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In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Beneficent
April 5, 2006
Fighting for Our Rights
1. Congress Must Investigate Illegal Spying, Not Rewrite The Law - ACLU
2. Americans Demand The Truth
3. Former Nixon Aide Demands That Bush Be Censured For Illegal Spying
4. The Council Of Religious Leaders Of Metropolitan Chicago Call for Humane Immigration Legislation
5. Build on the Council’s groundwork! Call IL Senators TODAY! Senate to vote this
week!
6. Day of Action on Immigration Reform
7. Salah secret trial finally opens up. Be There!
In Solidarity
1. Council Denounces Violence, Hostage Taking
2. Council calls on Muslims to Pray for Iran Quake Victims
In Service
1. Threats To Citizenship – Become A Citizen Now
2. Council to Hold Citizenship Workshop in Bridgeview on April 7th
Congress Must Investigate Illegal Spying, Not Rewrite The Law - ACLU
Tuesday, March 28, 2006, Washington D.C. – The Senate Judiciary Committee met to hold its third hearing into the warrantless surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency (NSA) authorized by President Bush. The American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to hold a fair and comprehensive investigation of the facts before considering any legislation that would whitewash illegal activity. Members of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and other experts were called to testify before the Committee.
The question is whether Bush's secretive domestic spying program violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This Act was passed by Congress in response to revelations that former President Nixon and others were using "national security" claims to spy on political enemies and ordinary Americans who disagreed with the government.
Since the leak, President Bush has launched a criminal investigation to learn who divulged details about the program to the New York Times, saying it compromised national security.
The ACLU has called on the Administration to stop stonewalling lawmakers' efforts to uncover the truth about government spying on Americans. More details at http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=x8c14-hvfCGCKRh_YDV1ag.
The ACLU is conducting a massive nationwide campaign to stop warrantless eavesdropping by the NSA and to end domestic spying by government agencies. Targets of illegal spying include: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/24287res20060227.html
See a sample FBI document for revealing details of the bureau's surveillance of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice, a Pennsylvania group targeted solely for its opposition to the Iraq war:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=i5a0htc9VVN7H7f-NOXdmA..
These documents are the first to show conclusively that the rationale for FBI targeting is the group's opposition to the war.
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Americans Demand The Truth
More than 40,000 people have signed the ACLU's Demand the Truth petition, calling on Congress to investigate illegal government spying on Americans. Help keep the pressure on Congress to hold the President accountable.
WATCH THE MOVIE!
"The Spies Have It": Share the movie with friends and ask them to get involved:
http://www.aclu.org/thespieshaveit/
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Former Nixon Aide Demands That Bush Be Censured For Illegal Spying
Friday, March 31, Washington D.C., - Nixon White House counselor John Dean was invited by Senator Russell Feingold to testify “in favor of a Democratic resolution to censure President Bush,” according to an Associated Press report. Dean, who spent four months in jail for his involvement with the illegal wiretapping program under Nixon, said that Bush's misconduct with regards to domestic spying exceeds that of his former boss. Feingold, D-Wis, who initiated the resolution calling for President Bush to be censured, has met with very little party support. According to the report, Dean said that if “that action carries too much political baggage, some senatorial warning is in order.”
John Dean's 2004 book, "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush," was published prior to revelations about Bush’s wiretapping blitz.
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The Council Of Religious Leaders Of Metropolitan Chicago Call for Humane Immigration Legislation
Wednesday, March 29, 2006, Chicago - The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, of which the Council is a member, expressed concerns about the immigration issues facing the nation. It highlighted the irony that America, which is a largely immigrant nation, now finds its more recent immigrants a threat.
“Shall a land that over the centuries has welcomed the tired and poor and huddled masses “yearning to breathe free” now build impenetrable walls at its borders, make criminals of those coming to this “land of opportunity” in order to better their lives and support their families, and even criminalize acts of compassion extended by citizens to new immigrants? We think not.”
The group also condemned immigration ‘reform’ that would continue to fuel the economy with cheap, unprotected labor, while fattening the wallets of those higher on economic ladder.
Citizens and political leaders are urged to adopt, incrementally, legislation that includes:
- Protecting the human rights of all persons, irrespective of citizenship.
- Does not criminalize immigrants or those who provide humanitarian aid to immigrants.
- Establishes provisions for rigorous border security that avoids vigilantism and physical barriers that symbolize isolationism.
- Creates minimum wage provisions for all workers.
The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago is composed of some forty-five of the chief leaders of the Chicago area’s Roman Catholic, Jewish, Anglican, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Muslim, and Protestant Christian communions and institutions.
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CALL TO ACTION: Build on the Council’s groundwork! Call IL Senators TODAY! Senate to vote this week!
The Senate is now considering two alternative immigration bills. Majority Leader Bill Frist has proposed a bill, S 2454, that focuses almost exclusively on stricter enforcement. In particular, this bill would criminalize the undocumented by making them felons under federal law and bar them from most forms of lawful immigration status. It would also make felons of anyone who helps them.
The Council Supports A Better Alternative
A better alternative is also under consideration. Last week Council representatives attended a rally in Washington D.C demanding humane immigration reform. This resulted in the Senate Judiciary Committee approving a bipartisan bill that includes a path to legal status for the undocumented. Undocumented immigrants would need to work, pay taxes, learn English, pass a criminal background check, and pay a $2000 penalty before they could gain their green cards. This proposal also includes the DREAM Act, which would allow undocumented students to earn legal status and continue with their educations and careers.
Further The Council’s Efforts Today!!!
Sen. Frist is currently planning to bring both bills to a vote this coming Thursday. Either bill will need 60 votes in order to pass. Senators Durbin and Obama have spoken strongly in favor of a path to legal status for the undocumented. Thank Senator Durbin and Senator Obama for their leadership on comprehensive immigration reform. Let them know you support comprehensive immigration reform and the Judiciary Committee bill.
Sen. Durbin 312 353-4952
Sen. Obama 312 886-3506
Here is a list of Senators who voted with us on Monday; they deserve a special thanks too!
CALIFORNIA Senator Feinstein (202) 224-3841
DELAWARE Senator Biden (202) 224-5042
ILLINOIS Senator Durbin (202) 224-2152
KANSAS Senator Brownback (202) 224-6521
MASSACHUSETTS Senator Kennedy (202) 224-5251
NEW YORK Senator Schumer (202) 224-6542
OHIO Senator DeWine (202) 224-2315
PENNSYLVANIA Senator Specter (202) 224-4254
SOUTH CAROLINA Senator Graham (202) 224-5972
VERMONT Senator Leahy (202) 224-4242
WISCONSIN Senator Kohl (202) 224-5653
WISCONSIN Senator Feingold (202) 224-5323
For more information visit http://www.cirnow.org
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THREATS TO CITIZENSHIP – BECOME A CITIZEN NOW
HR 4437 (Sensenbrenner bill)
The US House of Representatives has passed HR 4437, a bill sponsored by Rep. Sensenbrenner, that could turn many immigrants, as well as their relatives, neighbors, coworkers, and friends, into criminals. Helping an undocumented immigrant stay or travel in the US would become a federal crime. The grounds for deportation would become much broader—even offenses for which an immigrant long ago served his sentence, and which were not deportable offenses back then, could be used to deport him. In addition, local police would be forced to become immigration agents, so even a traffic stop could lead to deportation.
Get your citizenship now so you can fight against these changes!
Citizenship test
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been working on changes to the citizenship test. This would put citizenship out of reach for people who may already have trouble learning the test or who are struggling with English.
Become a citizen now before the test gets more difficult!
Fees
It now costs $400 to file for citizenship—back in 1998, it cost only $95. The fee goes up automatically every October based on inflation.
Apply now before the fees go up again!
Electronic filing
USCIS is proposing a new electronic filing system for all immigration applications, including those for citizenship. This system would require that anyone filling out an application must pay $100 to set up an account with USCIS, and fill out a 19-page form that asks detailed questions regarding criminal history, moral character, past and present marriages, and other personal information. Electronic filing will make filing for citizenship much more expensive, intrusive, and burdensome.
File now before this system gets put in place!
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Council to Hold Citizenship Workshop in Bridgeview on April 7th.
Protect your community! Become a US citizen now!
The Council will hold a citizenship workshop in conjunction with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) at Bridgeview's Muslim Youth Center on April 7th . All eligible green card holders should come to the workshop where multilingual volunteers will assist them in filing their naturalization applications. After filing for citizenship, worshippers may attend Friday prayers at the Mosque Foundation at 12 pm or 1:30 pm.
What: Citizenship Workshop - File your naturalization papers!
When: Friday, April 7th; 10 am - 1 pm
Where: Muslim Youth Center - 7260 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview IL 60455
Please contact the office at 312.506.0070 to find out if you are currently eligible to apply for citizenship and for more information on what documents you must bring to the workshop.
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Council Denounces Violence, Hostage Taking
Thursday, March 30, 2006 – The release of journalist Jill Carroll was met with much relief by people worldwide and Muslims especially. Council Chairman, Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid, expressed his gratitude to all those who had prayed for Carroll. Quoting from the Quran, he added, "God commands justice, the doing of the good, and liberality to kith and kin. He forbids all shameful deeds, injustice and rebellion. Thus does he instruct you, that you may receive admonition." (16:90) The Council denounces hostage taking or the use of violence and expressed its deepest concern for Carroll’s continued well being.
Carroll’s release ended three months of worry. A freelancer for the Christian Monitor, she was kidnapped Jan. 7 in Baghdad's western Adil neighborhood, where she had gone to interview Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi. Her translator was killed in the attack.
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Save the Date – April 10th - Day of Action on Immigration Reform
Monday, April 10th, 2006, Chicago - The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights ( ICIRR) will be co-convening a community briefing on immigration reform and strategy about next steps in this national movement. It will be chaired by U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez and is part of a larger day of actions around the nation. What will this bill mean for our families and our neighborhoods? What are the next steps in Congress, and what can we do ensure justice and dignity for immigrants?
What: A Community Briefing and Call to Action
When: Monday, April 10, 2006, 6:30 PM
Where: Truman College (in cafeteria)
1145 W. Wilson Avenue in Chicago
(just off the Red Line and just west of Broadway)
Please contact Mehrdad Azemun at ICIRR for more information at 312-332-7360, ext. 14 or at mazemun@icirr.org. Their offices are at 36 S. Wabash, Suite 1425, Chicago, IL 60603.
Website: www.icirr.org
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Council calls on Muslims to Pray for Iran Quake Victims
Friday, March 31, 2006, Tehran - Strong quakes killed at least 66 people in Western Iran while injuring 1200. 200 villages were flattened according to the Associated Press. The initial quake of magnitude 4.7 struck a mountainous region and was followed by twelve aftershocks. Council Chairman, Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid called on community members to pray for the victims.
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CALL TO ACTION: Salah secret trial finally opens up. Be There!
Thursday, April 6, 2006, Chicago – As you are probably aware, the secret pretrial hearings of the Muhammad Salah case are considering whether confessions procured by torture are acceptable in court. Despite requests by journalists and peace and social justice activists, these hearings were originally not open to the public. Further, there were 4-5 hour segments when lawyers on behalf of the Israeli government testified while Mr. Salah and his defense attorneys were not permitted in the room. Mr. Salah's hearing is finally going to be made accessible to the public. Please be there to show your support. Encourage others to attend. It's an education.
When: 9:30 am, Thursday, April 6, 2006
Where: Room 1248, Dirksen Bldg, 219 S. Dearborn, intersection of Jackson and Dearborn, Downtown Chicago.
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