I remember vividly seeing for the first time the photos from Abu Ghraib. It was one of the few times in my career when I had to close the door to my office and sob.
Unfortunately, the architects of our nation's torture policy have not been held accountable. As Zach wrote earlier this week, every case on behalf of torture victims who have suffered at the hands of US personnel has been dismissed by the courts.
This month, the ACLU is recognizing Torture Awareness Month by drawing attention to one Document a Day out of the tens of thousands of documents we have compiled as part of the Torture Report.
I encourage you to take a minute to check out the Document a Day report.
Keep in mind that about 180 detainees at Guantanamo as well as hundreds more in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to be held, the vast majority without charge and no promise of trial. Some of them have been held for almost nine years. A week ago, a federal government report indicated that of the 48 detainees that the Obama administration recommends be held indefinitely, there are some for whom no evidence exists that they were involved in a specific terrorist plot.
Glenn Greenwald calls it "Pure Kafka." He's right. We've imprisoned human beings, some of whom may have no connection to terrorism, for almost a decade; we have subjected some of them to torture; the Obama administration wants to hold some of them indefinitely; and there's no legal recourse.
This becomes increasingly dangerous, especially when the Supreme Court and the Obama administration are now asserting that criminal defendants should have fewer rights at the moment of arrest.
A letter to the editor appeared in the New York Times today from ACLU Legal Director Steve Shapiro:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/opinion/l04miranda.html?ref=todayspaper#
In one line, he summarizes the ACLU position perfectly:
"Unlike a majority of the Supreme Court, moreover, we do not believe that a suspect waives his right to remain silent by remaining silent while he is questioned by the police for nearly three hours."
It is tempting on the topic of torture to close the door and cry. It's tempting to ignore the issue altogether. It's difficult to pay attention to painful topics in these difficult times. But to do nothing is worse. Take a minute. Check out the document of the day. Write a letter to the editor. Post it on Facebook. Educate and act where you can. It matters. A friend shared this quote from Haile Selassie on his Facebook page earlier this week:
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."
We cannot be silent.
