From the San Francisco Chapter of World Can’t Wait
You’re invited to come with World Can’t Wait and other friends for protest actions at both events. Let’s speak out, calling for an end to the torture that John Yoo was so key in setting up under Bush/Cheney.
Join us at the door to stand with the message that Torture is a War Crime, John Yoo is a War Criminal! Torture + Silence = Complicity!
World Can’t Wait, Progressive Democrats of America, and Code Pink are known to show up at John Yoo’s public lectures (over 30 times in the last year) – persistently voicing the demand for justice and full accountability for the criminals behind America’s present-day torture state, from lawyers Yoo and Bybee, up the chain of command to Bush, Cheney and their whole team. (See firejohnyoo.org and warcriminalswatch.org regularly for this ongoing story.)
QUESTION: "I get your e-mails inviting me to these actions all the time. Why must these Yoo protests be so frequent?"
OUR ANSWER: John Yoo defends torture, out in public, frequently. Bedecked with UC faculty status, and brazenly espousing his discredited theories on torture, fighting terrorism, and the miracles of the "unitary executive" (the president can do whatever he wants during wartime, including the power to torture) – Yoo continues to play a powerful role in rendering torture acceptable to the American people, long after Bush and Cheney have gone. Yoo’s public speaking career is a vehicle for promoting his theories to thousands in person and many more via the media. His being seen everywhere doesn’t mean everyone agrees with him. However, a public celebrity is created as everyone comes to know him ("Oh yeah, that torture lawyer . . .") and his theories and crimes alike become familiar, part of the normal ebb and flow of issues and debate, on and on. While he goes still un-fired, un-disbarred, and unprosecuted . . .
OUR ANSWER: John Yoo defends torture, out in public, frequently. Bedecked with UC faculty status, and brazenly espousing his discredited theories on torture, fighting terrorism, and the miracles of the "unitary executive" (the president can do whatever he wants during wartime, including the power to torture) – Yoo continues to play a powerful role in rendering torture acceptable to the American people, long after Bush and Cheney have gone. Yoo’s public speaking career is a vehicle for promoting his theories to thousands in person and many more via the media. His being seen everywhere doesn’t mean everyone agrees with him. However, a public celebrity is created as everyone comes to know him ("Oh yeah, that torture lawyer . . .") and his theories and crimes alike become familiar, part of the normal ebb and flow of issues and debate, on and on. While he goes still un-fired, un-disbarred, and unprosecuted . . .
- as if torture were not already found inhumane and impermissible by the world.
- as if torture were not already completely and without exception deemed illegal under international law.
- as if documentary and legal evidence of the horrendous abuse (including death) made possible by Yoo’s work is not real.
The whole world is watching: will people in this country demand what the government (Bush or Obama) is not giving — for the torturers to be brought to justice, and for the torture to be repudiated and brought to a halt? We have to call for this, and stand for it, everywhere, all of us, over and over. And with the humanity of the detainees past, present and future in mind and in our hearts, we cannot stop. Join us.
For both events, meet up with World Can’t Wait at 10:45 AM. Look for "War Criminals Watch" signs. WEAR ORANGE!
Wednesday, July 21 in Sacramento
John Yoo, author of the legal opinions known as the "torture memos," will be the guest speaker at the July Luncheon meeting of the Sacramento Press Club.
Title of his address:
"Is waterboarding torture or permissable?"
Wednesday, July 21 11:30 AM
Capitol Plaza Halls
1025 9th St., Suite 201
Sacramento, CA 95814
Price: $25 members
$35 non-members
Phone: (916) 446-6017
RSVP to: www.sacpressclub.org.
Wednesday, July 21 11:30 AM
Capitol Plaza Halls
1025 9th St., Suite 201
Sacramento, CA 95814
Price: $25 members
$35 non-members
Phone: (916) 446-6017
RSVP to: www.sacpressclub.org.
Thursday, July 22 in San Francisco
The Association of Former Intelligence Officers Jim Quesada Chapter hosts John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he wrote the Torture Memos.
The Association of Former Intelligence Officers Jim Quesada Chapter hosts John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he wrote the Torture Memos.
Thursday, July 22
United Irish Cultural Center
2700 45th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116
11:30 AM – Cocktails
12 Noon – Luncheon
United Irish Cultural Center
2700 45th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116
11:30 AM – Cocktails
12 Noon – Luncheon
E-mail RSVP to
Mariko Kawaguchi: afiosf@aol.com
mail check made out to "AFIO"
to: Mariko Kawaguchi,
P.O. Box 117578
Burlingame, CA 94011
Mariko Kawaguchi: afiosf@aol.com
mail check made out to "AFIO"
to: Mariko Kawaguchi,
P.O. Box 117578
Burlingame, CA 94011