8/24/09

END CIA'S torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading wrongfull imprisonment of civilians.

The CIA Inspector General's report released today describes the horrific abuse of detainees in U.S. custody. The report goes beyond what has previously been released to describe CIA agents threatening prisoners with death and carrying out a mock execution. It also describes the use of waterboarding and other methods of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The report demonstrates conclusively the need for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate our nation's use of torture, as advocated by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. NRCAT has also called upon the Attorney General to undertake a comprehensive investigation for criminal culpability.

The White House announced the creation of a new elite interrogation unit, and the Justice Department's ethics office has formally recommended reopening a number of cases of prisoner abuse. These are important measures, but NRCAT believes a comprehensive investigation is needed.

The White House announced the creation of a new elite interrogation unit, and the Justice Department's ethics office has formally recommended reopening a number of cases of prisoner abuse. These are important measures, but NRCAT believes a comprehensive investigation is needed.

Our country will not end this sordid chapter of American history until we understand the full nature of U.S.-sponsored torture and put safeguards in place to make sure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again. It is our responsibility to assure that future generations of Americans grow up in a country that does not torture.

Please take action today: Please urge your elected officials to support a Commission of Inquiry AND urge the Attorney General to fully investigate the use of torture by the United States.

Click here to send a form email to the White House, both of your U.S. senators and your member of the House of Representatives, asking for a Commission of Inquiry in light of the horrific abuse detailed in the CIA Inspector General's report.

Click here to send a form email to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for a comprehensive investigation for criminal culpability in light of the CIA Inspector General's report.

Click here for suggestions for promoting a Commission of Inquiry.The response of the religious community to the Inspector General's report could be very important. Please send emails to the President, your senators, your member of the House of Representatives and the Attorney General today. Thank you for everything you have done to end U.S.-sponsored torture.Thank you.


Sincerely,

Rev. Richard Killmer

Executive Director

Salt Lake City Mayor Asks for LGBT Protection Feed Back


Click here ro respond to Mayor Mayor Ralph Becker request for feedback on the proposed city ordinance that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

Source Examiner.com

"On Top Magazine is reporting that Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has been circulating a proposal for a new city ordinance that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression."

"The public discussion draft, titled "Overview of Possible Salt Lake City Non-Discrimination Ordinance", is based on a July 2009 report by the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission that "provides further factual confirmation of the harms caused by discriminatory practices."

"If the ordinance is passed as written, it would represent a significant step forward in a city that has been dogged by contoversy over the past year, specifically due to the actions of the Mormon church, a large proponent of California's Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recently detained a gay couple for kissing on their private property, leading to their arrest for trespassing. The charges against the couple were dropped, but the incident garnerned negative national attention to the church and the city."