WASHINGTON — The federal government issued national standards on Friday that states would have to meet in order for driver’s licenses they issue to qualify as identification at airports and federal buildings, setting the stage for a confrontation with states that have voted not to cooperate.
Under a measure known as Real ID legislation, the states must comply by May 11, the third anniversary of the measure’s enactment, or obtain a waiver from the Department of Homeland Security.
Meeting the May 11 deadline is impossible because the regulations have been delayed so long, but Michael Chertoff, the secretary of homeland security, said Friday that his department would issue a waiver to states that promised to comply later.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday that four former Guantanamo prisoners, all British citizens, have no right to sue top Pentagon officials and military officers for torture, abuse and violations of their religious rights.
Six long years ago today, “the first orange-clad, shackled and blindfolded prisoners arrived at Guantanamo’s Camp X-Ray.” Since that “dark day in recent American history, more than 700 people have been detained without due process and not a single trial has been completed,” notes the ACLU.
Today, people worldwide marked this anniversary with protests. More than 70 people were arrested at the U.S. Supreme Court, which is currently considering “whether prisoners still detained at Guantanamo Bay have a right to challenge their confinement in U.S. courts.” In London, Amnesty International organized an all-night vigil outside the U.S. embassy. A look at some of the protests around the globe: ...
Passport cards for Americans who travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will be equipped with technology that allows information on the card to be read from a distance.
The technology was approved Monday by the State Department and privacy advocates were quick to criticize the department for not doing more to protect information on the card, which can be used by U.S. citizens instead of a passport when traveling to other countries in the western hemisphere.
The technology would allow the cards to be read from up to 20 feet away. This process only takes one or two seconds, said Ann Barrett, deputy assistant secretary for passport services at the State Department. The card would not have to be physically swiped through a reader, as is the current process with passports.
The technology is "inherently insecure and poses threats to personal privacy, including identity theft," Ari Schwartz, of the Center for Democracy and Technology, said in a statement. Schwartz said this specific technology, called "vicinity read," is better suited for tracking inventory, not people.
On Thursday, January 10th, The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice will hold a public hearing at the State Capitol Building, Room 4203. The Commission hearing is scheduled for 9:30-3:30, public comment will probably be 2:30-3:30. Members of our chapter will attend to speak out in favor of reform; please save the date to join us! This hearing will draw input from experts and members of the public in an unprecedented effort to address serious flaws in California’s death penalty system.
The Commission was created by the California Senate to examine the causes of “wrongful convictions and wrongful executions” in California and to recommend reforms to ensure that the administration of criminal justice in California is “just, fair, and accurate.”
Thus far, the Commission has issued a series of reports and recommendations on the causes of wrongful convictions. Three criminal justice reform bills based on the Commission’s unanimous recommendations passed the legislature this year, but were vetoed by the Governor. The Commission’s most recent reports address remedies for wrongful convictions, and professional responsibility for prosecution and defense attorneys.
Later that same evening, January 10th, you are invited to join chapter activists for our first meet-up which will be held at 6:30 pm at the Capitol Garage (http://www.capitolgarage.com/) on 15th and K Streets. Natasha Minsker, ACLU-NC Death Penalty Policy Director, will attend the meet-up to talk with us about the commission hearing and related issues. We hope you can come and feel free to bring a friend.
So we know to expect you, please RSVP for both the hearing and the meet-up to organizing@aclunc.org.
The Sacramento Police Department is developing an unmanned aircraft to conduct video surveillance at crime scenes and other emergencies, joining a wave of law enforcement agencies across the country hoping to use so-called aerial drones similar to those used by the military.
Such efforts have sparked concerns by civil libertarians who fear police may violate citizens' privacy with such technology.
But the Police Department says such concerns are unfounded and that it has begun applying for Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV, by next summer.
The aircraft, along with other new technology being used by the department, will be unveiled today at a press conference.
"It's mind-boggling when we start brainstorming of how we can use it," Police Chief Albert Nájera said.
For nearly 100 years the NAACP has been fighting for the equal rights of all citizens, regardless of race, color or nationality. The purpose of the Freedom Fund Banquet is to unite persons of all backgrounds, and to raise money for programs focusing on advocacy and youth development.
Take a moment and review the many opportunities available and decide how you will participate. The Sacramento NAACP continues to reach out to the community. Your support will help us as we represent all citizens in the flight for freedom and equal opportunity.
Friday, Dec 21, 2007
6:30 PM
Sheraton Grand Hotel
1230 J St
Sacramento, CA
Tickets - $75
Losing a loved one to homicide is a devastating and life-changing event. In Oakland alone, 148 residents were murdered in 2006, leaving behind hundreds of family members and loved ones whose lives were forever changed.
As the Campaign Organizer for California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CCV), I attend healing circles, support groups, and violence prevention conferences. At these events, I meet survivors of homicide, the victims who are left behind to cope with the loss of their loved ones.
I hear stories of unspeakable tragedies, mothers who have lost a child and, in some cases more than one child. Lorrain Taylor’s twin boys, Obadiah and Albade, were shot as they tried to fix their car on the side of a road in Oakland. They were just 22 years old. It’s been seven years since Obadiah and Albade were murdered and Lorrain still finds it difficult to speak about it.
California cities are moving quickly to install video surveillance cameras on public streets and plazas without regulations, with little or no public debate, and without an evaluation of their effectiveness, according to an ACLU report released earlier this year.
