Entries tagged with 'Civil Liberties'
Praying With Our Feet
Jonathan Prosnit is a 5th year Rabbinical Student at HUC-JIR in New York. He is the student representative from HUC to the Commission on Social Action (CSA). Over 40 Hebrew Union College (HUC) students, faculty and administrators turned out in...
Prison Abuse IS Torture
Jonathan Cohen is a participant in the Machon Kaplan Summer Social Action Internship program, interning at the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. If we, as people of faith, believe that all people are created b'tzelem elohim, in the divine...
Can the Feds Hear Me Now?
Here's a silly question: Do you ever use a cell phone? With more than 234 million American mobile phone subscribers, odds are the answer's yes. Did you know that every time you use your cell phone, whether to call a...
More Miranda Rights Fracas
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Berghuis v. Thompkins, holding that for a criminal suspect to merely remain silent doesn't itself invoke the right to remain silent, established by the Supreme Court in its...
Curb Your Mirandizing?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." -Benjamin Franklin Anyone who has ever seen an episode of Law and Order, played cops and robbers, or been detained by police...
Don't "Friend" So Freely
If you're internet savvy enough to be reading this blog post, there's at least a reasonable chance you're also one of the 400 million people around the globe who has a Facebook page, the 100 million who use MySpace, or...
Abolishing the Death Penalty
This post, co-authored by Rabbi David Saperstein, Rev. Geoffrey Black and Rev. Linda Jaramillo, was originally published by On Faith at washingtonpost.com. Rev. Geoffrey Black is the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, a participant in the...
For Now, Photos of Abuse Remaining Confidential
On Monday, the Supreme Court released its first decision of the term, vacating a Second Circuit ruling that would have required the government to make public photos depicting abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. The decision, just three...
Has Security Gone Awry with E-Verify?
While health insurance reform advocates and opponents are brandishing their swords in the wake of President Obama's address, a new development in immigration-related legislation seems to have snuck under the radar. On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, the E-Verify system went...
The Plot Thickens
Since President Obama took office, issued a series of Executive Orders on stopping U.S.-sponsored torture, and released the "Torture Memos," speculation has abounded about who knew what and where we go from here. It seems we might be getting closer...
Bon Jovi + Iran = Protesting on a Prayer
The best thing to come from the recent elections in Iran might just be a song.Iranian singer Andy (his full name is Andy Madadian) recently partnered with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora to record a cover of the timeless...
Intro to Social Justice 101: Finding Your Place
Josh Handel is a participant in the RAC's Machon Kaplan summer program for college students. He is a student at Indiana University and an intern at the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Disoriented, befuddled, puzzled, disconcerted: These...
Where Judaism & the Law Converge
Seth Stein is a participant in the Religious Action Center's Machon Kaplan summer program for college students. He is a student at Tufts University and an intern at Alliance for Justice. You could say the law is in my genes....
Obama at the National Archives: Political Theatre at Its Most Powerful
Today's speech by President Obama laying out his plan for closing the detainee center at Guantanamo Bay was a masterful example of the power of political theatre, in all the best senses of that term. I was honored to be...
Rape and Torture
Andrew Sullivan, blogger for The Atlantic, has been relentless in advocating for the prosecution of government officials who sanctioned the torture of detainees during the previous administration, a position the Obama Administration has resisted.Torture opponents seeking to defend human dignity...
The Colosseum, Illinois & Easter - & How They All Relate to the Death Penalty
This week, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is heading to Rome where he and his state will be honored for repealing the death penalty with the traditional lighting of the Colosseum on Wednesday. Gov. Richardson will be joined by Viki Elkey,...
What a Week!
Thursday: The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act is reintroduced in the House of Representatives. Friday: The Iowa Supreme Court declares prohibiting gay marriage to be unconstitutional, legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. Saturday: Shabbat. Sunday: Baseball Season Starts....
Light up the Colosseum: NM Abolishes the Death Penalty
Late last night, Governor Bill Richardson signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in the state of New Mexico! This makes New Mexico the second state (New Jersey being the first) to abolish the death penalty since 1965. Today, we released...
Gun Control By Any Other Name
Few topics elicit more responses on our website than gun control. A small yet vocal minority of Americans rally against gun violence prevention measures, which are one of their very highest priorities; however, polling from last April by Mayors Against...
Thanks SCOTUS!
Emily Kane is a former RAC Legislative Assistant and Senior Legislative Assistant for Judicial Nominations. She is currently a 3rd year law student at the University of Arizona. In a unanimous opinion penned by Justice Alito, the Court handed down...
MLK Day and Civil Rights at the RAC
Our tradition instills in us the need for tikkun olam, repair of the world, and the responsibility to help the poor and stranger in our midst. We are especially reminded of this mandate on January 19th, when we will celebrate...
The Supreme Importance of the Courts
Rebecca Blake Chaikin is a former Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center whose portfolio included Judicial Nominations. Pop Quiz: Can you name all 9 Supreme Court Justices? Can you name even one judge who sits on the Circuit...
The Days of Judgment
The following article is cross-posted from the URJ's daily 10 Minutes of Torah publication. Next week is the start of the 2008 term of the United States Supreme Court. On Monday, October 6th, the nine Justices will begin hearing...
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