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
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
Senate Should Rename J. Edgar Hoover Building After Champion of Civil Liberties Don Edwards
Hoover, from the very first moment he joined the Department of Justice in 1917, until to the end of his FBI directorship in 1972, was involved in continuous, willful, and systematic deprivations of civil liberties. Allowing his name to adorn the headquarters of the nation’s highest law enforcement agency sends a message of willful.
Oakland Cuts Ties With ICE, Moves Forward on Oversight of JTTF Participation
Oakland has been a “sanctuary city,” but the label didn’t mean much because the city still had an agreement with ICE to allow its police officers to cooperate with the federal agency.
Groups Tell Senators to Oppose Wray Confirmation
We believe that Mr. Wray owes Congress, and the American people, a more definitive answer about his willingness to instruct FBI agents to engage in general surveillance based on religion.
16,000 People Stand With Reality
Advocates for whistleblower protections, free expression, and government transparency celebrated Whistleblower Appreciation Day on July 27, by Standing With Reality. We delivered 16,000 signatures to the Department of Justice demanding that the charges… [Read More]