received November 6, 2008 Posted November 7th.
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Dear ACLU Supporter,
Barack
Obama’s victory gives all of us who care about liberty a real opportunity to restore the Constitution and move freedom
forward. Now it’s up to us. And, the ACLU is ready to get to work.
For months, ACLU attorneys, policy experts and
legislative advocates -- the very same people who have fought tooth and nail to defend freedom over the last eight years --
have been developing "Actions for Restoring America." It’s our blueprint for freedom, spelling out the specific
actions that our new President must take to launch a restoration of American values and to convey a clear rejection of the
shameful policies of the Bush era.
This document is already in the hands of members of the Obama transition team.
And we want to get it in your hands, too, because we’ll be calling on you to help us get it done.
Download your personal copy of the ACLU’s Actions for Restoring America blueprint. I hope you will take the time to read our blueprint for moving freedom forward. It details the
steps we’ll be calling on Barack Obama to take as he begins his historic presidency including vitally important
actions he can take on his first day in office with the stroke of a pen.
But the ACLU’s Actions
for Restoring America isn’t just a plan of action for Barack Obama. It’s a call to action for
you and every other member of the ACLU community. And we’ve broken it up into three areas: - First
Day: Actions the President can take with the stroke of a pen on the first day in office.
- First 100
Days: Actions the President and his administration can take in the first 100 days in office.
- First Year:
Actions the President and Congress can take in the first year.
You have helped stand up for the
Constitution and the rule of law through periods of enormous challenge. Now, as we enter a more hopeful period in the life
of our nation, we need you to demonstrate that same commitment to moving freedom forward and restoring America’s reputation.
As our blueprint makes clear: decisive action by our new leaders is not just a question of opportunity. It’s
a matter of necessity. And the feistiness, passion and commitment of ACLU supporters like you will be more critical
to the future of freedom than ever.
I know I speak for all of my ACLU colleagues in telling you that we’re
excited to be entering this new era, eager to seize every opportunity for progress, and honored to be working by your side
at such a pivotal period for freedom, justice and equality.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero
ACLU Executive Director
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
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What investigative report would you like to see done?
(Suggestions to Pbs) by Mark Glaser, August 28, 2006 (Posted Nov.2, 2008) Tagged: comments, investigative reporting, journalism There are a few movements afoot in the academic world to remake investigative
journalism. The worry is that as Big Media companies cut back on reporting resources, less investigative work is being done
and the Internet should be a place for a new style of in-depth journalism, perhaps combining professionals and amateurs. One
such project is NewAssignment.net, led by NYU's Jay Rosen and funded in part by Craig Newmark of Craigslist. Another project
is the sprawling News21 initiative by five journalism schools and the Carnegie and Knight foundations. (Much more on that later at MediaShift...) But Rosen
has put out the call -- what ideas do you have for investigative reports? What do you think journalists should cover more in-depth? The oil industry?
The government? Rising university tuitions? Share your ideas in the comments below, and I'll send them along to Rosen
and others to consider -- plus, you'll get showcased in next week's Your Take Roundup. I
would like to see more investigations into surveilance issues. The NSA is only the tip of the iceberg. The people who actually
test out the equipment (before it gets to the NSA)for large Government and Military defense contractors like Lockheed Martin
have no checks and balances. Yet, these contractors, who sometimes have no secret or top secret clearances, have access to
all this high tech equipment to do with what they want, which includes picking innocent persons and then spying on them, in
addition to harrassing them electronically. Sometimes for years. There are thousands in the
US (I'm one of them) and abroad who are stalked electronically with high tech "See through the wall" satellite
technollogy, followed in their cars, gang stalked by these people and physically and mentally tortured by these so called
"contractors". And to make matters worse, the contractors are getting paid with our tax dollars to do this sort
of crime to anyone they choose. It's been going on for years, but only recently have
more people gotten on the internet and been able to come together with others who have had the same thing happen to them either
currently or in the past. One electronic harrassment site for victims, www.mindcontrolforums.com, has over 500 victims and
their stories from electronic stalking perpetrators. Another one, in the yahoo groups mcforums, has over 450 active people
who tell their stories daily about their current situations of electronic harrassment. Most
victims feel that the Government, FBI, CIA, or the NSA are doing it to them. That may be the case for some of them, but I
feel those agencies would have bigger fish to fry with all the international terrorism in the world. What I'm talking
about is domestic terrorism, done by Americans to Americans for no other reason than to "Get Off on it", as my perpetrators
have told me as to why they do it.
Plus, I was conveinent and easy to set up for them. Gee, why go hunting for a victim
when you can use your next door neighbor to look through his walls and spy on him, then torture him physically and mentally
and make him look like a head case after he reports it to authorities. No one talks about
gang stalking and electronic harrassment in the news, ecspecially with the high tech methods involved, but let me say this
much, it could happen to you or one of your loved ones.
More Topics For Discussion and Issue. Click Here To View The Complete Article.
What D.J. Gets Your Party Started? Local or International. Doesn't Matter Where Or Who They Are.
Nominate your favorite D.J. today by simply emailing us your nomination at showstoppamagazine@hotmail.com or info@showstoppamagazine.com for our upcoming Mr. D.J. Contest. Winners will be chosen based on whomever gets the most nominations. Hope To
Hear From You Soon. Special Shout Outs to all the Jacksonville D.J.'s who've supported us. We appreciate
it.
PRESS RELEASES, EVENTS, & OTHER INFORMATION
October 28, 2008
ERA Scores Victory on Behalf of Female Student
Athletes: Federal District Court Grants Class
Certification On Friday, October 24, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Frank
C. Damrell, Jr. granted Plaintiffs’ motion for certification in Brust. v. Regents of the University of California
as a class action. Originally filed in July 2007, the Brust lawsuit brought on behalf
of three University of California (UC Davis) women students alleges UC Davis failed to comply with its obligation to provide
equal athletic opportunities and athletic scholarships for women students, thereby violating Title IX. Title
IX is a seminal piece of federal legislation enacted in 1972 to ensure equal educational opportunities for women, including
equal opportunities in school-sponsored athletics. A class action can provide an effective remedy
for the group without incurring the costs of separate lawsuits and risking inconsistent decisions by the courts. By ruling
in favor of the women student athletes, ERA, along with co-counsel from the Sturdevant Law Firm and Equity Legal, is able
to represent all current and future women students at UC Davis who seek to participate or are deterred from participating
in intercollegiate athletics. “Women athletes are legally entitled to the same benefits
as men—including economic assistance through scholarships and coaching provided without charge,” said Noreen Farrell,
Staff Attorney for ERA, and lead attorney in the case. “This is a significant win for our clients
and all women athletes.” In finding for the Plaintiffs, Judge Damrell
expressly rejected the University’s attempt to mischaracterize the Plaintiffs’ claims as aiming to create ‘specific’
women’s varsity sports teams. Instead, he recognized the Plaintiffs’ aim to remedy UC Davis’
systemic denial of varsity athletic opportunities and accompanying benefits to women athletes. Although women comprise a greater percentage of students attending college, women continue to be significantly
underrepresented among high school and college athletes. “In fall 2007, women comprised 56% of the
UC Davis undergraduate student body but only receive 34% of athletic operating budgets,” said Irma D. Herrera, Executive
Director of Equal Rights Advocates. “The playing field is not yet level.”
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