Human Rights Day Vigil, Potluck, Discussion

Tuesday, December 9th was a busy day for activists. After <a href=&quot;/news/2003/12/1536.php&quot;>PPU's demonstration</a> in front of City Hall, the crowd of approximately 100 people held a candle light vigil to celebrate International Human Rights Day. <!--break--> <P> Tuesday, December 9th was a busy day for activists. After <a href="/news/2003/12/1536.php">PPU's demonstration</a> in front of City Hall, the crowd of approximately 100 people held a candle light vigil to celebrate International Human Rights Day. People listened to a reading of the articles of the <a href="http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> and <a href="http://www.earthchartersummits.org/TheEarthCharter.htm ">Earth Charter</a>. </p><P> Jason Crane, former chairperson of the <a href="http://www.gpomc.org/">Green Party of Monroe County</a> was the MC for the rally. He said that there is much work to do in order to make sure that the rights laid out are enjoyed by all, but he believes that it will happen. Afterwards, members of the audience read each article of the documents and then the crowd held a moment of silence. </p><P> Folks then headed to the Downtown United Presbyterian Church for a potluck dinner and series of speeches. Many local activist groups set up tables in order to network with others there. </p><P> The topic of the night's speeches was "The Patriot Act: The Trivialization of Freedom", or more succinctly "Are They Coming For YOU?" Thomas Tobin, Deputy Editorial Page Editor of the D&C, gave the keynote speech, discussing how the USA PATRIOT act was passed by a landslide in both the House and Senate, the so-called Patriot II act - which has recently been split up into many small parts so that it can be introduced piecemeal - and tactics that we can use to overturn the first act and prevent the second act from being voted in. </p><P> This was followed by several satirical performances by the Rochester Youth Action Network (RYAN). Many people speaking and in the audience were impressed with the group's work and happy to see young people engaged in activism. Read more <a href="/news/2003/12/1540.php">here</a>. </p><P> The speeches ended with eight personal accounts on how the Patriot act has affected people's lives so far. Bill Abom discussed how it has increased fear in the immigrant farm workers that he works with. Yasmin Kobir talked about how the Patriot act has made many Muslims in our community similarly fearful. John Keevert discussed the connection between the Patriot act and the police repression that happened during the recent FTAA protests in Miami, specifically the provisions that assist federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in working together. His point was driven home by footage that Rochester Indymedia took at the demonstrations. Pat Mannix shared the her experience of opening her mail one day and finding that two pieces of it had been opened, which she strongly suspects were opened because of their political contents. John Perry Smith discussed how the Patriot act allows government agencies to obtain information on what books people are reading. Finally, Jen Maher gave a Quaker perspective on the Patriot act and told the audience what they were doing to oppose the law. </p>

<p>Tuesday, December 9th was a busy day for activists. After <a></a> href="/news/2003/12/1536.php"&gt;PPU's demonstration in front of City Hall, the crowd of approximately 100 people held a candle light vigil to celebrate International Human Rights Day. </p> <!--break--><p></p><p><br /> Tuesday, December 9th was a busy day for activists. After <a></a> href="/news/2003/12/1536.php"&gt;PPU's demonstration in front of City Hall,<br /> the crowd of approximately 100 people held a candle light vigil to celebrate<br /> International Human Rights Day. People listened to a reading of the articles<br /> of the <a href="http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html">Universal Declaration<br /> of Human Rights</a> and <a></a> href="http://www.earthchartersummits.org/TheEarthCharter.htm "&gt;Earth<br /> Charter. </p> <p></p><p><br /> Jason Crane, former chairperson of the <a href="http://www.gpomc.org/">Green Party of<br /> Monroe County</a> was the MC for the rally. He said that there is much work<br /> to do in order to make sure that the rights laid out are enjoyed by all, but<br /> he believes that it will happen. Afterwards, members of the audience read<br /> each article of the documents and then the crowd held a moment of silence. </p> <p></p><p><br /> Folks then headed to the Downtown United Presbyterian Church for a potluck<br /> dinner and series of speeches. Many local activist groups set up tables in<br /> order to network with others there. </p> <p></p><p><br /> The topic of the night's speeches was "The Patriot Act: The Trivialization of<br /> Freedom", or more succinctly "Are They Coming For YOU?" Thomas Tobin, Deputy<br /> Editorial Page Editor of the D&amp;C, gave the keynote speech, discussing how the<br /> USA PATRIOT act was passed by a landslide in both the House and Senate, the<br /> so-called Patriot II act - which has recently been split up into many small<br /> parts so that it can be introduced piecemeal - and tactics that we can use to<br /> overturn the first act and prevent the second act from being voted in. </p> <p></p><p><br /> This was followed by several satirical performances by the Rochester Youth<br /> Action Network (RYAN). Many people speaking and in the audience were<br /> impressed with the group's work and happy to see young people engaged in<br /> activism. Read more <a href="/news/2003/12/1540.php">here</a>. </p> <p></p><p><br /> The speeches ended with eight personal accounts on how the Patriot act has<br /> affected people's lives so far. Bill Abom discussed how it has increased fear<br /> in the immigrant farm workers that he works with. Yasmin Kobir talked about<br /> how the Patriot act has made many Muslims in our community similarly fearful.<br /> John Keevert discussed the connection between the Patriot act and the police<br /> repression that happened during the recent FTAA protests in Miami,<br /> specifically the provisions that assist federal, state and local law<br /> enforcement agencies in working together. His point was driven home by<br /> footage that Rochester Indymedia took at the demonstrations. Pat Mannix<br /> shared the her experience of opening her mail one day and finding that two<br /> pieces of it had been opened, which she strongly suspects were opened because<br /> of their political contents. John Perry Smith discussed how the Patriot act<br /> allows government agencies to obtain information on what books people are<br /> reading. Finally, Jen Maher gave a Quaker perspective on the Patriot act and<br /> told the audience what they were doing to oppose the law. </p>