CBS News | Guilty Until Proven | April 6, 2003 23:45:04

I certainly agree with the authorities fulfilling their responsibilities to question anyone and everyone that might be able to shed light on terrorist activities.

But it is necessary to hold people for so long?

“The government was able to hold Omar and hundreds of other Muslim detainees by charging them not as criminals but as visa violators. The law says criminals, even murderers, must be charged with a crime quickly – usually within 48 hours – or released.

Immigration laws used to work the same way, but after 9/11, the justice department rewrote the rules so that suspected visa violators could be held in jail as long as the government wants – without any charges filed against them. ”

Generally, America has a great system in place to protect citizens from government abuses.
This Afghani-American citizen believed in the system:

“Shokriea says she wasn’t worried when her husband was picked up for questioning. At least not right away.

“I knew the US justice system. You’re innocent until proven guilty,” she says. “I just thought, you know, he would be questioned and just released.”

But her husband was held for 10 months in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. He later told his wife that “innocent until proven guilty” was not how it worked here. ”

I think vigilance is in order.

Thank you, Steve Rhodes, for pointing out this story.

Friends Plea for Release of Arab-American

Looks like there are some problems with this American citizen being able to get his civil rights.

What’s going on here?

“The government won’t give any details publicly about the case, including when a grand jury will convene or when Hawash will appear. His attorneys can’t discuss the matter because of a federal gag order. His wife, Lisa, won’t talk about it because she fears repercussions.”

Some people are getting together to do something

Yahoo! News – Rubber Bullets Used on War Protesters in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) – Oakland police fired rubber bullets to disperse about 750 anti-war demonstrators on Monday in what was believed to be the first use of the projectiles against U.S. protesters since the American-led war on Iraq (news – web sites) began.

I wish there were less shooting going on in the world right now.

The photo of the lady who was shot in the face looks painful

Message in a Battle By Holly Bailey

“Finally, coverage of the war in Iraq nearly overshadowed a major romantic development in Washington this week. As the WP reported yesterday, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, the National Zoo’s giant pandas, mated for the first time on Friday—though zoo staffers almost missed it. The encounter lasted just 15 seconds, forcing curators to study an instant replay of the exhibit’s security cameras to confirm it actually happened.”

Sounds more like a failed attempt to me. Ms. Panda shoved him off and said, “No way! They are going to play this clip on the internet, you perv!”

Professors Protest as Students Debate

“Irvine Valley College in Southern California sent faculty members a memo that warned them not to discuss the war unless it was specifically related to the course material. When professors cried censorship, the administration explained that the request had come from students.”

Yes, professors…We know you are really excited about the war. But the students know that they need to make it through class to graduate. And they need to graduate, so they can get PAID.

For those not tenured, these things are a consideration.