Court – Press Conference – Panels
On February 6, 2013, the 2nd circuit court of appeals (composed of Judges Raymond J. Lohier, Lewis A. Kaplan and Amalya Lyle Kearse) heard oral arguments in the lawsuit against section 1021 of the NDAA. The Judges asked tough questions of both sides, and brought up the US government’s conflation of the AUMF and NDAA. The courtroom, with capacity for 65 people, filled early, and the much larger 150-seat overflow courtroom had people standing and sitting on the floor. The courthouse was clearly not prepared for the nearly 350 people (by our count) who showed up to try to join us in the courtroom in support of our case that day!
Afterward, plaintiffs, Chris Hedges, Tangerine Bolen, Alexa O’brien, and Daniel Ellsberg joined their Attorney’s Carl Meyer and Bruce Afran to do a press conference. Government whistleblowers Thomas Drake and Jesselyn Radack and former WikiLeaks spokesman and TOR developer, Jacob Applebaum spoke as well.
That evening, the StopNDAA team hosted a set of two panels – the first strictly about the lawsuit and the support efforts backing it and the second a broader panel on the assault on civil liberties. It was a packed house at the Culture Project and an all-around great event!
Panel One included: Bruce Afran, Carl Mayer, Chris Hedges, Daniel Ellsberg, Tangerine Bolen, Alexa O’Brien and David Segal. The second panel included: Chris Hedges, Daniel Ellsberg, Michael Moore, Thomas Drake, Jesselyn Radack and Tangerine Bolen.
We’d like to thank everyone who came out on February 6 to support Hedges v. Obama and help us stand up to indefinite detention! Your commitment to civic engagement amazed employees at the court and cheered us greatly! Your dedication to covering this case through livestreaming, online reporting, blogging and through your pictures step by step will help reverse these trends. Together, we are bearing witness to history, and fighting for a better world. We are truly grateful for everyone who participated that day – whether in person, or from a computer or phone, somewhere around the world. We can’t thank you enough.
Please see videos and our photo album below. If you were there, and would like to submit more material for us to post, please send it to us here!
Audio Transcript
Feb. 6, 2013 Hedges v Obama – 2nd Circuit Oral Arguments – Appeals Numbers 123176 and 123644
Videos
Press Conference
Panel 1
Panel 2
Huffington Post Live
News for Feb. 6
Justice Dept. Argues Appeal of NDAA Ruling – Democracy Now
NDAA Challenged In Court – Huffington Post
NDAA is Back in Court – Salon
Michael Moore asks citizens to stand up to Obama on civil liberties issue – The Guardian
Activist Heavyweights Convene Against NDAA – Truth Dig
Human Rights Watch decries U.S. prison system – Salon
Michael Moore and journalist Hedges: Obama drone memo to ‘legally justify what they’re already doing’ – Raw Story
NDAA: February Hearing Over the Act Will Help Determine the Fate Of the Constitution – Policy Mic
Justice Dept. Argues Appeal of NDAA Ruling – Common Dreams
Thank God for all these brave souls for standing up for the citizens of this great Country.We the people are with you.
These people are protecting the true essence of American life at great personal risk and deserve to be regarded as heroes! The lack of coverage of this case and disinterest shown by the majority is morally reprehensible. They all have my unwavering support and I will do all I can to raise awareness of the deep impact of this case on all who reside in our nation. War criminals receive the Nobel peace prize while true patriots risking a lifetime of incarceration for us all are demonized. RIP Adam Schwartz and prayers out to Bradley Manning, together we will restore liberty!