News

May 14, 2012: The Buck Stops Here
For over a decade, we've watched the steady erosion of the Bill of Rights, while the Executive Branch has accumulated vast powers of repression, aided and abetted by Congress. We've fought the PATRIOT Act, the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, to the FISA Amendments Act and more, without success. But with the passing late last year of the draconian detention provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act, something in the country changed. Activists on the left and right have mobilized and fought back. Some members of Congress have heard us and taken action, introducing bills to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, too many of these bills offer only partial fixes, and most actually exacerbate the problem. DDF has not been able to support any of them.

But this week, Representatives Smith (D-WA) and Amash (R-MI) will offer an amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization that adequately addresses the problems of the 2012 NDAA detention provisions. The bi-partisan amendment has a chance of passing, but only if Congress hears from us. Take Action Now!

April 29, 2012: May Day Know Your Rights
Excited about May Day protests this year? You have a right to join in the protests without fearing retaliation from your employer. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) says most employers may not retaliate against employees for participating in protests if they are about workers’ rights. Two new flyers from the National Lawyer's Guild: Know Your Rights for May Day and May Day y Tus Derechos en el Trabajo.

April 17, 2012: DDF to Senate: End Racial Profiling
Defending Dissent Foundation submited testimony in support of the End Racial Profiling Act, and calling on the Department of Justice to close the loophole that allows law enforcement to profile based on religion or national origin. Our testimony also asks Congress to fix the guidelines that allow FBI agents to investigate people based in part on their race, religion, ethnicity or national origin, and to examine the National Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative, which encourages law enforcement and regular citizens to report activity that is legal, but looks "suspicious."

Ask your Senators and Representative to support the End Racial Profiling Act here.
Read DDF testimony here.

April 17, 2012: Tampa Delays Vote on Clean Zone Ordinance (Again!)
Tampa's Mayor has proposed a temporary ordinance designed to severely restrict protests at the Republican National Convention in August. The law would create a Clean Zone that includes all of downtown and many residential neighborhoods prohibiting items such as pieces of string longer than 7", pieces of wood bigger than a ruler, and squirt guns. The law also creates an official parade route, banning marches anywhere else and setting a one hour time limit on gatherings of more than 50 people. City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern criticized the law, noting "You could drive a tank through all the holes and the constitutional problems with it,"

The City Council has now put off the vote on the measure twice. The vote, originally set for April 5, is now scheduled for May 3. So there is still time to weigh in. Send a message to the City Council: ask them to reject the ordinance.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

March 26, 2012: Labor Deparment Honors Pioneers of the Farm Workers Movment:
Cesar Chavez was inducted into the Labor Department's Hall of Honor in 1998, but the department added other pioneers of the movement in a ceremony today. The official statement recognized the importance of social movements:
"¡Sí, se puede!"
The farm worker movement took the very best of other social justice movements — including lessons from Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., effective civil disobedience and other peaceful tactics — and married them with modern strategies that involved consumers, students and effecting change by working within existing institutions. The movement drew upon and energized celebrities, politicians, the faith community, and other thinkers and doers. It wasn't just about one single person. It was thousands of ordinary people inspired to act with extraordinary courage. As a result, they successfully got their message into the public conscience across our country and around our world.

March 23, 2012: NYPD Undercover Cop Infiltrates People's Summit!
A new NYPD document released by AP reveals that an undercover cop travelled all the way to New Orleans to attend the People's summit in 2008. Among the intelligence gems she/he uncovered: "Approximately 75 - 100 individuals attended from various US cities including
NYC, LA, San Francisco and New Orleans." Read the document here.

March 22, 2012: Anti-Protest Laws Spring Up All Over
What do Tennesee, Chicago, Honolulu, Idaho, Georgia, Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC have in common? New laws or proposals that are aimed squarely at the right to protest. Read more here.

March 20, 2012: SF stands up to FBI
The FBI operates Joint Terrorism Task Forces in 103 cities across the country, partnering with local police under the guise of fighting terrorism. Unfortunately, the FBI often engages in undemocratic practices including forcing cities to sign secret Memorandums Of Understanding, spying on law-abiding citizens, and resisting civilian oversight. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance requiring local police to obey state and local privacy laws. DDF has asked the Mayor to sign the bill into law. Read the letter here.

March 19, 2012: Over 100 groups demand that Holder investigate NYPD
In light of the failure of state and local officials to act in response to the NYPD’s
abusive conduct, it is critically important that the federal government vindicate our
society’s commitment to equal justice under the law and the prohibitions against targeting
communities and individuals based solely on their religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
We strongly urge the Civil Rights Division to commence an immediate investigation of
the NYPD’s past and current practices to identify whether it has violated, or continues to
violate, the Constitutional, federal or state law rights of Muslims, including their rights to
equal protection of the law, free exercise, and association. Read the letter here.

Read more about the NYPD's outrageous conduct here

March 5, 2012: Holder offers rock solid legal principle for extrajuidicial killing
"We say you are evil, so we can kill you...'cause we said so." Read more..

March 1, 2012: HR347 passes House, sent to President
Upon passage of the bill, warnings rang out across the internet causing a bit of a panic. We were warned that a new law “would make it a felony—a serious criminal offense punishable by lengthy terms of incarceration—to participate in many forms of protest associated with the Occupy Wall Street protests of last year.” And that the bill “will make protest illegal.” Representative Justin Amash (R-MI) called it a dangerous bill in posts on his Facebook page and claimed it would ban protests that disrupt government activity. Read more....

For more news, please check out our current newsletter.