News Updates
NEW Please read the comments on Civil Liberties Under Attack and Henry Kissinger & U.S. Global Hegemony in the October 3, 2006 St. Pete Peace Update |
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001
"Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism" - signed 10/26/01
Public Opposition
U.S. Schools - "Zero tolerance" & curtailment of free speech
This area of concern lacks prominent coverage in the media or on the Web. What follows are observations reported by AFSC staff in various youth programs. F/friends are urged to investigate local school systems and to contribute information on these issues.
- 9/11 response: "Tell us about the good Muslims" but don't address racism or ethnic conflict
- Zero tolerance of "intolerance": perceived acts of intolerance (e.g., pro-Palestine teeshirts) suppressed and punished without room for open discussion
- Disciplinary penalties: racial/ethnic conflicts among students treated solely as disciplinary issues and punished severely
- "No Child Left Behind" standardization: removes these issues from the curriculum
- Renewed requirement of "Pledge of Allegiance"
- Principals no longer have discretion
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