[2240] in peace2
Take Action for Immigrant Rights and/or Religious Freedom!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Tue Feb 18 01:12:01 2003
Message-Id: <200302180611.BAA19919@gold.mit.edu>
To: alsmith@MIT.EDU
cc: peace-announce@MIT.EDU, greens-announce@MIT.EDU, anti-hate@MIT.EDU,
aclu@MIT.EDU, pugwash@MIT.EDU, paw-ac@MIT.EDU, msa-ec@MIT.EDU
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 01:11:29 -0500
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Three actions you can take for immigrant rights and/orreligious freedom
1) protest NSEERS/INS at JFK fed bldg, noon, Thurs, Feb 20
2) heckle Congressman for rationalizing the interning of Japanese Americans
3) Tell FLEET bank that targeting Muslims will cost them
In solidarity,
Aimee
This email was bcc'd to the following lists:
peace-announce, greens-announce, anti-hate, aclu, pugwash, paw-ac, msa-ec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On the anniversary of WWII internment of Japanese-Americans
Protest INS Attacks on Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Immigrants
Thursday, February 20, Noon
INS Regional HQ - JFK Federal Bldg., Boston
(Near the Government Center T)
On February 19, 1942, Pres. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which
authorized the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans throughout the western
United States. More than 100,000 people were sent to internment camps. In a
shameful repetition of this history, the INS began its new "Special
Registration Program" in Dec. 2002, targeting primarily Arab, Muslim, and
South Asian men. They must appear at INS headquarters to be photographed and
fingerprinted or face severe legal penalties. On the first registration
deadline, more than a thousand immigrant men in California were summarily
arrested and thrown into crowded detention facilities. This is only the most
well reported incident: untold numbers of immigrant men have been silently
imprisoned in various parts of the country.
February 21st is the next registration deadline, affecting men from Pakistan
and Saudi Arabia.
The registration program itself is a form of racial and religious persecution.
Together with the mass arrests, it is the most systematic and chilling assault
on fundamental human rights in this country since the internment of the
Japanese 61 years ago. On this national day of solidarity with Arab, Muslim,
and South Asian immigrants, join us in front of the INS in Boston to demand
the release of current detainees and an end to the Special Registration
program.
Join this National Day of Solidarity,
with Coordinated Actions Across the United States
Sponsors: New England Immigrant & Detainee Response Network (NEIDRN), a joint
project of major civil liberties, immigrant rights, legal services, and
solidarity organizations throughout the area. neidrn@neidrn.org [active soon]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tuesday, February 4, 2003, Congressman Howard Coble (R-North Carolina)
expressly justified on public radio our country's exclusion, removal, and
detention of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II in light of
concerns for national security.
Congressman Coble has recently been named Chair of the Subcommittee on Crime,
Terrorism and Homeland Security, and his refusal to recognize the racist basis
of the Japanese internment encourages and perpetuates backwards thought to
direct current policy towards Arab-Americans and other minority groups.
Don't let the Congressman get away with perpetuating hate! Go to
http://removecoble.yellowworld.org/ and demand that he step down from his
Subcommittee Chair position!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleet closing the accounts of Muslim employees of Ptech.
Muslim and Arab Civil Rights: Fleet Bank Violation of Ptech
Background on Ptech,Inc:
Ptech is a software company in Quincy, MA that was organized in 1994 and
has become the leading provider of Enterprise Architecture. Ptech's
chief executive officer granted federal and other agents access to the
premises for their investigation that become public early in December
2002. Government investigators have indicated that neither Ptech, its
officers, or employees are targets of a terrorism investigation. No
charges have been brought against the company or its employees. Ptech
officials deny connections with any terrorist financer or organization.
Fleet Bank Closure of Personal Bank Accounts of Muslim Ptech Employees:
Five Ptech employees of Muslim and Arab background received letters from
Fleet Bank that state, "We regret to inform you that we have decided
that it is not in our best interest to continue your banking
relationship with us." The termination letter states that according to
the Deposit Account Agreement, the Bank has the prerogative to terminate
accounts at any time, for any reason, and without prior notice.
Although the Bank has a broad right to terminate accounts, it would be
discriminatory and illegal for the bank to single out certain account
holders because of religious, ethnic, or other similar factors.
Formal Actions Taken:
· After a careful review of the situation, the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) has agreed to take the case. They are currently pursuing
the possibility of filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission
Against Discrimination.
· The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), a civil rights
organization, has sent Fleet Bank a certified letter requesting a
meeting. If Fleet Bank refuses to meet and rectify the situation, a
series of other steps including a call to the community to close
accounts has been planned.
Recommended Action Steps:
· Send a letter of concern to Fleet Bank regarding the apparent
discriminatory closures. See the attached letter for a letter draft
that you should modify. Please address the letter to the Fleet CEO, as
well as send a copy of your letter to the ADC-MA for our records;
address attached.
· Urge your friends and any other organization of which you are a part
to send similar letters and copy them to the ADC.
· Contact your elected officials indicating that the current political
climate is threatening the civil and human rights of Muslims and Arabs.
Ask them for proactive measure to ensure our safety and fair treatment.
· Stay abreast of the situation so you can support further action
· More info:
www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,77682,00.html
http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,77680,00.htm
l
http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,77887,00.htm
l
If you can, send your letter by certified mail. if you can not then mail
it or fax it. This has a much stronger impact than
Email.
Sample Letter to Fleet Bank
Mr. Charles Gifford, CEO
Fleet Bank
1 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Date
Dear Mr. Gifford:
It has come to my attention that Fleet Bank has closed the personal
accounts of several Muslim employees of PTech. Although no explanation
was offered for the closing, it appears that your Bank took this action
as a result of the FBI investigation of PTech.
As you must know, none of these employees has been charged with a crime
and the investigation has found absolutely no evidence that PTech is
involved in any fashion in support of terrorism. All PTech employees
and their management should be assumed to be innocent unless evidence
indicates otherwise.
I write to you today to express my concern about the Bank's hastily
taken action. I hope that you will review your decision and take steps
to rectify what appears to be a possible discriminatory act.
All of us have an obligation to protect the rights of our citizens and
legal residents. Muslim/Arab-Americans should be given the full
protection of our laws.
Ethnic/sectarian identities should not be automatic triggers for any
discriminatory actions.
The favor of a reply to my expressed concern would be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
CC:
ADC-MA
P.O. Box 902
Watertown, MA 02472
info@adcma.org
