1. Call Our Senators. Both of them are complicity in the torture regime. Both Senator Franken (651-221-1016; 202-224-5641) and Senator Klobuchar (612-727-5220; 202-224-3244) sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That committee oversees the Justice Department. Neither of our Senators has put any kind of pressure on the Justice Department to investigate and/or prosecute these crimes. Neither office will even say they favor the prosecution of torturers. Both senators are complicit.
2. Call the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. B. Todd Jones (612-664-5600) has jurisdiction to bring charges against those implicated in our official torture policy. He never has. Call him and ask, “Why not?” Why has no on ever been prosecuted for torture when the evidence is so widespread, when people have in fact made admissions on videos? Mr. Jones is complicit as well. Or join us in our daily vigils for justice on the plaza outside the Minneapolis Federal Building, where Mr. Jones has his office (see #6 below).
3. Call or write the Attorney General. Eric Holder (General switchboard: 202-514-2000; Public comment line: 202-353-1555; AskDOJ@usdoj.gov) has shown no inclination to pursue the actual perpetrators, seeming to follow the President’s policy of prosecuting only the so-called “rogue” elements, those who committed torture-plus. His inaction makes him implicit too.
4. Sign up for one hour a month at our daily vigil for justice outside the Minneapolis Federal Building. We are trying to have someone at the Federal Building for about an hour every weekday of the month. If we get enough people, we can go in pairs. Usually, we do it during the noon hour, but feel free to pick a time that suits you. If you like, we can provide orange jumpsuits and black hoods, which we anticipate we will soon be allowed to wear. We can also provide you with a sign that says “I am Waiting” on one side and “For Justice” on the other. Or you can make your own sign. Call Chuck (612-871-8793) to sign up.
5. Work with the T3 to hold all those who enabled the torture regime accountable for their actions. Locally, Professor Robert Delahunty at the University of St. Thomas Law School co-authored with John Yoo a January 9, 2002, Office of Legal Counsel memo that said the Geneva Conventions did not apply to al Qaeda and Taliban detainees. This key memo opened the door to the subsequent so-called “torture-memos.” If we ignore these facts, we too are complicit.
For more information, call Tackling Torture at the Top at 612-827-5364, or email us at Tacklingtorture@gmail.com. |
