Thousands of ACLU members withstood an early summer Washington heat wave to urge Congress to stop the executive abuse of power. "This is a group of patriots. You are patriots," Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut told a crowd gathered in front of a banner that read "Restore Law and Justice."
Another leading senator spoke about Congress' vote last year to "recklessly undermine" civil liberties. "Congress last year commited a historic mistake by suspending the great writ of habeas corpus, not just for those confined at Guantanamo, but for millions of legal residents here in the United States," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont. "For those who say we have to do this to make America safer, 'Shame on you.' "
ACLU/SC staff and members stormed Capitol Hill to deliver a message to Southern California members of Congress: Support fundamental civil rights by restoring habeas corpus rights and overturning the Military Commission Act's un-American standards of justice.
More than 140,000 people signed petitions of support, including thousands from Southern California. If you haven't signed, it's not too late: Add your name to the call for the rule of law. And learn more about the rights we're fighting for.
