Civil Rights Division的动态

I'm sickened reading the front page of the King County Bar Association's bulletin. Authored by the deputy executive director of the Washington Bar Association and titled "From the River to the Sea," the article is riddled with fictitious, historically inaccurate, and dangerous propaganda narrative steeped in antisemitism. Historically, blood libels were malicious myths spread in 15th century Europe. These falsehoods accused Jewish communities of using Christian children's blood in religious rituals. Despite a complete lack of evidence, these libels led to pogroms—violent riots aimed at the massacre or expulsion of an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews—marked by murder, rape, and destruction. The persistence of such libels laid the groundwork for the dehumanization of Jews, culminating in the indescribable atrocities of the Holocaust. The world vowed "never again," yet we are witnessing the resurgence of these pernicious myths. Today, we see these age-old prejudices re-emerging, masquerading as political commentary or "opinion" pieces like this one. This article not only revisits the unfounded allegations of "genocide in Gaza" but also equates Israel's actions with colonialist aggression, employing rhetoric that dangerously oversimplifies a complex conflict. This narrative ignores the foundational hate and misinformation that fuels antisemitism and undermines the legitimacy of Israel as a nation. The inflammatory chant "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free" is not a call for peaceful coexistence or the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Instead, it symbolizes a denial of the Jewish people's right to self-determination and echoes the hateful ideology of groups that have sought Israel's destruction through terror and violence. Such rhetoric, especially when it finds its way into publications associated with our legal profession, is not only misleading but deeply harmful. As lawyers, we're guardians of justice, committed to truth and ethical conduct. Our profession demands that we engage with facts, eschew falsehoods, and promote understanding through reasoned and factually accurate dialogue. When we allow the spread of propaganda and antisemitic sentiment under the guise of legal scholarship or opinion, we betray these principles. Let's remember that the pursuit of justice is the cornerstone of our profession. It is our duty to stand against falsehoods. In doing so, we honor our commitment to justice, integrity, and the highest ethical standards. The publication of such content by the King County Bar Association is not an exercise in free speech. It's a failure to uphold the dignity of our profession. It is a call to action for all of us to stand against misinformation, hate, and bigotry in all its forms. The King County Bar Association should immediately retract this article, issue an apology, and recognize the harm it has created by promulgating such inaccurate hate-fueled antisemitism.

The things you find on Linkedin these days. One member on this platform posts his experience this way: "I Help Conservative Professionals Build Brand With Digital Media That Supports Biblical Ordered Liberty." Now, helping conservative people "build a brand" is a noble idea. But "Biblical Ordered Liberty" may be the year's most oxymoronic statement. And the most dangerous to our liberties. It points to Christian Nationalism, the belief that the United States of America is a "Christian nation." And yes, the Constitution and Bill of Rights do protect the right to religious freedom and the liberty to worship. But as soon as the term "Biblical ordered liberty" enters the equation, we have a problem. A Wiki "take" reveals the facts: "The first amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."?The two parts, known as the "establishment clause" and the "free exercise clause" respectively, form the textual basis for the Supreme Court's interpretations." Yet here we are in 2024, faced with people eager to toss out constitutional provisions and impose their "biblical ordered liberty" on every citizen of the United States. These are not innocent vows. Religious authoritarians throughout history have imposed horrific limitations on liberty to oppress and tyrannize others. That's why the Founding Fathers put the Separation Clause in place. To keep people from pushing "biblical ordered liberty" on others. And watch out. The Supreme Court is loaded with specious textualists believing in "biblically ordered liberty" who are eager to cherry-pick what they want to enforce and impose on the populace. ?

We are Americans. This is not a political statement. Although we come from a beautiful and varied tapestry of nationalities, religions, ancestries, and viewpoints, we are united by our common choice to be citizens of the United States. Yet, the melting pot experimental nation that so many come for the promise of freedom of views, speech, press, religion and so on, is barely recognizable these days. This weekend events, is yet another in a series of unbelievable moments broadcasting to all that we have serious work to do as a nation. All members of society should be taught to think critically. As lawyers we are taught to use persuasion to influence our audience. We are also taught to breakdown all statements dressed up as fact that come before us. That skill should be used to challenge any statement. Each of us must learn to separate fact from argument, to think critically and separate emotion from ration and reason. The state of our country is sad. What unites us is so much more than what divides us but it seems influential forces are doing their very best to use persuasion skills to keep the focus on what makes us different and stoke fear.?I have often said, decisions made in fear are never good decisions. Whatever the reason and whatever your views, please be vigilant in thinking critically. Separate fact from fiction, separate fact from manipulation, separate fact from agendas and always, always identify the possible and probable motivations operating under the surface. If someone or something is driving you to action using fear; mistrust it, dissect it and take a step back.?As citizens, we have to do better. As citizens and indeed litigators we ought use those skills to bring people together to find common ground. In society, lawyers are part of the educated and once noble and honorable profession. I'm calling on our legal community to use those skills to bring people together in our community. Our country needs uniting and it starts with each citizen looking past rhetoric, overcoming and celebrating differences and an unwavering and disciplined commitment to always finding common ground especially when we fear our neighbors most. We the people sometimes?have to remind our leaders and if they don't or won't act to unify this country then it is our duty as citizens to create the country we want; it starts with finding common ground with those you disagree with most. Whether it's a litigation battle or something larger, finding common ground with a perceived adversary rarely steers us wrong. We are better than this time in our history.

We need to de-cult to protect children. We need governments to start creating their de-cult playbook. Here are some suggestions for it: Step 1: Governments need an independent cult watch agency, such as Austria's 'Federal Office for Cult Affaires', Belgium's 'CIAOSN', or France's 'FECRIS'. Step 2: Governments need to listen to recommendations from those with lived experience. Step 3: Governments need to prime criminologists and engage law enforcement to investigate and prosecute leader's crimes related to institutional coercive control. Step 4: Governments need to prioritise laws so that the 'Rights of a Child' have precedence over religious rights. Freedom of religion needs to include freedom from religion. Step 5: Governments need separation between church and state - secular governments enshrined in constitution. (Free-thinking associations such as Humanists and Rationalists are also advocates for this.) Here's the kicker - all of these points don't need to happen in order and can be worked on concurrently. Happy to hear feedback. Discuss.

It Was Never About a Cake: Masterpiece Cakeshop and the Crusade to Weaponize Religious Freedom?- PDF: ?https://lnkd.in/gE-9c3SV The people and groups fighting to weaponize religious freedom are Crusaders. Groups like Alliance Defending Freedom, the American Center for Law & Justice, Liberty Counsel, First Liberty Institute, and Becket Fund, to name a few.4 Individuals, and even judges, rank among the Crusaders. They are overfunded and obscenely well-connected, as the book documents.5? The Crusaders’ work often appears ecumenical, but they are on a quest to remake a constitutional protection into a weapon for maintaining a dominant, or reclaiming a once-dominant group’s, status in the face of waning demographic power.6 The Crusaders’ legal challenges are superficially about Christian crosses and veterans, or playgrounds, or private school vouchers, or bakeries and gay weddings.7 But at a deeper level, this coordinated campaign has a single, never-stated goal: Christian privilege. Specifically, privilege for the “right” kind of conservative Christian. The Crusaders are fighting to elevate certain Christian beliefs above the law and exempt Christians from the law, while disfavoring all? others.8 So that there is an in-group of conservative Christians and Christian Nationalists, which the law protects but does not bind, and an out-group, everyone else, which the law binds but does not protect.9? THIS CHAPTER IS EXCERPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM AMERICAN CRUSADE: HOW THE SUPREME COURT IS WEAPONIZING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BY ANDREW L. SEIDEL (UNION SQUARE & CO., SEPT. 2022) #ChristianNationalism; #rightwingmovements; #race; #religion; #nostalgia #colorblindRacism #ChristianNationMyth #whitesupremacy #whiteness

The Time Has Come for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience One CRITICISM OF CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHERS is that we're mainly analytical and critical of other philosophers, scientists, politicians, theologians and mathematicians. And that we propose few solutions, whereas philosophers up to about 1900 were more interested in coming up with solutions, some tame, some wild--solutions to practical matters, not just theories. Think of Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, James, Russell...their pattern was to critically blast an issue or a leader, then propose workable alternatives. America, please understand that neo-fascists in the Supreme Court majority and some lower courts, as well as MAGA followers of Trump in Congress, are gaining ground in their unified effort to get rid of democracy, the Constitution--and equality before the law in particular. We're heading toward either monarchy or fascism. The SCOTUS majority is now under the control of the two most right-wing judicial activists in US history, but their arrogance is no longer hidden. Roberts has been unwilling or unable to tame Alito and Thomas as they lead the other members of the majority in their Christian Nationalism, indistinguishable from Trumpism. But Trump pretends to be a Christian to get the votes of evangelicals, both Protestants and "charismatic" Catholics, which five of the six in the majority push with all the fervor of medieval Inquisitors. What if at least five Justices were Muslims? Get the idea? Republicans won't do anything about the unethical and illegal conduct of Alito and Thomas, who seem to be smirking over how long they've gotten away with $millions of "gifts" from MAGA billionaires. That's why they won't recuse themselves even in cases where their spouses could be involved and also cases involving some of those super-rich donors. They preach high-sounding yet incomprehensible legal-sounding Opinions--but the "logic" of the arguments behind their recent rulings wouldn't pass my beginning logic class. Example: one of their favorite ploys is to cite "precedent" by quoting each other's past rulings--or just quoting themselves. That informal fallacy is called a type of Argument from Authority. So the super-rich have not lost a case since these two corrupt Justices joined forces with Trump's nominees. The US is now more than ever a "trickle-up" economy. If right-wing laws, and rulings from high above, continue to squeeze the middle class into submission, while destroying any hopes for the poor, your vote will no longer matter. A Putinist dream. Unless we act in unison in peacefully disobeying religion-based rulings, always led by Alito or Thomas, fear will fall upon the land in a Biblical sense...a judicial curse on people who disagree with their politics and their extremist religion. Remember, you have Jesus, Thoreau, Tolstoy, Gandhi, MLK, Jr., among others, who support your and my nonviolent noncooperation with evil. Demonstrations should start outside the SCOTUS building.

#Exclusion #of #Jewish #Jurors #Prompts #Review #of #California #Death #Row #Cases #NYTimes #13May2024 "Dozens of cases are under review after notes from jury selection in a 1990s murder case indicated that prosecutors worked to exclude Jews." Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) #TheMorningBuzz #15May2024 : "At The New York Times, Tim Arango reports that in California, recently surfaced evidence of prejudiced jury selection against Jewish jurors from a 1990s trial for convicted murderer Ernest Dykes has prompted a review of capital cases in Alameda County, home of Oakland. #Historically, #prosecutors #have #sought #to #exclude #Jews #from #death #penalty #juries #under #the #assumption #that #they #would #oppose #capital #punishment #in #the #decades #after #the #Holocaust, #despite #their #exclusion #being #unconstitutional. #In2014, #PRRI found that #among #Jewish #people, #support #for #capital #punishment was #notably #lower #than among #white #Protestants and #white #Catholics, while #higher #than among #Hispanics and among #Black #Protestants."

Ex dolo malo non oritur actio is a Latin maxim which means ‘no right of action can have its origin in fraud’. No court will lend its aid to a man who founds his cause of action upon an immoral or an illegal act. therefor all mortgage land transfers are?fraud as there is no consented Govt or agency all courts are star chambers Star Chamber Courts are Illegal?https://lnkd.in/e_x7Tnt5 March 19, 2024Whistleblower The Star Chamber was abolished in 1640 in the United Kingdom. The Act that abolished it was transcribed in the Victorian Imperial Acts Application Act 1980 as follows: It was introduced into the Commonwealth by the very first Parliament of the Commonwealth in which sat 27 lawyers, in the High Court Procedure Act 1903 where a single member of the Lawyers Religion, THE LAW, by S 12 was given power to exercise the Judicial Power of the Commonwealth. The Star Chamber Court was first introduced by Henry VII in 1515 until 1641, when the then Roman Catholic Church King, Charles 1, was using it to inflict horrendous punishments on religious dissenters to his Roman Catholic Church rule. In all States and the Commonwealth, in absolute contempt of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 and Constitution and Queen Victoria’s Letters Patent 1900 in pursuit of what Justice Gaudron called the “autochthonous expedient” in her reasons for Judgment in the Kable case establishing the “Kable Principle” , in almost the same time frame as it took to abolish the “Sovereign Citizen” criminals installed in Star Chamber Courts in the United Kingdom, namely 125 years, it is 121 years in the Commonwealth, and not only do they need to be abolished, the architects of their construction, the Lawyers in Parliament who practice a non-Christian religion called THE LAW, need to be again expelled from the Parliament of the Commonwealth.