January 11, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. HSRR attorneys Anne Richardson and Cindy Pánuco are part of a broad national coalition which is using that day to speak out against the erosion of civil liberties both there and domestically that is being justified in the name of fighting “terrorism.”
“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past, in which a legitimate concern gives way to an irrational frenzy which cuts back on due process and the right to be heard,” stated Anne Richardson. “No one, no matter what the charges against them are, should be held indefinitely without trial. Make no mistake, we will regret this era in our nation’s history, just as we regret the Japanese Internment and the McCarthy era.” The recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) only serves to underscore the fact that the frightening constrictions of civil liberties that began after 9/11 are showing no signs of slowing down.
Along with many other local lawyers and organizations, HSRR is taking part in a day of action, starting at 9 a.m. on January, 11 at the Los Angeles Federal Center on Temple and Los Angeles Streets and continuing with a press conference at 10 a.m. There is also a silent vigil and rally at 4 p.m. at the Westwood Federal Building at Wilshire and Veteran.
For a link to an interview of Anne Richardson on the Lawyers’ Guild radio show on KPFK 90.7 FM from January 5, 2011, click here.