Working to make the promise of the Bill of Rights a reality.
Welcome to Defending Rights & Dissent
Join the grassroots movement to fulfill the promise of the Bill of Rights for everyone. Together, we can make police and intelligence agencies accountable to we the people whom they serve. It’s time to convert your concern and outrage into political action. Let’s do this.
Dissent NewsWire
Know Your Rights: When the FBI Knocks
The FBI is investigating the car attack against anti-racist activists in Charlottesville, VA, and has been reaching out to counterprotesters who were there, to conduct interviews ostensibly about the car attack.
After the Murderous Attack in Charlottesville, It is Time For Lawmakers to Reject Bills Protecting Those Who Run Over Protesters Once and For All
Lawmakers who push bills removing liability for “accidentally” running over political protesters do so with a wink and a nudge. Responding to a nonexistent problem, these bills are about communicating a murderous disdain for political protests. While given the seriousn nature of the charges against Heather Heyer’s murderer, it is unlikely that bill protecting those who unintentionally run over protesters would have offered him much protection. It is also impossible to deny what message singling out those who injure or kill protesters for special protections sends.
Too Close to Home
The benefits of protest are not always obvious. Demonstrations are not persuasive in and of themselves, but they encourage discussion and introspection. In the market place of ideas, they open the door for change and help define and protect civic space.
Jeff Sessions Wants to Know if You Visited an Anti-Trump Website
In a terrifying move, the DOJ has served a warrant on web hosting platform DreamHost demanding the IP addresses of all 1.3 million people who visited DisruptJ20.org, the information hub for Inauguration Day protests.
Statement on Rasmea Odeh’s Departure From The United States
We are deeply saddened to see Rasmea leave and are angered by the circumstances under which she departs. Rasmea has worked tirelessly as a community organizer. Even the last few months, she has continued to fight for social justice, acting as one of the organizers of the March 8 International Women’s Strike.
Defending Rights & Dissent Joins Civil and Human Rights Groups in Opposing Israel Anti-Boycott Act
Defending Rights & Dissent joined with civil and human rights groups in sending a letter to members of Congress opposing the Israel Anti-Boycott Act.
Secrecy & Prisons Are a Toxic Mix
Until we can abolish for-profit prisons, let’s at lease make sure they aren’t allowed to continue to operate in total secrecy. It’s time to close the FOIA loophole for private prisons.
Private Prisons Should Not Operate In Secrecy
Private prison companies that receive federal funding provide the same service as government agencies, but, by asserting their status as private entities, claim that they are not subject to public records laws such as the FOIA.
Trump’s Pick To Head The FBI Wouldn’t Say Whether He’d Spy on Mosques. The Senate Confirmed Him Anyway.
Both the FBI and Trump have a troubling intolerance for dissent. Trump during his campaign called for widespread surveillance of mosques and the FBI already has confidential informants crawling throughout the Muslim community.
Statement on Senate Confirmation of Christopher Wray to Be Director of The FBI
We are disappointed that members of the Senate did not press Mr. Wray for a strong commitment to stand up to President Trump’s worst tendencies