ONE DAY, DECENT AMERICANS...
From Steven Watt, ACLU Attorney
He told me to never lose hope because, one day, decent Americans will do the right thing.
I'm one of the ACLU attorneys working to expose and end extraordinary rendition - the despicable practice of kidnapping people off the street and transporting them to secret overseas prisons or countries known to engage in torture.
The person who shared those words of encouragement did so earlier this month when the Supreme Court refused to hear the ACLU's appeal on behalf of Khaled El-Masri, an innocent German citizen who was kidnapped, detained and tortured in a secret overseas prison by the CIA.
Even more remarkably, those words came from an individual who himself has been victimized by extraordinary rendition and torture.
As ACLU supporters, you and I can take heart in my friend's generosity of spirit and his strong faith in the fundamental decency and humanity of the American people. But, more importantly, we must deepen our resolve to end the lawless practices of our government that give comfort to torturers and deny the fundamental human rights of
torture victims.
There is no doubt we're fighting an uphill battle. We've been up against a government that will stop at nothing in its pursuit of power and today we mark the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Military Commissions Act - one of the most
despicable pieces of legislation to ever see the light of day.
This reprehensible law is the starkest example of the countless ways that the Bush Administration - aided by a complicit and compliant Congress - has stained our nation's legacy as the standard-bearer for the protection of human rights and
undermined our Constitutional heritage of due process and justice for all.
So this dark anniversary seems a fitting day for us all to re-commit ourselves to our defense of the Constitution and to set our sights on putting things right.
No matter how many setbacks we experience - no matter how many heartbreaking losses we have to endure - we will keep at it until, finally, decent Americans force their government to respect the rule of law. This is what keeps the lawyers and our amazing clients here at the ACLU going - knowing that history will be on our
side.
And it makes a tremendous difference to us - and to our clients - to know that we have passionately concerned Americans like you standing behind us each step of the way.
You, me and every ACLU member is bound by a devotion to principle and a promise to never relent in defending people's human rights and challenging cruel acts of injustice. Together, we will find a way to end the reprehensible acts of torture and rendition that have been committed in our name. We will restore Habeas Corpus. We will shut down the infamous prison at Guantánamo Bay. And, no matter how long it takes, we will fix the warrantless wiretapping mess.
So while on this day I'm saddened by the direction our country has taken and I share in the frustration of those who wonder what they can do to change it, I'm also determined. And I'm more than a little bit mad. But I know what I'm going to do about it: I'm going to keep working and keep fighting. And I hope you share in that determination and conviction.
As my friend reminded me: if we keep working together, we will reach that moment when decent Americans compel our government to respect freedom and restore the rule of law. We're the ACLU and we will not be stopped.
With deep gratitude for your support,
Steven Watt, ACLU Attorney
P.S. If you believe it is absolutely indefensible that the current Congress has let the Military Commissions Act stand for a full year, I urge you to join us in demanding that Congress commit to restoring our Constitutional values. Just as we won't give up in court, we aren't giving up in Congress either. Let's make sure they
know it. Please take action today by telling your Members of Congress that you won't wait for a more politically expedient time to restore the Constitution. The time is now.
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