Graduation Protesters Say UC Harbors War Criminal

Graduation Protesters Say UC Harbors War Criminal

Berkeley CA: Lawyer John Yoo remains a tenured UC Berkeley Law professor, but anti-torture protesters say he is also an unindicted war criminal because of his crucial legal role in the Bush-Cheney administration’s torture policies and program.

PROTEST: No War Criminals, No Torturers, on Campus!
Fire, Disbar and Prosecute War Criminal John Yoo!
Break the Silence, End the Torture!

WHEN: Saturday May 10, 8-9 AM

WHERE: Hearst Greek Theater (Gayley), Berkeley

Protesters led by the national World Can’t Wait movement will demonstrate this Saturday at the commencement ceremony for the 2014 graduating class of Berkeley Law. The protesters will display the emblematic prison jumpsuits and hoods that have come to symbolize the torture prison at Guantanamo, where XX prisoners are still being held despite President Obama’s promise on May 23, 2013, to move towards closing Guantanamo.

The protesters will mingle with the graduating students and their guests, offering them orange “Guantanamo ribbons” to wear during the day’s ceremonies and celebrations.

“While victims of the illegal torture program built on his legal handiwork continue to suffer and die, John Yoo has no more legitimate place on the UC faculty than do any of the other Bush torture team members who have similarly found safe harbor from prosecution in academia and the corporate business world,” claimed Curt Wechsler, editor of FireJohnYoo.net

For many years, Berkeley Law’s former Dean Christopher Edley insisted that Yoo’s presence on the faculty was protected by principles of academic freedom, and constitutional rights. Because UC has this week announced the appointment of its new dean, Dr. Sujit Choudhry, this 2014 commencement anti-torture protest will draw nationwide attention to the issue of UC’s continuing employment of John Yoo. Dean Choudhry, an internationally recognized expert on comparative constitutional law, has published on Guantanamo-related issues and news.

The national organization The World Can’t Wait, the main sponsor of this demonstration, will also be one of many organizations holding protest rallies and demonstrations on Friday, May 23 for a Global Day of Action to Close Guantánamo and End Indefinite Detention.
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