Grassroots Voices Demand Accountability for Torture as AG Testifies before Senate Committee

Contact:
Amy E. Ferrer
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
aferrer@bordc.org
(413) 582-0110

Northampton, MA - This morning, Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressing issues including the administration’s reluctance to restore the rule of law. In addition to state secrecy, surveillance policies, and detention treatment, Holder also addressed the administration’s refusal to release photographic evidence depicting torture of detainees.

Surprisingly, Senators overlooked accountability for recent criminal violations by US officials. It took an observer of the hearing—who was silenced before completing her question—to ask Attorney General Holder to restore the rule of law.

In the days preceding the hearing, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC) compiled a series of letters representing the views of Americans concerned about restoring the rule of law. More than 3,500 concerned individuals from around the country have signed either a general letter open to all signers, or one of four other letters presenting the unique perspectives of educators, lawyers, health professionals, and people of faith:

Nearly 400 educators have voiced concerns about their educational mandate: “Young people are smarter than many adults think, and the preferential treatment of senior officials who commit heinous crimes—relative to the school-to-prison pipeline that ensnares many of their peers for relatively innocuous misbehavior—does not escape their attention.”
According to nearly 200 lawyers, "The severity of systemic disadvantages in the criminal process grows more disturbing—and the system’s legitimacy grows less secure—when violations of our nation’s most fundamental commitments carry no consequences for potential criminals who wield political influence."
More than 100 faith leaders from a wide variety of traditions have suggested that “[j]ust as our beliefs lead us to condemn crimes against all, including the 'least' of humankind, so also do they lead us to demand accountability of all, including those who hold themselves to be humankind’s ‘greatest.’”
More than 100 health professionals observed that “[e]fforts within our professions to hold our members accountable for their role in torture are part of the solution, but do not complete it....Until our nation investigates and prosecutes those responsible for torturing detainees, the future use of torture will remain a risk facing our nation, our professions, and their respective values.”

BORDC Executive Director Shahid Buttar said, “Failing to prosecute former officials who have violated our most fundamental legal, constitutional and international legal commitments imposes real costs on teachers, lawyers, people of faith and health professionals—all of whom have joined together to implore the AG to ‘restore the rule of law by ensuring its equal application to all.’ ”

According to Chip Pitts, President of BORDC’s Board of Directors, “Until our government prosecutes the officials who enabled torture, law-abiding Americans will remain victimized by the range of other emerging threats to our constitutional values like preventive detention and warrantless spying.”

BORDC will deliver these letters to Attorney General Holder and members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 23, shortly before Torture Accountability Action Day (June 25) and the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26). Also next week, BORDC will publish an online calendar presenting Days of Action events across the country.

Formed in 2001 after the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee is a national organization defending constitutional rights and civil liberties violated by “war on terror” policies. BORDC’s mission is to promote, organize, and support a diverse, effective, national grassroots movement to restore and protect civil rights and liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. For information, please visit http://www.bordc.org or call 413-582-0110.

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