Habeas Hunt: June 26!
The fight to roll back many of the unfavorable provisions enacted by the Military Commissions Act (MCA), which was signed into law by President Bush last October, has recently gained significant momentum both on the legislative and judicial levels.
Just last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, a bill that would restore habeas corpus rights to detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay. Most recently, a federal appeals court ruled that civilians cannot be held as enemy combatants in indefinite detention. Both the New York Times and Washington Post provided excellent coverage on these decisions.
Since the passage of the MCA, the RAC has remained actively engaged on these issues. With an increase in momentum on the legislative level, the advocacy community at large is working to repeal many of the standards set by the MCA, particularly those relating to habeas corpus and due process.
On June 26, the RAC is partnering with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) for a Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice. The day’s events include a rally at Upper Senate Park and lobby visits with Members of Congress, with the goal of gaining support for legislation that will uphold the most fundamental values of our U.S. Constitution.
Additional details, including information on registration, lobby visits, and transportation, can be found at www.juneaction.org. We’re encouraging members of Reform congregations to sign up as part of the RAC’s delegation.
Please visit our resource page for more information, including the Union for Reform Judaism’s 2005 Biennial Resolution on Torture.