The NOT IN OUR NAME Statement of Conscience was published Monday morning in the New York Times as a two-page spread. The statement has now been signed by 45,000 people.
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nion.us
Not In Our Name
Let it not be said that people in the United States did nothing when their government declared a war without limit and instituted stark new measures of repression.
The signers of this statement call on the people of the U.S. to resist the policies and overall political direction that have
emerged since September 11, 2001, and which pose grave dangers to the people of the world.
We believe that peoples and nations have the right to determine their own destiny, free from military coercion by great powers. We believe that all persons detained or prosecuted by the United States government should have the same rights of due process. We believe that questioning, criticism, and dissent must be valued and protected. We understand that such rights and values are always contested and must be fought for.
We believe that people of conscience must take responsibility for what their own governments do -- we must first of all oppose the injustice that is done in our own name. Thus we call on all Americans to RESIST the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral, and illegitimate. We choose to make common cause with the people of the world.
We too watched with shock the horrific events of September 11, 2001. We too mourned the thousands of innocent dead and shook our heads at the terrible scenes of carnage -- even as we recalled similar scenes in Baghdad, Panama City, and, a generation ago, Vietnam. We too joined the anguished questioning of millions of Americans who asked why such a thing could happen.But the mourning had barely begun, when the highest leaders of the land unleashed a spirit of revenge. They put out a simplistic script of “good vs. evil” that was taken up by a pliant and intimidated media. They told us that asking why these terrible events had happened verged on treason. There was to be no debate. There were by definition no valid political or moral questions.The only possible answer was to be war abroad and repression at home.
I n our name, the Bush administration, with near unanimity from Congress, not only attacked Afghanistan but arrogated to itself and its allies the right to rain down military force anywhere and anytime. The brutal repercussions have been felt from the Philippines to Palestine, where Israeli tanks and bulldozers have left a terrible trail of death and destruction. The government now openly prepares to wage ll-out war on Iraq -- a country which has no connection to the horror of September 11. What kind of world will this become if the U.S. government has a blank check to drop commandos, assassins, and bombs wherever it wants?
In our name, within the U.S., the government has created two classes of people: those to whom the basic rights of the U.S. legal system are at least promised, and those who now seem to have no rights at all. The government rounded up over 1,000 immigrants and detained them in secret and indefinitely. Hundreds have been deported and hundreds of others still languish today in prison. This smacks of the infamous concentration camps for Japanese-Americans in World War 2. For the first time in decades, immigration procedures single out certain nationalities for unequal treatment.
In our name, the government has brought down a pall of repression over society. The President’s spokesperson warns people to “watch what they say.” Dissident artists, intellectuals, and professors find their views distorted, attacked, and suppressed. The so-called Patriot Act -- along with a host of similar measures on the state level -- gives police sweeping new powers of search and seizure, supervised if at all by secret proceedings before secret courts.
In our name, the executive has steadily usurped the roles and functions of the other branches of government. Military tribunals with lax rules of evidence and no right to appeal to the regular courts are put in place by executive order. Groups are declared “terrorist” at the stroke of a presidential pen.
We must take the highest officers of the land seriously when they talk of a war that will last a generation and when they speak of a new domestic order. We are confronting a new openly iimperial policy towards the world and a domestic policy that manufactures and manipulates fear to curtail rights.
There is a deadly trajectory to the events of the past months that must be seen for what it is and resisted. Too many times in history people have waited until it was too late to resist.
President Bush has declared: “you’re either with us or against us.” Here is our answer: We refuse to allow you to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety. Wesay NOT IN OUR NAME. We refuse to be party to these wars and we repudiate any inference that they are being waged in our name or for our welfare. We extend a hand to those around the world suffering from these policies; we will show our solidarity in word and deed.
We who sign this statement call on all Americans to join together to rise to this challenge. We applaud and support the questioning and protest now going on, even as we recognize the need for much, much more to actually stop this juggernaut. We draw inspiration from the Israeli reservists who, at great personal risk, declare “there IS a limit” and refuse to serve in the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
We also draw on the many examples of resistance and conscience from the past of the United States: from those who fought slavery with rebellions and the underground railroad, to those who defied the Vietnam war by refusing orders, resisting the draft, and standing in solidarity with resisters.
Let us not allow the watching world today to despair of our silence and our failure to act. Instead, let the world hear our pledge: we will resist the machinery of war and repression and rally others to do everything possible to stop it.
The over 40,000 signers include...
53 Maryknoll priests and brothers, James Abourezk, As`ad AbuKhalil, Professor, Cal State Univ, Stanislaus, Dr. Patch Adams, Michael Albert Jace Alexander Robert Altman Aris Anagnos Laurie Anderson John Ashbery, poet Edward Asner, actor Jon Robin Baitz Russell Banks, writer John Perry Barlow, co-founder, Electronic Frontier Foundation Rosalyn Baxandall, historian Joel Beinen Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project Jessica Blank, actor/playwright William Blum, author Theresa & Blase Bonpane, Office of the Americas Fr. Bob Bossie, SCJOscar Brown, Jr. Judith Bulter Leslie Cagan, chair, Interim Pacifica Foundation Board Kisha Imani Cameron, producer Henry Chalfant, author/filmmaker Kathleen Chalfant Bell Chevigny, writer Paul Chevigny, professor of law, NYU Noam Chomsky Ramsey Clark Ben Cohen, cofounder, Ben and Jerry's David Cole, professor of law, Georgetown University Robbie Conal Stephanie Coontz, historian, Evergreen State College Paula Cooper Kia Corthron, playwright Robert Creeley Kimberly Crenshaw, professor of law, Columbia and UCLA Culture Clash Joan Cusack John Cusack Kevin Danaher, Global Exchange Barbara Dane Rev. Herbert Daughtry Angela Davis Ossie Davis Zack de la Rocha Mos Def Ani Di Franco Diane DiPrima Mark Di Suvero Julie Dorf, International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission Carol Downer, board of directors, Chico (CA) Feminist Women's Health Center Roma Downey Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, professor, California State University, Hayward Bill Dyson, state representative, Connecticut Michael Eric Dyson Steve Earle, singer/songwriter Barbara Ehrenreich Deborah Eisenberg, writer Hector Elizondo Daniel Ellsberg Brian Eno Eve Ensler Leo Estrada, UCLA professor, Urban Planning Nina Felshin, author of But Is It Art? The Spirit of Art as Activism Frances D. Fergusson, president, Vassar College Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights Bookstore Laura Flanders, radio host and journalist Jane Fonda Richard Foreman Thomas C. Fox, publisher, National Catholic Reporter Elizabeth Frank Michael Franti, SpearHead Glen E. Friedman Bill Frisell Terry Gilliam, film director Milton Glaser Charles Glass, journalist Jeremy Matthew Glick, co-editor of Another World Is Possible Corey Glover Danny Glover Danny Goldberg Leon Golub, artist Juan Gómez Quiñones, historian, UCLA Vivian Gornick Jorie Graham André Gregory John Guare, playwright Allan Gurganus Jessica Hagedorn Sondra Hale, professor, anthropology and women's studies, UCLA Suheir Hammad, writer Nathalie Handal, poet and playwright Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) Michael Hardt, author of Empire Christine B. Harrington, Professor of Politics, NYU David Harvey, distinguished professor of anthropology, CUNY Graduate Center Stanley Hauerwas, theologian Tom Hayden Geoffrey Hendricks Edward S. Herman, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Susannah Heschel, professor, Dartmouth College Fred Hirsch, vice president, Plumbers and Fitters Local 393 bell hooks Doug Ireland, contributing editor, In These Times Rakaa Iriscience, hip hop artist Abdeen Jabara, attorney, past president, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Rev. Jesse Jackson Mumia Abu-Jamal Fredric Jameson, chair, literature program, Duke University Harold B. Jamison, major (ret.), USAF Jim Jarmusch Erik Jensen, actor/playwright Chalmers Johnson, author of Blowback Bill T. Jones Casey Kasem Evelyn Fox Keller, history of science, MIT Robin D.G. Kelly, history and Africana studies, NYU Martin Luther King III, president, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Barbara Kingsolver Arthur Kinoy, board co-chair, Center for Constitutional Rights Sally Kirkland C. Clark Kissinger, Refuse & Resist! Yuri Kochiyama, activist Annisette & Thomas Koppel, singers/composers Barbara Kopple David Korten, author Ron Kovic Barbara Kruger Tony Kushner James Lafferty, executive director, National Lawyers Guild/L.A. Ray Laforest, Haiti Support Network Beth K. Lamont, Corliss-Lamont.org Jesse Lemisch, professor of history emeritus, John Jay College of Justice, CUNY Harriet Lerner Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor, TIKKUN magazine Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead Richard Lewontin, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Harvard Lucy R. Lippard James Longley, Filmmaker Barbara Lubin, Middle East Childrens Alliance Janet L. Abu-Lughod Staughton Lynd Arturo Madrid, professor of humanities, Trinity University Dave Marsh Rabbie Robert Marx Rep. Jim McDermott Aaron McGruder Rep. Cynthia McKinney W.S. Merwin Susan Minot Anuradha Mittal, co-director, Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First Malaquias Montoya, visual artist Tom Morello Robin Morgan Viggo Mortensen Minister Benjamín Muhammed, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Jill Nelson Robert Nichols, writer Linda Nochlin Kate Noonan Claes Oldenburg Pauline Oliveros Yoko Ono Rev. E. Randall Osburn, exec. v.p., Southern Christian Leadership Conference Ozomatli Grace Paley Michael Parenti Jeremy Pikser, screenwriter Frances Fox Piven, Graduate Center of the City University of New York Katha Pollitt James Stewart Polshek Harold Prince Jerry Quickley, poet John T. Racanelli, Presiding Justice (Ret), California Court of Appeal Bonnie Raitt Margaret Randall Marcus Raskin Michael Ratner, president, Center for Constitutional Rights Amy Ray, Indigo Girls Rev. George Regas, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace Adrienne Rich David Riker, filmmaker Boots Riley, hip hop artist, The Coup Kate Robin James Rosenquist Judith Rossner Matthew Rothschild Ed Sadlowski Edward Said Angelica Salas, director, Campaign for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles Luc Sante Susan Sarandon Saskia Sassen, professor, University of Chicago John Sayles Jonathan Schell, author and fellow of the Nation Institute Carolee Schneemann, artist Ralph Schoenman & Mya Shone, Council on Human Needs Juliet Schor, director of women’s studies, Harvard Annabella Sciorra Pete and Toshi Seeger Mark Selden, historian Peter A. Serkin Frank Serpico Richard Serra James Schamus Rev. Al Sharpton Wallace Shawn, playwright & actor Martin Sheen Ron Shelton, filmmaker Alex Shoumatoff Russell Simmons John J. Simon, writer, editor Kevin Smith Kiki Smith, artist Jack Steinberger, Nobel Laureate Michael Steven Smith, National Lawyers Guild/NY Norman Solomon, syndicated columnist and author Scott Spenser Nancy Spero, artistArt Spiegelman Starhawk Bob Stein, publisher Jack Steinberger, Nobel Laureate Gloria Steinem Oliver Stone Mark Strand William & Rose Styron Peter Syben, major, US Army, retired Ron Takaki, ethnic studies, Berkeley Jonathan Tasini, president, National Writers Union, NYC Michael Taussig, anthropology, Columbia Tony Taccone, director Studs Terkel Marisa Tomei Marcia Tucker, founding director emerita, New Museum of Contemporary Art, NY Lief Utne Nina Utne Kinan Valdez, El Teatro Campesino Coosje van Bruggen Gore Vidal Anton Vodvarka, Lt., FDNY (ret.) Kurt Vonnegut Alice Walker Rebecca Walker Naomi Wallace, playwright Immanuel Wallerstein, sociologist, Yale University Rev. George Webber, president emeritus, NY Theological Seminary Leonard Weinglass, attorney Cornel West Haskell Wexler John Edgar Wideman Cora Weiss C.K. Williams Saul Williams, spoken word artist S. Brian Willson , activist/writer Jeffrey Wright, actor Mary A. Zimmerman Howard Zinn, historian
Organizations for identification only (partial list as of early December) For more complete listing of signers, or to add your name to the statement, see: www.nion.us |
