The Portland Alliance sent out a press release this morning announcing a rally/march planned for 10 am (WHEN DO YOU GUYS SLEEP??), to protest the National Defense Authorization Act, which they claim would allow the military to detain Americans indefinitely, without trial, if they are considered to be “terrorists”. From the Christian Science Monitor:
“This bill puts military detention authority on steroids and makes it permanent,” Christopher Anders, senior legislative counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. “If it becomes law, American citizens and others are at real risk of being locked away by the military without charge or trial.”
Libertarians and conservatives wary of big government are speaking out against the bill as well.
“If the president thinks you are a terrorist, let him present charges and evidence to a judge,” Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle said in a statement Friday. “He has no authority to lock you up without any judicial review, just because he and Congress believe he should have unlimited power. That is the kind of power held by tyrants in totalitarian regimes. It has no place in the United States.”
From the Huff Post:
“The enemy is all over the world. Here at home. And when people take up arms against the United States and [are] captured within the United States, why should we not be able to use our military and intelligence community to question that person as to what they know about enemy activity?” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.
“They should not be read their Miranda Rights. They should not be given a lawyer,” Graham said. “They should be held humanely in military custody and interrogated about why they joined al Qaeda and what they were going to do to all of us.”
The ACLU and others say that this bill can easily be used against anyone whose views run counter to the government and stifle Americans right “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Protesters plan to meet up at the waterfront on SW Salmon and SW Naito Parkway at 10 am, at which time they’ll make announcements, hold an open forum, and at 11 am, begin their march downtown. More updates when we have them! (And shhh! Let’s allow @theriaultpdx to sleep for a few hours. He had a busy night! We’ll be sending out any moment-to-moment updates as necessary @portlandmercury.)
“occupy” should put some numbers behind this worthy cause.
After reading http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/us/senat… , I wonder if the Christian Science Monitor and the Huffington Post are just writing headlines to scare people?
I’m not an Occupy Wall Street person. I’m a Social conservative Christian. However this Bill basically declares war on the American people ! It guts the Bill of Rights and basically we will have NO MORE Constitution period ! It says it can detain you for the entire war on terror (which means forever). As a Citizen you are entitled to a Grand Jury trial, to face your accuser. No secret evidence etc. You are entitled to a Defense hired by you. (They want to give you a Military lawyer and a military judge as if you’re in the military and being court martial-ed.) As an American citizen you are entitled to a fair and speedy trial. All this will be taken away. I’m sorry but safety is not worth my Liberty. Besides they are full of crap! I’m not scared of Al Qaeda – I’m Scared of them !