Meeropol on Political Prisoners (John Sinclair, Bradley Manning), Torture Victims (Manning), Whistle-Blowers (Julian Assange, Thomas Paine), Press Freedom (Jane Hamsher, Paine), the IGLO Alternative Political Convention — by NormanB (“Deviations from the Norm”)

Tireless Human Rights activist Robert Meeropol spoke to the Thomas Paine Society in Amherst, Massachusetts, on January 29, 2011. Meeropol and his brother were small children when their parents Julius and Ether Rosenberg were executed by the United States. Officially, young Robert Meeropol’s mother was executed for typing. The execution of the Rosenbergs (primarily for their political beliefs, because they were Jewish, and to fire up the American Right Wing) is internationally considered one of the most important Crimes Against Humanity of the 20th Century.

The world was in dire straits four weeks ago, four days after Egypt’s Jan. 25 Revolultion began. It was just weeks after the January 2011 Assassination mayhem, and scant weeks before President Obama would order the Federal investigation of those shootings closed down. The speaker for the Thomas Paine Society talked of the things listed in the above headline. He noted that Meeropol’s appearance made this the largest meeting the TPS ever had.

Paine was an important Founding Father, pamphleteer, and political philosopher. He is best known for his pamphlet Common Sense, but was quite prolific. He was an important whistle-blower in the new republic.

The T. Paine Society’s speakers and Robert Meeropol and I all expressed the same concerns. I had just self-published a pamphlet on Manning-Assange-Hamsher-Wikileaks, and disseminated it among college students at the University of Massachusetts. Meeropol read my pamphlet, and signed it large, like John Hancock. I’ll reproduce it below.

I told Mr. Meeropol that legendary political prisoner John Sinclair was coming to Amherst-Northampton this April to participate in the IGLO radical political Convention, and to speak and perform at our annual  Extravaganja pro-Marijuana rally on the Amherst town common. “I know John,” he assured me.

Meeropol said he may not be able to speak at the rally, which will be Saturday and Sunday April 16 and 17. He asked me to be in touch with him about it, and about him sending a statement or Skyping the rally or Convention, if he can’t be there.

IGLO stands for Independents, Greens, Libertarians, and Others. (Others includes Democrats, Republicans, unregistered, et cetera.) Most people and parties in our nation agree on three principles that the two corporate parties eschew: (1) Ending the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; (2) ending Prohibition; and (3) restoring Human Rights/Civil Rights.

Those missing Rights in need of restoration include many parts of the Bill of Rights, Habeas Corpus, Geneva Conventions, Bill of Attainder, Ex Post Facto, Abolition of Slavery. The IGLO Convention will open April 14, 2011, in Northampton, Massachusetts, with a Keynote speech, and then, the very first Presidential Debate of the new election cycle. Candidates who agree on the three guiding principles above are invited. Three have already accepted.

My pamphlet’s statement signed by Robert Meeropol:

Urge President Obama to HALT the Torture of Wiki-Leaks Hero Bradley Manning!

White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111

The Tunisian people overthrew their Government a few days ago, after Wiki-Leaks revealed crimes of their leaders and ours. The Obama Administration has ordered US college students not to read Wiki-Leaks, but you can still read about the Torture of political prisoner Bradley Manning, the US Army Private accused of heroic information leaking that revealed crimes of our leaders and leaders of other countries.

Torture is a Crime Against Humanity. Torture is un-American and inhuman. Punishing someone based on suspicion is unconstitutional. Sunday (1/23/11), the US Military arrested Journalist Jane Hamsher and Manning’s friend David House, who together revealed Manning’s Torture to the world.

The Obama Administration has warned US college students that they face Government retaliation if they comment on Wiki-Leaks, but you can still comment on Torture. Urge President Obama: Halt ALL Torture and Assassinations of citizens. Urge the President to turn over all Torturers to the International Court of Justice in the Hague to be prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity. Ask a non-student to read Wiki-Leaks for you. You’ll be shocked.

Norman Bie

Robert Meeropol