White House Petition: Restore Habeas Corpus and the Right to Trial

[MannyGoldstein]

"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither" - Benjamin Franklin

The laws requiring all imprisoned Americans be charged with a crime, have their case reviewed by a judge, and be given a fair trial are fundamental to our country, and are enshrined in our Constitution.

However, recent actions by you, your predecessor, and by Congress, culminating in the National Defense Authorization Act, have effectively *ended* these rights for Americans. If the President decides that a citizen is a terrorist, that citizen may be imprisoned indefinitely, even for life, with no charges, no trial, and no review at all by a judge. Ever.

This is not the American way.

We urge you to renounce this destruction of our civil rights, and to take all steps necessary to remove it from law.

If you agree, please take a moment to sign it at the White House site: http://wh.gov/DGx

We need 25,000 signatures to force a response. If you think it's appropriate, please send to a few people that you know, and ask them to send along to others as well.

Thanks! Good luck to us all, we need it!

[MrMickeysMom]

1. Done...

Thank you for bothering, Manny. I feel like I've done something, even if I had to register with the WH.

They need to hear from everyone.

[ProSense]

2. Doesn't

"We urge you to renounce this destruction of our civil rights, and to take all steps necessary to remove it from law."

...Congress still have to fix the law? There is a bill designed to do just that, pushing for passage would be more effective:

Feinstein: Prohibit Indefinite Detention of American Citizens Without Trial or Charge

‘Constitution gives every citizen the basic due process right to a trial on their charges’

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today introduced the Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011, legislation that states American citizens apprehended inside the United States cannot be indefinitely detained by the military.

The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011 amends the Non-Detention Act of 1971 by providing that a Congressional authorization for the use of military force does not authorize the indefinite detention—without charge or trial—of U.S. citizens who are apprehended domestically.

The Feinstein bill also codifies a “clear-statement rule” that requires Congress to expressly authorize detention authority when it comes to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The protections for citizens and lawful permanent residents is limited to those “apprehended in the United States” and excludes citizens who take up arms against the United States on a foreign battlefield, such as Afghanistan.

Feinstein said: “The argument is not whether citizens such as Yaser Esam Hamdi and Jose Padilla—or others who would do us harm—should be captured, interrogated, incarcerated and severely punished. They should be.

“But what about an innocent American? What about someone in the wrong place at the wrong time? The beauty of our Constitution is that it gives every citizen the basic due process right to a trial on their charges.

“Experiences over the last decade prove the country is safer now than before the 9/11 attacks. Terrorists are behind bars, dangerous plots have been thwarted. The system is working.

“We must clarify U.S. law to state unequivocally that the government cannot indefinitely detain American citizens inside this country without trial or charge. I strongly believe that Constitutional due process requires U.S. citizens apprehended in the U.S. should never be held in indefinite detention. And that is what this new legislation would accomplish.”

The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011 is cosponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=92cd1ac6-e756-4cd3-982c-ab34d1933d94

[FreakinDJ]

4. HaHa - Feinstein voted in favor of the NDAA

Now she'll attempt to clean up her image with this "Go No Where" piece

[jwirr]

3. As a descendant of Simon Montfort I have signed. These laws are very old and that they have stood

for so many years tells us of their importance.

[burrowowl]

5. Done K&R

[bowens43]

6. I'll sign but

you're kidding yourself if you think that there is anyone in the White House who gives a shit what we think.