Las Vegas events this week with Ramsey Clark, Anne Wright, and others

[bananas]

Listening to www.kpfk.org , there will be events starting Monday:

http://www.truth-out.org/the-indefensible-drones-a-ground-zero-reflection63096

The Indefensible Drones: A Ground Zero Reflection

Thursday 09 September 2010

by: Kathy Kelly, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

Libby and Jerica are in the front seat of the Prius, and Mary and I are in back. We just left Oklahoma, we're heading into Shamrock, Texas, and tomorrow we'll be in Indian Springs, Nevada, home of Creech Air Force Base. We've been discussing our legal defense.

The state of Nevada has charged Libby and me, along with 12 others, with criminal trespass onto the base. On April 9, 2009, after a ten-day vigil outside the air force base, we entered it with a letter we wanted to circulate among the base personnel, describing our opposition to a massive, targeted, assassination program. Our trial date is set for September 14.

<snip>

[bananas]

1. "A panel featuring these expert witnesses is open to the public at 7:00 p.m. on September 13 ...

"A panel featuring these expert witnesses is open to the public at 7:00 p.m. on September 13, at the University of Nevada Boyd School of Law, Thomas & Mack Moot Court Facility."

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/09/03-8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2010
2:44 PM


CONTACT: Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Jerica Arents: 262-366-3785 (cell)
Jim Haber 415-828-2506(cell)
“Creech 14” Activists on Trial in Las Vegas for Protesting Drone Warfare at Creech AFB

LAS VEGAS - September 3 - On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, members of the Creech 14, along with their legal advisors and supporters will hold a rally at Lewis and 3rd Street, at 7:30 a.m. and then proceed to their trial which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Regional Justice Center at 200 Lewis Avenue. Charged with criminal trespass for entering the Creech AFB on April 9, 2009, the activists will argue that, under international law, they are obliged to oppose illegal U.S. usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) to attack people in Afghanistan. They also plan to show the court that by entering Creech AFB they were enacting their first amendment right to assemble peaceably for redress of grievance.

One of the first issues before the court will be their request to include former U.S. Attorney Ramsey Clark, Legal Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights Bill Quigley and Colonel Ann Wright, a former U.S. diplomat posted in Afghanistan as expert witnesses. Clark will demonstrate that "usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles based at Creech Air Force Base to kill ‘high value targets' constitutes extrajudicial executions and fails to afford all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples."

A panel featuring these expert witnesses is open to the public at 7:00 p.m. on September 13, at the University of Nevada Boyd School of Law, Thomas & Mack Moot Court Facility.

Those arrested included John Dear, S.J.; Dennis DuVall; Renee Espeland; Judy Homanich; Kathy Kelly; Fr. Steve Kelly; Mariah Klusmire; Brad Lyttle; Libby Pappalardo; Megan Rice, SHCJ; Brian Terrell; Eve Tetaz; Fr. Louie Vitale; and Fr. Jerry Zawada.

The group will assemble for trial preparation and reflection, each morning, from September 10 - 13, outside the entrance to Creech AFB, in Indian Springs, Nevada. The morning gatherings will begin at 6:30 to 8 a.m. Vigils will resume from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
###

Voices for Creative Nonviolence has deep, long-standing roots in active nonviolent resistance to U.S. war-making. Begun in the summer of 2005, Voices draws upon the experiences of those who challenged the brutal economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and U.N. against the Iraqi people between 1990 and 2003.

[saltpoint]

2. If anybody here is nearby this event, Ramsey Clark is

one of the most engaging minds in recent decades, and well worth the trip to hear him.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. It was his name that caught my attention.

More power to him, because he has to be getting up there. He came to speak at my college and I think that was in 1975! :wow: :patriot:

[saltpoint]

4. Hi, Rhiannon. Yes.

He delivers a real barn-burner. I love it that you go back with Clark to the mid-70s!

Excellent.

And there was hardly ever a politician or public figure who could handle the press better than Ramsey.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I just think it's so cool that he's still out there and still speaking out...

I hadn't thought about him for awhile... ;)

[saltpoint]

7. Same here -- he's one of those people I think of

long after a post runs on DU asking "Who would you like to have seen in the White House but who was never elected..." etc.

Ramsey is A-Ok.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I actually had no idea that he was still around, let alone active.

We've lost too many important voices, those who were giants, like Ted Kennedy. They don't seem to make them like that anymore, which I know is a cliche, but it's proving to be true. I'm so glad to hear that Ramsey Clark is still fighting the good fight, amazed and impressed, and reassured. :)

[saltpoint]

10. I hear ya. My hope is that the very youngest posters

on this site will spend a chance with Clark and the rest of that panel in Las Vegas.

Of all the things one could do in that city, hearing Ramsey Clark really should be at the top of the list!

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Well, it's way too far for me, though I'm hoping to hear about what he has to say...

I'm in NY and went to college here. It would be terrific if he could have an impact on another generation, but I'm not holding my breath in this political climate. Most people who make the effort to go out and vote haven't even heard of half the candidates. That's why this upcoming election scares me. My Democratic congressman, whom I worked for the last time, is up for re-election and his last race was the closest one in the nation. I'm afraid that, in this Republican district (NY-20), voters will only look at the "D" by his name... And his opponent is a jerk. :(

[saltpoint]

12. Rhiannon, I'll send you good vibes and hope the voters

in your district have their wits about them in November.

I like your wish for Ramsey Clark to somehow influence another generation of Americans.

I'd give a lot for the private Oval Office conversations between Clark and LBJ --the ones that will never reach the ears of the public.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Thanks so much...

I'm planning on doing my part, again. I went to the opening of my congressman's campaign headquarters last week and he had some great things to say. Though he's way too centrist for me, he's a good guy and we're fortunate to have him. Before we managed to elect Kirsten Gillibrand in 2006, we had the infamous John Sweeney for interminable terms... As for his current opponent, John Boehner came to the district to support him. Yikes! x(

Any chance that Ramsey Clark will write a tell-all memoir? That would be a must-read, for me... ;)

[xchrom]

5. Recommend

[bananas]

9. audio archive of the Kathy Kelly interview on kpfk

listed on the kpfk audio archives at http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/
World Focus Sunday, September 12, 2010 10:00 am
Podcast: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/xml/worldfocus.xml
Play: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/m3u.php?mp3fil=29411
Download: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/mp3/kpfk_100912_100038worldfocus.MP3