Winter 2007 Newsletter

CCR Returns to Supreme Court over Guantánamo

On December 5, CCR will return to the Supreme Court on behalf of the men at Guantánamo with the cases Al Odah v. U.S. and Boumediene v. Bush. These cases are the first to directly challenge the constitutionality of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and its strip- ping of habeas corpus jurisdiction from federal courts.

Al Odah v. United States, filed jointly by CCR and co-counsel law firms, consists of eleven habeas petitions, including many of the first ones filed after CCR’s 2004 victory in Rasul v. Bush. Boumediene v. Bush is on behalf of six Bosnian-Algerian humanitarian workers seized by the U.S. military continued on page 4

Holding Private Security Contractors Inside 2 From the Accountable: The Case Against Blackwater Executive Director 2 Victory Against CACI On October 11, the Center of this incident has put an employees, encouraging for Constitutional Rights international spotlight on them to act in the com- 3 Filing Charges filed a civil case against the how private contractors in pany’s financial interests Against Rumsfeld notorious private security have operated outside at the expense of innocent 3 CCR Welcomes New contractor Blackwater USA of the law through the use human life.” The case, Estate Board Members for the killing of innocent of mercenaries who disre- of Himoud Saed Atban, et al. Iraqi . The case gard all legal constraints. v. Blackwater USA, et al., was 4 Guantánamo was brought in cooperation CCR is working to ensure filed on behalf of an Iraqi 6 Maher Arar with Burke O’Neil LLC and that these companies are citizen who was injured Akeel & Valentine, P.C. not shielded from account- by Blackwater employees 7 Pakistan and the U.S. ability for their actions and during the incident and the 7 Victory for the LA 8 Blackwater USA is a private to show that government families of three deceased military contractor whose contracts are not a license men. 8 CCR’s New Website heavily armed personnel for impunity. 9 New Orleans opened fire on innocent In the lawsuit, CCR alleges Iraqi civilians in Baghdad’s CCR’s lawsuit asserts that that Blackwater violated 10 New Board Members crowded Nisoor Square on Blackwater violated U.S. the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) 11 Donor Spotlight September 16, 2007, killing law and “fostered a culture in committing extrajudicial 17 civilians. Media coverage of lawlessness amongst its continued on page 2

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From the Executive Director Blackwater (continued from cover)

This is a crucial and exciting killing and war crimes, and that Blackwater should be time in CCR’s history and liable for torts such as assault and battery; wrongful death; in the U.S. judicial system. intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress; The Supreme Court of the and negligent hiring, training and supervision. The suit United States will be hear- seeks compensatory damages for death; physical, mental, ing oral arguments in CCR’s and economic injuries; and punitive damages. landmark cases Al Odah v. U.S. and Boumediene v. Bush. It was revealed in late October that the U.S. State Depart- This case will demand the ment had promised immunity to the Blackwater guards in- detainees’ right to know volved in the shooting in exchange for telling their stories why they are being held. to department investigators. The State Department’s action Our campaign, Beyond demonstrates the importance of civil damages cases like Guantánamo: Rescue the ours for seeking justice when the government is protecting Constitution is issuing a call corporate interests at the expense of human life. • to action to all Americans concerned about the drastic erosion of rights in our country. It’s about more than one person, or one place, or one time. Moving Beyond Guan- Important Victory in Case Against tánamo means we must carry the fight to Guantánamo and beyond to all the areas where the government is CACI Corporation for at taking the law into its own hands, and, as a people, we Abu Ghraib must move beyond the example of torture and dehu- manization set by our government. We need to restore In a key victory in the fight to end torture, a federal court justice and once again become a nation whose values are ruled on November 6 that CCR’s lawsuit against a private a beacon to other nations, not an embarrassment. military contractor in Iraq should be heard by a jury of Americans. The action was filed in 2004 against CACI and The expansion of executive power and the limitation of Titan, both of which were named in the military investiga- rights to all people, especially people of color and the tion of the Abu Ghraib scandal. disempowered, had tragic consequences during and after Hurricane Katrina. CCR’s recent hearing, “New The court today ruled that the case could go forward Orleans Coming Home: A National Hearing on the Role against CACI, whose employees worked as interrogators of Law Enforcement in the Reconstruction,” examined in the prison. The court found that that there was a dual the ways that law enforcement has had a negative chain of command where corporate employees were impact on the ability of residents to access housing, obliged to report abuse up the chain of command at education, employment, and other public services post- CACI. The court dismissed the claims against Titan, Katrina. New Orleans has become a national and even whose employees worked as translators, reasoning that international symbol of government neglect and racism, the military exercised exclusive control over translators. but we also know that these times of crisis offer us opportunities as a national community to create innova- The denial of summary judgment in the case means there tive new solutions to problems that plague so many of will be a jury trial of a private military contractor for our neighborhoods. torture. We hope this decision will send a message to all contractors that they cannot act with impunity and outside Looking back on my first year at the Center for Consti- the law. tutional Rights, I’m grateful to have worked with such dedicated and passionate colleagues and allies to fight “…No federal interest requires CACI be relieved of state law against this government’s unprecedented expansion of liability,” wrote the judge. “…The task of sorting through power. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to meet the disputed facts regarding the military’s command and some of our many donors around the country who help control of CACI’s employees will be for the jury.” make our work possible. I look forward to meeting more of our committed donors at our upcoming events. The Center for Constitutional Rights, Burke O’Neil LLC, and Akeel Valentine PLC brought the suit as a class Vincent Warren action on behalf of the hundreds of Iraqi torture victims Executive Director at Abu Ghraib. •

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No Place to Hide: Filing Charges in France Against Rumsfeld

While former Secretary of Defense prosecute individuals responsible for acts of torture if was visiting Paris on October 26 for a Foreign Policy they are present on French territory. Having resigned magazine-sponsored talk, CCR, in conjunction with as Secretary of Defense a year ago, Rumsfeld can no the European Center for Constitutional and Human longer try to claim immunity as a government official. Rights and the French League for , filed a complaint with the Paris prosecutor, charging When the French prosecutor failed to act on the case, Rumsfeld with ordering and authorizing torture. As CCR formally requested the intervention of the U.N. a result, Rumsfeld was forced to leave his meeting Special Rapporteurs on the Independence of Judges by a side door connected to the U.S. Embassy in and Lawyers, and on Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman order to avoid journalists and human rights attorneys or Degrading Treatment or Punishment who had waiting outside. CCR President Michael Ratner noted co-authored a February 2006 U.N. Report on that the filing of this case “demonstrates that we Guantánamo. Their report found that interrogation will not rest until those U.S. officials involved in the techniques authorized by Rumsfeld constituted torture program are brought to justice. Rumsfeld must torture and cruel treatment and were a direct understand that he has no place to hide.” violation of the Convention against Torture.

The criminal complaint brings charges under the 1984 CCR will continue to work towards holding former Convention against Torture, which has been ratified Donald Rumsfeld accountable for his role in the Bush by both the U.S. and France. The complaint argues administration’s post-9/11 program of torture in that France is legally obligated to take up the case Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, and elsewhere. CCR had because authorities in the U.S. and Iraq have failed filed two previous criminal complaints in to do so, despite a well-documented paper trail under its universal jurisdiction statute, which allows implicating Rumsfeld and other high-level U.S. Germany to prosecute serious international crimes officials in direct as well as regardless of where they occurred or the nationality for torture, and because the U.S. has refused to of the perpetrators. join the International Criminal Court. In addition, the complaint argues that French courts have an Visit our website at CCRjustice.org to view a video obligation under the Convention against Torture to with Michael Ratner discussing this case. •

CCR is Grateful to our Foundation Funders for Their Support*

Anonymous F The Atlantic Philanthropies F Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund F The Fiduciary Trust Company Inter- national F The Firedoll Foundation F The Ford Foundation F The Frances and Benjamin Benenson Foundation F The Friendship Fund F The Helena Rubinstein Foundation F The HKH Foundation F Institute of International Education F The Jack P. Tate Foundation II F The JEHT Foundation F Joseph and Sally Handleman Foundation Trust B F The Libra Foundation F The New York Community Trust F The Normandie Foundation F Samuel Rubin Foundation F The Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program F The Vital Projects Fund, Inc.

*The foundations listed above provided leadership-level grants of $5,000 or more between 6/1/07 and 11/15/07.

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CCR Returns to Supreme Court over Guantánamo (continued from cover) in Sarajevo and transferred to Guan- brought forward establishing tánamo. Both cases were moving probable cause. through the courts until February 2007, when the D.C. Circuit Court of Over twenty supporting amicus briefs Appeals ruled that, as a result of the were filed simultaneously, demon- Military Commissions Act of 2006 strating support from, retired military (MCA), the Guantánamo detainees officers; retired federal judges; former no longer had the right to habeas U.S. diplomats; a sitting Republi- corpus review. can U.S. Senator; Canadian, British and European Parliamentarians; the In April, the Supreme Court had American Bar Association; the Com- declined to review these cases. monwealth Lawyers Association; law However, in a highly unusual move, professors and legal historians; the the Court reversed itself on its final United Nations High Commissioner day in session and announced in June for Human Rights (UNHCR); and that it would in fact hear them in the Commissions Act, which was domestic and international non- coming court term. passed in the final days of the governmental organizations. previous Congress. CCR brought the first Guantánamo Despite growing demands for case more than five years ago, leading At stake in Al Odah are the essential closing the prison at Guantánamo to our 2004 Supreme Court victory building blocks of our democracy and Bay, the Bush administration contin- in Rasul, which established U.S. our system of constitutional rights. ues to deny Guantánamo detainees courts’ jurisdiction over Guantánamo Enshrined in Article I of the United the most fundamental legal protec- detainees and affirmed their right to States Constitution, habeas corpus is tions afforded by U.S. law and the habeas corpus review of their detention one of the most fundamental demo- . We hope the and treatment in custody. Ever since, cratic rights, guaranteeing that no one Supreme Court will end this travesty the administration has been trying can be arrested or detained without once and for all and provide full, fair to evade that decision, most signifi- being brought before a judge, charged and prompt hearings, which are the cantly by introducing the Military with a crime and having evidence very foundation of a free society. •

Update on Guantánamo Transfers

In November the Department of Defense transferred their families. Not all detainees are so lucky, and fourteen Saudi, eight Afghani, and three Jordanian CCR works closely with human rights organizations detainees to their home countries. Approximately 75 to monitor and advocate on behalf of detainees who detainees have been transferred out of Guantánamo this trade one prison for another. year. An additional 50 have been cleared for release, but fear torture or persecution in their home countries Two Tunisian detainees who were returned to Tunisia and remain at Guantánamo because no other countries this year have been sentenced to three and seven years have offered them resettlement. CCR is working to find of imprisonment. Meanwhile, since the opening of the safe third countries willing to accept these detainees newly constructed “security wing” of Pul-e-Charkhi so they will not remain indefinitely in isolation cells prison in , Afghan detainees from simply awaiting release. Guantánamo are no longer being released after their repatriation. Reports indicate that they are all being Most detainees who are transferred to the custody of transferred to further detention in Pul-e-Charkhi, a their home governments are released within a few days prison notorious for torture and abuse. This national or months of their return. At the time of publication, security wing of the prison was built by the U.S. CCR received word that the three recently transferred government and is staffed by U.S. interrogators Jordanians have been released and are home safe with and guards. •

CCR 666 Broadway, 7th floor, New York, NY 10012 • Phone (212) 614-6489 • Fax (212) 614-6422 Email [email protected] • www.CCRjustice.org 5 Bringing Guantánamo Cases to International Courts CCR Attorneys Visit Former CIA “Ghost” Detainee In November, CCR filed anamicus brief in a Guantánamo case before the European Court of After a year of fighting to gain access to our client, Majid Human Rights. The petitioners in this case are Khan, CCR attorneys were finally able to meet with him some of the same petitioners in the case which at Guantánamo in October. He is the first of 14 former CIA will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in Al “ghost” detainees being held there to meet with a lawyer. Odah v. United States and Boumediene v. Bush. While visiting his brother’s home in Pakistan, Majid and Boumediene and others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina other relatives were kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence is the first case on behalf of Guantánamo personnel in the middle of the night in March 2003. He then prisoners before an international tribunal. It is disappeared for 3-and-a-half years, until he was transferred also the first case to address the issue of what from a CIA secret detention facility to military custody at responsibility other countries that assisted the Guantánamo Bay in September 2006. CCR immediately filed U.S. in transferring men to Guantánamo have a habeas petition on his behalf, but was denied access to our for the violations that occur there. client because the government considers the CIA program and its interrogation techniques to be “top secret.” The petitioners are Bosnian Algerians who were detained in October 2001 in Bosnia on According to President Bush, detainees in CIA custody the basis of a diplomatic note delivered by were subjected to “an alternative set of procedures” during the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo to the Bosnian interrogations. government. Though the note did not allege any supporting evidence, it asked the Bosnian While the contents of their client interview are still classified government to arrest the men because of fears and cannot be released publicly, CCR attorneys have written that they were involved in a plan to attack to members of the U.S. Senate requesting a classified briefing the Embassy. After an extensive investigation to discuss our client’s experience in CIA secret detention. • yielded no evidence to justify the arrests, the investigative judge of the Supreme Court of Bosnia ordered the men released for lack of evidence. However, immediately upon their release, the men were transferred to Guantána- Send Bush an mo where they have been detained without charge since January 2002. early holiday gift, courtesy of CCR One of the issues the court will rule on is whether Bosnia has an obligation to do more The President needs to be reminded diplomatically to try to get its citizens and that he swore an oath to uphold the residents out of Guantánamo, given that it Constitution of the United States—his helped put them there in the first place when administration has been systematically it delivered the six men to U.S. authorities destroying the Constitution since he immediately after they had been cleared of took office. any wrongdoing by a Bosnian court. With your help, CCR will flood Many countries are guilty of unlawfully assist- the Oval Office with copies of ing the U.S. in its “war on terror” by illegally the Constitution this holiday season. handing people over to U.S. authorities, letting Visit our website to sign a letter to the U.S. use their territory or airspace to con- Bush, and CCR will send it along duct renditions to torture or as sites for secret with a copy of the Constitution to CIA prisons, and committing other violations the White House as a seasonal of national and international law. This is the reminder that the Constitution first case that addresses the responsibility of a needs to be upheld, not destroyed. country for redressing these violations. •

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Seeking Justice on Behalf of Maher Arar

In the most renowned case of the “In sharing my experiences Bush administration’s practice of with you, I hope that “,” Syrian-born Canadian citizen Maher Arar was the effects of torturing a detained at JFK Airport in 2002 while human being will be better changing planes on his way home to understood. I also hope Canada. The Bush administration to convey how fragile our labeled him a member of al Qaeda and detained him for nearly two human rights have become, weeks, interfering with his access and how easily they can be to counsel, and preventing his access taken from us by the same to the courts. Rather than sending governments that have sworn to protect them.” him home to Canada, they delivered him to Syrian intelligence authorities – Maher Arar in his testimony to Congress renowned for torture. He was tor- tured, interrogated and detained in released information revealed that the week, Secretary of State Condoleezza a tiny underground cell for nearly CIA was involved in Mr. Arar’s deten- Rice admitted to Congress that the a year before the Syrian government tion starting when he was detained government mishandled Mr. Arar’s released him, stating they had found in New York, despite U.S. officials’ case. CCR is calling on the U.S. no connection to any criminal or ter- arguments that Mr. Arar was merely government to issue a full admission rorist organization or activity. “deported.” Two weeks after Mr. Arar and formal apology to Maher Arar. was detained at JFK, a Canadian Secu- Just three months after he returned rity Intelligence Service official wrote, In his testimony, Mr. Arar told mem- home to Canada, CCR filed suit “I think the U.S. would like to get Arar bers of Congress, “In sharing my on Mr. Arar’s behalf against John Ash- to Jordan where they can have their experiences with you, I hope that the croft and other U.S. officials, the first way with him.” effects of torturing a human being will legal challenge to an “extraordinary be better understood. I also hope to rendition.” In 2006 the District Court On October 18, Mr. Arar testified convey how fragile our human rights dismissed the case, Arar v. Ashcroft, before a House Joint Committee have become, and how easily they can citing national security and foreign Hearing convened to investigate his be taken from us by the same gov- policy considerations. CCR immedi- rendition to Syria. Because the Bush ernments that have sworn to protect ately appealed. In November, CCR administration continues to bar his them.” board member David Cole argued the entry to the United States, his testi- case before the Second Circuit. mony had to be given via video-link CCR continues its work to clear Mr. from Ottawa. During the hearing, Arar’s name in the United States and Meanwhile, more information about individual members of Congress pub- to demand an end to the practice of the circumstances of Mr. Arar’s licly apologized to him. The following outsourcing torture. • rendition continues to come to light. After an exhaustive public inquiry, the Canadian government found Consider a Stock Gift to CCR that Mr. Arar had no connection to terrorism and, in early 2007, If you have appreciated stocks, donating them directly to CCR may be tax-wise, apologized to Mr. Arar for Canada’s allowing you to avoid capital gains tax. You are also eligible to receive a charitable role in his ordeal and awarded him contribution deduction equal to the mean value of the stock the day it is transferred. a multi-million-dollar settlement. If you plan on making a gift of stock, please contact us at 212-614-6489 or at [email protected]. We will need some information about the transfer in This past August, previously secret order to be able to properly acknowledge receipt of your generous gift. sections of the Canadian Commis- sion’s report that had been redacted To transfer stock, contact our broker, Michael Moffitt at 800-272-1370 on purported national security c/0 Smith Barney, 120 Albany Street, 4th Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 grounds were released pursuant to DTC #: 418 (Please contact CCR for the account number) a Canadian court order. The newly

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Pakistan and the United States: Victory for the LA 8 All in the Name of Security by Bipasha Ray authority.” Framing Pakistan as a country “on the verge of destabiliza- A horrific terrorist attack kills and tion,” he claimed that “inaction at this maims scores of people. An ensuing moment is suicide for Pakistan.” He crackdown results in illegal detentions, urged Pakistanis to trust him as their suspension of habeas corpus, appoint- war-time leader and asked for patience From left: Marc Van Der Hout, David ment of judicial cronies, warrant-less – all very similar to Bush’s exhorta- Cole, Phyllis Bennis, Michel Shehadeh, spying on citizens, and endless exten- tions in his “war on terror.” Amjad Obeid sions of executive power – all justified in the name of national security. Mush- Perhaps, most indicative of his The federal government has finally arraf’s Pakistan or Bush’s America? borrowing from Bush’s line, was agreed to drop its attempts to de- Musharraf evoking U.S. history to port the final two members A presidential declaration of emer- defend his emergency declaration. of the “Los Angeles 8.” On October gency and a constitution in “abey- Switching to English for Western 30, the Board of Immigration ance”– effective martial law – as seen observers, Musharraf recalled Appeals dismissed all charges in Pakistan cannot be imagined in Abraham Lincoln’s suspension of against Khader M. Hamide and the U.S. today. But the gradual degra- habeas corpus during the Civil War: Michel I. Shehadeh and approved dation of civil liberties, continued “[Lincoln] broke laws, he violated a settlement in the case. illegal and extrajudicial detentions, he Constitution, he usurped arbitrary and inching erosion of legal checks power, he trampled individual liber- The settlement follows a January and balances has started the U.S. ties. His justification was necessity.” decision by the immigration judge down a path that could lead to where to end the deportation proceedings Pakistan is today. By eroding freedom in the name because of the government’s of preserving it, and shredding the refusal to disclose evidence In his televised speech declaring emer- constitution in the name of democracy, favorable to the immigrants gency, Musharraf borrowed rhetorical dictators ossify their reign. Almost 75 in compliance with his orders, themes from the Bush administration, percent of Americans think the U.S. is calling the government’s actions couching his actions as unavoidable on the wrong track (Washington Post- in the twenty-year-long case “an in the face of terrorists who threaten ABC poll). The events in Pakistan need embarrassment to the rule of law.” national security and activist judges to serve as a wakeup call to get the who “overstep the limits of judicial U.S. back on the right track. • The government had been seeking to deport Hamide and Shehadeh since January 1987 based on their Quiz: Identify Presidents A and B alleged support for the Popular Front for the Liberation of “The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be Palestine (PFLP), a group within tempting to think that (Country A) can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times the Palestinian Liberation Orga- of testing reveal the character of a nation... Now (Country A) is engaged in a new nization. The ‘support’ consisted struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can, and we will, prevail.” entirely of lawful First Amendment —President A activities, including distributing “Often in history, there comes a time for difficult decisions. For (Country? B) also, newspapers, participating in this time has come, for important and difficult decisions. And if this is not done demonstrations and organizing now, (Country B)’s wellbeing is in danger… Whatever I do, whatever I decide, it’s in humanitarian aid fundraisers. (Country B)’s best interests and this is my guiding principle – above all (Country B).” CCR has doggedly worked on — President B this case, along with our cooper- (President A is George W. Bush, quote from his “2007 Address to the Nation.” ating attorneys and the National President B is Gen. Pervez Musharraf, quote from his address declaring emergency Lawyers Guild, for over 20 years! • on Nov. 10, 2007. Translation from Urdu by Bipasha Ray)

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Visit our completely redesigned website at www.CCRjustice.org

Tell us what you think of our rede- and the current constitutional crisis. signed website at CCRjustice.org. Please take some time today to You’ll find an updated and expand- go to our new website, explore ed case index; issue area pages; a all it has to offer, and read about much improved search function; our new campaign, Beyond as well as new features like video Guantánamo. Check back regularly clips, audio clips from historic cases as we will continue to add updates and podcasts with our attorneys on actions you can take on the speaking about our issues, clients issues you care about. Vanessa Redgrave reading a letter and cases. from a former Guantánamo detainee. If you have any suggestions or See the video at CCRjustice.org We now have dozens of videos feedback on the website, please posted. Our newest are, What I Fear send them to [email protected]. Most with Eve Ensler, author of The You can also donate online have added gift categories of “In Vagina Monologues, and Stress Test, (one-time or recurring monthly memory of…” and “In honor of…” about a U.S. soldier returning from donations). Given the holiday so you can make a gift in the name Iraq, both speak about Guantánamo season and upcoming new year, we of someone you care about. •

CCR Celebrates Forty Years on the Frontlines for Social Justice

This year, the Center for Constitutional Rights celebrated our 40th Anniversary. In May, we kicked off the year-long celebration at our President’s Reception, honoring the work and the people who make the Center what it is: our staff, board members, supporters, clients and allies.

Clips from our 40th anniversary video highlighting the four decades including historical footage and commentary by CCR staff and clients, can be viewed on our new website at CCRjustice.org/videos.

Thank you again, to all of you who have made special gifts in honor of the Center’s four decades of fearless fighting for social justice. We couldn’t do the work without you!

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New Orleans Coming Home: Law Enforcement in the Reconstruction

On October 27, the Center Among the most moving for Constitutional Rights, in testimony came from Yvette partnership with the New Thierry, a nurse whose Orleans-based community brother-in-law was killed organization Safe Streets, in 2006 when police arrived Safe Communities, spon- at his mother’s home while sored a national hearing he was in a crisis brought entitled, New Orleans about by a lack of medica- Coming Home: Law Enforce- tion. Police later claimed to ment in the Reconstruction. have been fired upon, but the coroner’s report found Representatives of national no evidence of gunpowder organizations and the House residue on the victim. Judiciary Committee came together to hear compelling The closing of the city’s testimony from advocates only public hospital, Char- and members of the commu- ity Hospital, and with it a nity on how the role of polic- total absence of medical ing has had an enormously care, has resulted in the negative impact on poor incarceration of people with communities of color as psychiatric disabilities with they attempt to resettle no opportunity for assess- in the storm-ravaged city ment and treatment. Crimi- clairegren Creative Commons of New Orleans. Aggressive nal Court Judge Calvin law enforcement tactics Johnson tearfully testified heavy security presence in the guise of “police protec- and partnerships with that he is forced to advise schools, including elemen- tion,” residents of these private interests combined families with mentally ill tary schools. This massive federally funded housing with an absence of sound loved ones in crisis to call investment in security projects are being threat- public policy and commu- the police. To help deal with comes at the expense of ened with eviction for nity economic development this unacceptable “diver- devoting resources to the minor or perceived were recurrent themes heard sion” program, Judge John- “educational” part of the incidents and face daily throughout the proceedings. son now presides over an educational system and police harassment. innovative Mental Health further puts young people Panel members were vis- Court intended to intercept at risk of harassment and CCR is now working ibly moved as witness after people with mental health abuse by police. Incredibly, towards creating specific witness recounted harrow- issues as they enter the the school administrator’s recommendations based on ing accounts of harassment, criminal justice system, but authority is usurped by these hearings, directed to brutality and police killings; he was emphatic about the these firms, leaving them local, state and national offi- consistent targeting of youth injustice and inadequacy of powerless to intervene and cials with benchmarks that of color for minor infractions funneling individuals into prevent arrests of youn can be evaluated and mea- and school incidents; law the prisons and jails due g people and children sured. Each organization enforcement collusion in the solely to a lack of medical of color. represented on the hear- exploitation of day laborers services. ing panel is committed to by employers; and the use Public housing projects continuing to work closely of police to intimidate and As New Orleans’ school- that were destroyed by with CCR and Safe Streets, otherwise mistreat residents aged youth continue to wait Katrina have been replaced Strong Communities—as of so-called “mixed income” for a fully functional public with “mixed-income” well as with the authorities housing developments in an school system, the city has developments that land- responsible for instituting effort to drive low-income paid $20 million to a private lords and police appear the reforms—to ensure that residents out. security firm to install metal intent on ridding of their the recommendations are detectors and maintain a low-income tenants. Under brought to fruition. •

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CCR Welcomes New Board Members In Memorium

Alfred Knobler As of July 2007 The Center for Constitutional Rights Radhika Balakrishnan is a Professor of Economics is saddened by the recent passing and International Studies at Marymount Manhattan of our longtime friend and supporter College, where she coordinates the International Alfred Knobler at the age of 92. Over Studies Program. Having earned her Ph.D. in econom- the course of his 20 year relationship ics from Rutgers University, she also has worked as a with CCR, Alf hosted many parties program officer at the Ford Foundation. Her fields of for us at his home on Fire Island research include gender and economic development, and was instrumental in introducing global inequality and labor issues. She is interested in our work to many of his friends. His the connection between global economic institutions lifelong passion for social and racial and cross border organizing; the relationship among justice was evident in his every act, changing conditions of work, gender dynamics, and the global economy; and we are grateful that he chose to in addition to theology and ethics. leave a legacy gift for CCR in his will.

Ajamu S. Baraka is Executive Director of the U.S. Human Rights Network, which serves more than 250 CCR President Michael U.S.-based member organizations working on the full Ratner Awarded Puffin/ spectrum of human rights issues, and is a veteran grassroots organizer with roots in the Black Libera- Nation Prize for Creative tion Movement, anti-apartheid, and Central American Citizenship solidarity struggles. Previously, he was ’s (USA) Southern Regional Director. Each year, The Puffin Foundation and In 1998, Baraka was honored by UN Secretary General The Nation Institute recognize an indi- Kofi Annan as one of 300 human rights defenders vidual who has challenged the status from around the world. He has received the quo through distinctive, courageous, “Abolitionist of the Year” award from the National Coalition to Abolish the imaginative, and socially responsible Death Penalty, and the “Human Rights Guardian” award from the National work of significance. This year, the Center for Human Rights Education. Baraka has taught political science at prize will be awarded to CCR board various universities, including Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College. President Michael Ratner.

Julie F. Kay is a Staff Attorney at Legal Momentum CCR Receives Frederick in the Sexuality and Family Rights Program. She Douglass Human Rights works to expose the federal government’s promotion of a harmful, right-wing agenda about women’s Award autonomy, sexuality, and role in society and the family. In particular, Ms. Kay challenges gender On November 1, 2007, the CCR bias and sex discrimination promoted by federal was honored to receive the Frederick “abstinence-only” programs. Before joining Legal Douglass Human Rights Award, given Momentum, Ms. Kay was a Legal Consultant to the annually by the Southern Center for Irish Family Planning Association where she designed Human Rights to those who have and filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Human made outstanding contributions to the Rights on behalf of women deprived of their human rights by Ireland’s abor- protection of human rights. CCR was tion ban. Prior to that, Ms. Kay’s experience included work as a Staff Attorney at chosen for having “chosen principle the Center for Reproductive Rights and as a law clerk for United States District over popularity to stand by those Judge Mark L. Wolf in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated with a B.A. in detained at Guantánamo Bay.” Women’s Studies and Social Studies from Harvard University and earned her law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

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Donor Spotlight: Barbara and Bert Aubrey

Barbara and Bert Aubrey are staunch CCR supporters who recently increased their support by making a Leadership- level gift and joining CCR’s Founders Circle. They did so by making a gift from Barbara’s IRA.

Both native New Yorkers, Barbara attended CUNY and worked at Time Inc. (now Time Warner) for 20 years where her last position was Assistant Business Manager in charge of the Domestic and Foreign bureaus. Bert holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from NYU and a doctorate in physics from MIT, with a specialty in atomic physics. He worked for the NYC Environmental Protection Agency for 25 years. Bar- bara and Bert met 42 years ago at the Corner Bistro in New York’s City’s West Village and were married three years later.

Since retirement, the Aubreys have had more time to become politically involved, and in 2003 they joined CCR as donors. They see supporting CCR’s litigation as an effec- tive way to combat the Bush administration’s human rights sooner! It’s a great way to avoid taxes that would otherwise abuses. In particular, they appreciate the Center’s efforts to be used to fund the war and Bush’s torture policies, as well hold Donald Rumsfeld and other high ranking U.S. officials as a way for me and Bert to further support CCR’s fight for accountable for war crimes, through our cases in Germany justice.” and France which seek to prosecute these individuals for their complicity in torture. For more information about IRA gifts, CCR’s Founders Circle, or the Thelma Newman Society (CCR’s planned giving program), Says Barbara, “If I had known that I could make a gift contact Sara Beinert at 212-614-6448 or write: Sara Beinert, directly from my IRA last year, I would have done it CCR, 666 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10012 •

Special Opportunity in 2007–Donate from your IRA

If you’re looking for the most tax-effective gift to make, your IRA may very well be the best choice.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 presents a new giving opportunity. The law now allows individuals aged 70 1/2 and older to make gifts to qualified charitable organizations like ours, using funds transferred directly from their IRAs. You can donate any amount up to $100,000 on or before Dec. 31, 2007 and will not have to pay taxes on the amount transferred.

Your Benefits • The transfer counts toward your minimum required distribution as long as you have not yet received your 2007 distribution. • The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you will receive the benefit even if you do not itemize your tax deductions. • You can witness the difference your philanthropic dollars make.

CCR 666 Broadway, 7th floor, New York, NY 10012 • Phone (212) 614-6489 • Fax (212) 614-6422 Email [email protected] • www.CCRjustice.org BEYOND GUANTANAMO RESCUE THE CONSTITUTION

Get Involved: www.BeyondGuantanamo.org

CCR 666 Broadway, 7th floor, New York, NY 10012 • Phone (212) 614-6489 • Fax (212) 614-6422 Email [email protected] • www.CCRjustice.org