The USA Patriot Act was passed by Congress immediately following 9/11.
Unconstitutional: The War On Our Civil Liberties (68 minutes), another excellent film by Robert Greenwald, is an inside look at this controversial bill through the eyes of legal analysts and constitutional experts as they examine the dangers the Patriot Act poses to our civil liberties, individual freedoms, and our U.S. Constitution.
The film follows the passage of the controversial legislation through Congress, the effect it has on all Americans, especially Arabs and Muslims in the U.S., and it addresses the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The film also reveals the effects of the Patriot Act on both Americans and immigrants, such as Aquil Abdullah, a 2004 U.S. Olympic rower who happens to be Catholic, who turned up on no-fly lists simply because of his name; Sam Hamoui, a storekeeper, and his family, living in Seattle, who were detained by federal agents; A.J. Brown, a North Carolina college student visited by agents investigating her alleged “un-American” activities; and librarians and store owners who were pressured to release their customer records, all in the name of “Homeland Security.”
The Patriot Act (a 342-page bill presented to Congress just hours before it was to be voted on–and which was a substitution for the original bill without the bipartisan Committee’s approval!) now allows the government to access your email and bank accounts, as well as your medical records, financial records, phone records, library transactions, and credit card purchase records, with no court order. Your home or business can also be searched anytime without a warrant, and without your knowing it (called “Sneak and Peek” searches).
Unconstitutional provides the facts and evidence that illuminate administration lies, wrongheaded policies, and the real victims of these actions – the American people. Inspired by citizen action and awareness, numerous City Councils throughout the country are challenging the unconstitutionality of this draconian legislation, as shown in the film. Citizens are waking up, getting informed, speaking out, and taking action.
Participants interviewed in Unconstitutional include:
• Laura Murphy, Director – Washington Legislative Office, American Civil Liberties Union
• Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, (D) Oregon
• David D. Cole, Professor of Law, Georgetown University
• Former Rep. Robert Barr, (R) Georgia
• Anthony Romero, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union
• Barbara Olshansky, Deputy Legal Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
• Vincent Cannistraro, former CIA Director for Counter Terrorism and Operations Analysis
• The Hamoui family – Sam Hamoui, Safouh Hamoui, Hanan Hamoui, Mohammed Hamoui, Nadin Hamoui, and Rham Hamoui
• Kathy Culliton, Legislative Staff Attorney, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Thomas B. Wilner, attorney for Kuwaitee detainees
• Maj. Michael Mori, U.S. military lawyer appointed to Guantanamo detainee David Hicks
• Azmat Begg, father of Guantanamo Bay detainee
• Donna Newman, attorney for Jose Padilla
• Anne Turner, librarian, Santa Cruz Public Library
• Ryan Coonerty, Bookstore Owner
• Douglas Heller, Executive Director, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
• Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Partnership for Justice
• David Lindorff, investigative reporter and author of This Can’t Be Happening
• Jayashri Srikantian, American Civil Liberties Union
• Andrew O’Connor, former Public Defender
• A.J. Brown, student
• Ken Kurtis, owner, Reefseekers
• Dave Meserve, Arcata City Council member
This month’s event will also include a short 9/11 film (28 minutes), featuring a presentation by Dr. Kevin Danaher, Co-Founder of Global Exchange, Executive Co-Producer of Green Festivals, and Executive Director of Global Citizen Center. His very inspiring, positive and uplifting presentation was given at the “9/11: Reclaiming the Truth, Reclaiming Our Future” conference in San Francisco on September 11, 2011. Dr. Danaher is also the author/co-author of 10 Reasons to Abolish the IMF & World Bank, Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grass Roots, Insurrection: Citizen Challenges to Corporate Power, and Corporations Are Gonna Get Your Mama.
Please join us for our February meeting, as we examine the unconstitutional legislation that has been set in place in our country (justified by the false-flag event of 9/11) and to re-confirm the importance of revealing the truth of 9/11.
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DENVER
Mark your calendars! Colorado 9/11 Visibility Video and Action Meetings are held the 3rd Friday of each month in Denver.
When: Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:00 – 9:30 PM
Where: Hooked on Colfax Coffee-Books-Community, 3213 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (303-398-2665) (1/2 mile west of Colorado Blvd., between Adams and Steele, on north side of Colfax) Map
*Admission is free, donations are welcome, and buy a beverage from Hooked on Colfax to support them*
Please observe the parking signs: Steele St., 16th Ave., and Colfax Ave. usually have available parking spaces.
Meeting Timeline:
7:00 – 7:30 Announcements and introductions
7:30 – 9:00 Videos
9:00 – 9:30 Discussion
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BOULDER
Mark your calendars! Boulder 9/11 Visibility Video and Action Meetings are normally held the 4th Wednesday of each month.
When: Wednesday, February 27, 2012, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: University of Colorado, Boulder, Math Building, Room 350, third floor, northeast corner
Parking: Free parking is available after 5:00 PM on Colorado Avenue or in CU Lot 359 due west of the Math Building (but very competitive when school is in session). Paid parking ($3 flat fee) is available in Lot 360 directly across the street from Folsom Field Stadium.
Directions: From 28th St., turn west on Colorado Ave.; go through the lights at Regent St. and Folsom Avenue. The Mathematics Building will be on your left at the Folsom intersection, although you must proceed west to the parking lots and walk back to the building. http://www.colorado.edu/pts/sites/default/files/attached-files/UCB_ParkingMap2012-13_WEB_1.pdf
Meeting Timeline:
6:00 – 6:15 Announcements and introductions
6:15 – 7:45 Videos
7:45 – 8:30 Discussion
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GRAND JUNCTION
When: Saturday, February 23, 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Where: Beans About Beans, 759 Horizon Drive (located by Enzo’s Pizza, across from Grand Vista Hotel), Grand Junction, CO (Map)
Program: Details can be seen at http://www.meetup.com/GrandJunctionInfoCinema/events/103419242/
