Soulforce harassment; Stanton still fired; wardens kill; Rumsfeld tortures
Police harass Soulforce Equality Riders
Soulforce Equality Riders are a group of mostly college-aged youth touring US universities and colleges that ban out LBGT students and any LBGT-related activity. The non-violent Riders, whose main purpose is to create dialogue, have been met with a lot of police harassment, including multiple arrests, while peacefully assembling. Multiple organizations have sent letters and placed calls with Mayor Rosemary Aultman's office in Clinton, MS, where some of that harassment has taken place.
March 23, 2007
Rosemary G. Aultman, Mayor
City of Clinton
300 Jefferson St
Clinton, MS 39056
Sent via Facsimile Transmission: 601.924.0113
Dear Mayor Aultman,
We are writing to strongly protest the recent actions of your police department toward Soulforce and insist that all intimidation and harassment against its members end immediately.
On March 20, Clinton police officials informed Soulforce that its members would be cited if they “attempt[ed] to gather or travel in a group of four or more” near the campus of Mississippi College. Lt. Thomas R. Ruffin acknowledged that the department’s actions “could be construed as conflicting with constitutional allowances,” but said that Soulforce’s presence in Clinton presented “valid public safety concerns.” This accusation is utterly without merit: Soulforce is enormously well respected across the country and is relentlessly nonviolent. Only after being contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union did the police lift the threat of citation.
Yesterday, as Soulforce members were getting ready to leave the city in their bus, they were persistently harassed by a police officer. The officer ordered the bus to leave town, saying, “Go on and get out of town.” After the bus driver explained that they were waiting on the remainder of the group, he was still forced to move on and threatened with arrest. This happened a total of three times - even when the bus was moved to a space the city previously designated for it.
This behavior is not only intimidating and unlawful, it will cause long-lasting damage to Clinton’s reputation, derail your goal of becoming one of the nation’s premier cities, and is exactly the opposite of what you say on your own Web site - that Clinton is known for its hospitality.
Sincerely,
Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Neil Giuliano, President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Kate Kendall, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Patrick Sammon, President, Log Cabin Republicans
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign
Check the Soulforce website for more up-to-date info on the Riders and their pit stops. And a little shout-out to Rachel Loskill from MSU for reppin'.
Stanton still fired
Although this isn't entirely new news, just wanted to report that the city of Largo voted (5-2 again) a second time to fire their former city manager. For the Task Force's condemnation of the unfolding events, click here.
US boot camp death family settle
I hadn't heard about this case until I read this article regarding the settlement of it. 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson is beaten to death by 7 wardens at a military-style boot camp. Initially his death was said to have been caused from sickle cell complications, but a video showing the beating forced a re-investigation that showed Anderson died because the wardens forced him to inhale ammonia fumes was blocking his mouth, basically choking him.
Each time something like this comes to light, there seems to be a video involved, which only makes me wonder: how many times have police and other law enforcement personnel gotten away with murder when there hasn't been a recording device present?
Rumsfeld torture suit dismissed
Speaking of getting away with murder and other criminal activity......
Basically Judge Hogan is saying "yeah, you got tortured, it was something awful, but you're not really people with any rights and Rumsfeld is totally untouchable, so...... sorry for the abuse. Now move along."
Soulforce Equality Riders are a group of mostly college-aged youth touring US universities and colleges that ban out LBGT students and any LBGT-related activity. The non-violent Riders, whose main purpose is to create dialogue, have been met with a lot of police harassment, including multiple arrests, while peacefully assembling. Multiple organizations have sent letters and placed calls with Mayor Rosemary Aultman's office in Clinton, MS, where some of that harassment has taken place.
March 23, 2007
Rosemary G. Aultman, Mayor
City of Clinton
300 Jefferson St
Clinton, MS 39056
Sent via Facsimile Transmission: 601.924.0113
Dear Mayor Aultman,
We are writing to strongly protest the recent actions of your police department toward Soulforce and insist that all intimidation and harassment against its members end immediately.
On March 20, Clinton police officials informed Soulforce that its members would be cited if they “attempt[ed] to gather or travel in a group of four or more” near the campus of Mississippi College. Lt. Thomas R. Ruffin acknowledged that the department’s actions “could be construed as conflicting with constitutional allowances,” but said that Soulforce’s presence in Clinton presented “valid public safety concerns.” This accusation is utterly without merit: Soulforce is enormously well respected across the country and is relentlessly nonviolent. Only after being contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union did the police lift the threat of citation.
Yesterday, as Soulforce members were getting ready to leave the city in their bus, they were persistently harassed by a police officer. The officer ordered the bus to leave town, saying, “Go on and get out of town.” After the bus driver explained that they were waiting on the remainder of the group, he was still forced to move on and threatened with arrest. This happened a total of three times - even when the bus was moved to a space the city previously designated for it.
This behavior is not only intimidating and unlawful, it will cause long-lasting damage to Clinton’s reputation, derail your goal of becoming one of the nation’s premier cities, and is exactly the opposite of what you say on your own Web site - that Clinton is known for its hospitality.
Sincerely,
Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Neil Giuliano, President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Kate Kendall, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Patrick Sammon, President, Log Cabin Republicans
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign
Check the Soulforce website for more up-to-date info on the Riders and their pit stops. And a little shout-out to Rachel Loskill from MSU for reppin'.
Stanton still fired
Although this isn't entirely new news, just wanted to report that the city of Largo voted (5-2 again) a second time to fire their former city manager. For the Task Force's condemnation of the unfolding events, click here.
US boot camp death family settle
I hadn't heard about this case until I read this article regarding the settlement of it. 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson is beaten to death by 7 wardens at a military-style boot camp. Initially his death was said to have been caused from sickle cell complications, but a video showing the beating forced a re-investigation that showed Anderson died because the wardens forced him to inhale ammonia fumes was blocking his mouth, basically choking him.
Each time something like this comes to light, there seems to be a video involved, which only makes me wonder: how many times have police and other law enforcement personnel gotten away with murder when there hasn't been a recording device present?
Rumsfeld torture suit dismissed
Speaking of getting away with murder and other criminal activity......
Basically Judge Hogan is saying "yeah, you got tortured, it was something awful, but you're not really people with any rights and Rumsfeld is totally untouchable, so...... sorry for the abuse. Now move along."