On September 25, thousands of people from across the country will gather in homes, offices, coffee shops, and places of worship to learn how the overreach of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is undermining the civil liberties and human rights of people living in America and discuss how to work together to ensure these rights are restored.
Why do it?
In the name of national security, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS has adopted practices that routinely violate basic rights of people in this country, particularly immigrants. Most people do not realize these violations of human rights and civil liberties are taking place but when the government violates the rights of some, it puts all of our freedoms at risk.
What Kind of Violations?
- Warrantless and aggressive raids on homes and workplaces that lock up people without due process
- Inhumane detention conditions for immigrant detainees--many of whom have no criminal record
- A huge backlog in citizenship applications caused by DHS’ practice of targeting people for extra security checks because of their race and religion and not because of any evidence of criminal activity
Goals
- Raise awareness to create an educated constituency about these issues leading up to the November 2008 election
- Engage people to reassert this country’s democratic principles
- Build power at the grassroots level to effect changes in DHS policies