Mon Aug 13th Ellison to speak at Town hall on Torture Memos (he is for or against ?)

[annm4peace]

https://www.facebook.com/events/512530235430095/

Ending Torture Now: Moving Forward by Looking Backwards
Monday, August 13 at 6:00pm at Mayflower Church UCC,

106 East Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis 55419

If you live near Minneapolis, consider coming to our Town Hall Forum on Monday, August 13th where knowledgeable experts will answer questions on the "torture memos" written 10 years ago and whether waterboarding and other illegal torture is truly a thing of the past or whether it could be reinstated by the U.S. government.

Amnesty International and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) invite you and your neighbors to join Congressman Keith Ellison, Barbara Frey, and Doug Johnson for:

A Town Hall Forum marking the 10-year anniversary of the Torture Memos

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison will join with Law Professor Barbara Frey, Director of the Human Rights Program at UMN, Doug Johnson, former executive director of the Center for Victims of Torture, and moderator, David Schultz, Hamline Law School, for a discussion on the 10th anniversary of the former George W. Bush administration Justice Department's so-called "torture memos," written by former Justice Department officials John Yoo and Jay Bybee in 2002.

In reference to the so-called torture memos, Gary King, spokesperson for the Amnesty International chapter in Minneapolis, said, "The memos were written to provide a legal fig leaf to hide horrible and often deadly abuses of prisoners, including water-boarding. When they became public, some were rescinded by the Bush administration."

"But to this day," King continued, "former U.S. government officials are bragging about the United States’ journey into war crimes, and offering to do it again. President Obama has acknowledged the U.S. did in fact torture people, but none of the policy makers, no one who authorized or ordered torture, has been held accountable. And some of the Bush administration tactics -- for example, secret prisons and rendering prisoners to countries that torture -- may well be continuing under the Obama Administration."

The forum is free and open to the public to attend and participate. Mayflower Church United Church of Christ (UCC) is located at 106 E. Diamond Lake Rd, Mpls 55419, near 35W and East 54th St. Free off street parking. For more information, contact: Gary King, Amnesty International, 763-571-7696;

Sponsored by Amnesty International, WAMM, Center for Victims of Torture, World Without Genocide, Minn Human Rights Center, People of Faith Peacemakers, Minnesota Peace Project, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Pax Christi Twin Cities, Hamline Int’l Law Student Association, Twin Cities Vets for Peace, Military Families Speak Out - Minn

[annm4peace]

1. Rep Keith Ellison releases Press Release

http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=900:10-years-after-torture-memos-rep-keith-ellison-calls-for-continued-vigilance-on-human-rights-&catid=1:latest&Itemid=16


10 Years After “Torture Memos” Rep. Keith Ellison Calls For Continued Vigilance On Human Rights
August 03, 2012 
MINNEAPOLIS—On the 10th anniversary of the Bush Administration’s “torture memos,” which authorized the use of “enhanced” interrogation techniques, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) reaffirmed that U.S. law should uphold human rights and never allow torture.

“Torture is always wrong,” he said. “We are a nation of laws, and those who break them should be held accountable. I am grateful that President Obama outlawed U.S.-sanctioned torture so soon after his inauguration, finally ending a dark chapter in American history.”

Reports of cruel and inhumane detainee treatment at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prison rattled the nation after Bush Administration officials authorized interrogation techniques widely regarded as torture on August 1, 2002. Despite legislative efforts to end the practice, detainees such as Maher Arar were still tortured through U.S. extraordinary rendition.

“At a time when the world is focused on human rights violations in countries such as Syria and North Korea, it is crucial for the United States to lead by example and uphold the dignity of all people,” Ellison said. “As Americans and responsible world citizens, we should acknowledge the legacy of the torture memos so we may set high standards. We should recommit ourselves to making sure these violations never happen again.”

[annm4peace]

2. It took at lot of visits to Rep Ellison's office

It took lots of visits to Rep Ellison's office, phone calls and letters to finally get Rep Ellison to join in a panel discussion or Town Hall.

I hope many can make it. It will also probably be recorded on the Uptake for later