PROJECT DISSENT

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS...

Recently, an American Civil Liberties Union report pointed out, "Anti-terrorism training materials currently being used by the Department of Defense (DoD) teach its personnel that free expression in the form of public protests should be regarded as 'low level terrorism." [1]

Despite that DoD officials removed the offensive section from their educational resources at the urging of ACLU members, and

Whereas the DoD stance is still troubling since a longstanding practice to designate peaceful, law abiding activists as dangerous and treasonable still exists in many government departments and agencies,

We propose the creation of a formal body of non-violent, peaceful protest and dissent:

Overview and preliminary mission

• Standing for freedom takes courage; together we shall be strong in the face of all odds.

• To establish ‘safety in numbers’ and unite these disparate factions under an umbrella of protection for activists and ‘whistleblowers’ who may have concerns for the safety of themselves and their loved ones.

• To provide dissenters, researchers, activists and ‘whistleblowers’ and others who are like minded with access to media in order to get the truth out.

• To enable activists in paradigm-challenging fields to make a firm statement about their work, their intentions, and their positive state of mind.

• To provides access to media. The objective is to get the truth out... and facilitate appropriate, secure publicity for all those with information to share, but who fear reprisals for their stand.

• We will not tolerate suppression of our truths, our ideas, our freedoms, or our work.

• To stand together to support others in the expression of truths and freedom to speak out... no matter how radical those ideas may seem.

• We testify, assert and affirm without reservation, on behalf of all those who have dedicated their lives to the ending of secrecy and the promotion of freedom of thought, ideas and expression... that we shall prevail.

• To testify, assert and affirm without reservation, on behalf of all those who have dedicated their lives to dissent and/or the ending of secrecy and the promotion of freedom of thought, ideas and expression... that we shall prevail.

We solicit proposals, suggestions, and intent of solidarity with our mission in the creation of a vehicle to advance our own intent.

Reference

[1] Pentagon Rebrands Protest as "Low-Level Terrorism" (http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/06/pentagon-rebrands-protest-as-low-level-terrorism/).