ACLU Responds to New Yorker's Solitary Confinement Profile
Solitary confinement is an issue we've heard a lot about lately when it comes to torture and abuse in Guantánamo and other U.S.-run detention facilities overseas. But we must not forget that it's an issue in the context of inmates incarcerated in United States facilities as well, and that's exactly what Atul Gawande's powerful piece, "Hellhole," confronted in the March 30 issue of The New Yorker.
Today, NewYorker.com published a letter to the editor from John Holdridge, Director of the ACLU Capital Punishment Project:
An increasing number of jurists throughout the world have concluded that our system of capital punishment constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, in part because the vast majority of U.S. death-row inmates are required to remain alone in their cells twenty-three hours a day and denied virtually any human contact. Unlike other prisoners, however, they are made to endure these barbaric conditions not because of their conduct in prison but because they have been condemned to die, and they have no opportunity to end their isolation through good behavior. Rather, they are made to sit alone in their cells day after day and year after year, envisioning what they continually fear is their impending execution.Gawande writes: "The United States holds tens of thousands of inmates in long-term solitary confinement. Is this torture?" After reading the article, we think you'll agree with us that it is indeed.
Apr 13th, 2009 at 6:15pm
I live at New Image shelter now, but however I receive my mail at
The Midnight Mission
Myrna Zapata
middle name Idaly
601 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles California 90014
Apr 13th, 2009 at 11:11pm
ACLU MUST CONFRONT THE REALITY OF DOMESTIC TORTURE...
NOT JUST PRISONERS, BUT THE TORTURE OF THOUSANDS, PERHAPS MILLIONS, OF SO-CALLED 'TARGETED INDIVIDUALS' DENIED CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE ONGOING 'EXTRAJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT NETWORK'...
A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF SECRET PROGRAMS OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL DESTRUCTION AND GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED CITIZEN VIGILANTES KNOWN AS 'COMMUNITY GANG STALKERS.'
The following commentary would not post this morning to The Washington Post's "The Fix" political blog -- an indication, I believe of overt government censorship of political speech. I present it here due to its relevance to the above item:
'NON-PARTISANSHIP' HAS BOUGHT OBAMA GOODWILL.
NOW IT'S TIME TO AGAIN PUT PRINCIPLE FIRST.
DISMANTLE THE 'EXTRAJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT NETWORK.'
Less than three months into the job, Barack Obama seems to be self-inhibited when it comes to fulfilling his campaign promise of hope and change.
That could be smart politics; Obama had to first co-opt and disarm a bureaucratic cabal that still threatens to subvert his presidency.
But now that this new President has demonstrated his ability to earn the confidence of key elements of government -- notably, the rank and file of the military -- it's time for the Obama administration to demonstrate commitment to principle.
The Justice Department's continuation of Bush doctrine on state secrets and now, an enhanced version of sovereign immunity, has left the progressive left feeling betrayed and, perhaps, somewhat deceived.
Obama telegraphed this body blow to his base during the campaign, when he flip-flopped on the issues of FISA/warrantless wiretapping, telecom immunity and handgun control. Such vacillations may have mollified extreme elements in the intelligence and military communities; Obama's early capitulations may prove to have been a brilliant stroke if it is later revealed that strategic retreat defused an incipient silent coup.
But now it's time for Obama to reassert his belief in hope and change. A good first start would be for his Justice Department to quickly dismantle the so-called "extrajudicial punishment network" that was created or expanded during the Bush-Cheney years...
...a network of programs and policies that have targeted many innocent Americans under the pretext of fighting the "war on terror." These "targeted individuals" have seen their livelihoods and finances decimated by secret programs sold to Congress as "tools" to fight terrorists.
And these "targets", who may number in the millions, also have been victimized by government-funded and trained "community gang stalkers" who hide behind federally-funded volunteer programs as they stalk, vandalize, and terrorize their neighbors.
Citizen vigilantes, whose methods and tactics mirror those of the German Nazis and the Stasi, are said by victims to be equipped with silent, classified microwave radiation weaponry -- so-called "directed energy weapons" -- that can be used to cause pain and injury, and over time, a "slow-kill" death.
Victims rightly call this a silent American holocaust, a quiet genocide, that appears to have been enabled by federal programs and the cooperation of local law enforcement nationwide.
The Bush Justice Department "torture memos" are believed to have been used as legal justification for what victims call domestic terrorism -- and they say this persecution has continued to this day under the Obama administration.
This, victims say, is an evil that the Obama administration no longer can ignore.
Attorney General Eric Holder has been made aware of these allegations. Now it is time for him to act.
nowpublic.com/world/gestapo-usa-govt-funded-vigilante-netw ork-terrorizes-america
nowpublic.com/world/domestic-torture-radiation-weaponry-americas-ho rrific-shame
nowpublic.com/world/bush-doj-memos-used-legal-cover-domestic-tortur e
nowpublic.com/world/govt-fusion-center-spying-pretext-harass-and-ce nsor
OR: http://My.NowPublic.com/scrivener
Apr 15th, 2009 at 12:53pm
This is appalling.
Apr 15th, 2009 at 8:24pm
Oh these poor poor tortured inmates. They are all just victims of society. It was society that made them take another humans life in a far worse way than how they will have theirs taken. What is wrong with you people? Get your priorities straight. Where did common sense go? Why don't you people ever stand up for victims rights. I bet you wouldn't feel the same way if you were victimized by one of these inmates. I say bring "the chair" back. Sheriff Joe for president 2012!!!!
Apr 28th, 2009 at 3:00am
I'm with speak the truth! Quit victimizing these monsters that kill and rape! They did something so horrible that a jury has sentenced them to death! Fine...kill them! It would cost the taxpayers about 25 cents and I'm sure you could find some volunteer that would do it for free! Take them out back and shoot them! Problem solved. I'll say this much.. If someone abducted and murdered my child or loved one they had better hope that the police get them first becuase I would hunt them down like a wild animal and kill them myself out of fear that some liberal would say that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. If you bleeding hearts think that they can all be rehabilitated and put back into society then let them come live in your house with your children after their release! See how you like that! Give me a fricking break!!!!! Stop being concerned with the criminals rights and start focusing on the law abiding persons rights
Apr 29th, 2009 at 12:14am
I think that society should stop judging these criminals, of course they have committed a crime but can't we do something to help make them a better person instead of destroying their mental stability? Of course they should be punished for what they've done but they're still human beings I personally don't believe they should be tortured and turned into a monster instead of being treated like a normal human being. Most of these inamtes have reasons behind their crimes theri environment, the surroundings they grew up in, we don't know. I'm not justifying their actions just saying they should at least be put in civilized conditions; And i say only god can take a persons life, two wrongs don't make a right. So i never agree with the death penalty.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:02pm
I am a firm believer that if one abuses his "rights" he should lose them. If one is in a position to earn his rights back then by all means let him try. If the crime is especially heinous then why would you victimize the perpetrator. I think the ACLU does "some" good but goes way overboard sometimes. Hope this is posted.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:09pm
How about the simple way. AN EYE FOR AN EYE !!! You kill, you die. You steal, you lose a hand. You rape, you lose that appendage. Simple enough !!! Why is this cruel or unusual. The punishment fits the crime. Maybe one would think twice about committing a crime if there was not some bleeding heart getting them off on a technicality.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:17pm
Remember, this is the same organization that did not consider it cruel and unusual when Teri Shiavo was killed by starvation and lack of water. This is the same bunch that does not consider it cruel and unusual sticking a device into the back of a baby's skull and sucking the brains out. The ACLU has it's priorities backwards, I see how they fight for the rights of the criminal to victimize the innocent, but when will you stick up for the law-abiding?!
Post new comment