Ann Beeson
Ann Beeson
balances both bush calls checks committee effort eroded government hold human illegal join law name national principles rights rule spying system tolerate united
In the name of national security, the Bush administration has eroded the rule of law and the system of checks and balances in the United States, both fundamental principles in any democracy. In our America, we will not tolerate illegal spying or torture. The ACLU calls on the Human Rights committee to join us in our effort to hold the U.S. government accountable.
approve authorized avoided congress decree favor government ignored judge limitless power requiring rule spy system
Requiring a judge to approve a wiretap is not a nicety that can be avoided by presidential decree -- it is a fundamental rule of American democracy. The government ignored the system authorized by Congress in favor of limitless power to spy on Americans.
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Our first amendment rights are irreparably harmed, every day the gag continues,
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It is crucial that we recognize the important separation of powers principles that our democracy was founded on, ... There should always be a check on the executive branch's power, the president's power, to take away that most fundamental of liberty interests and that is the government's ability to detain a person, possibly indefinitely.
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From the FBI to the Pentagon to the National Security Agency, this administration has embarked on an unprecedented campaign to spy on innocent Americans.
calls clients debate free gag government impose national patriot question reason rights security speech stifle time
This calls into question every time the government has relied on national security to impose secrecy. The only reason to gag our clients was to stifle their free speech rights in the debate over the Patriot Act. The government flip-flop confirms our suspicions.
assume calls clients naive
It would be naive for our clients ... to assume that their calls and e-mails are not being intercepted.
activists available form information message news pay people posting price publicly speaking trigger type
This type of investigation is really a form of intimidation and a message to activists that they will pay a price for speaking out, ... The posting of publicly available information about people who are in the news should not trigger an investigation.
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We are thrilled the jury understood the importance of the First Amendment, ... We believe the material support statute is overbroad, and we are very glad the government's attempt to extend the bad statute has been thwarted.
attempt bad believe extend glad importance jury material support thrilled understood
We are thrilled the jury understood the importance of the First Amendment. We believe the material support statute is overbroad, and we are very glad the government's attempt to extend the bad statute has been thwarted.
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We are obviously very much looking forward to the day where they can explain how it felt to be under threat of criminal prosecution for merely identifying themselves. The clients are happy that the fight over this gag is nearing its end.
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There are considerable First Amendment issues involved in such a move.