Free Lynne Stewart
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President Barack Obama
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Mr. President,
On Thursday, November 19th, long time civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart was ordered by Judge John G. Koeltl to turn herself in to begin serving a 28-month prison sentence for her 2006 conviction for conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists. This 70 year old woman has devoted her life to the poor, the underprivileged, the black community and justice. Anyone who could not afford for a lawyer could knock at her door. Today, Lynne Stewart is fighting not only for her freedom but for any Americans freedom.
Lynne Stewart did not benefit of justice. Her case became only important after 911. Let me remind you that her only mistake was to ignore the US Bureau of Prisons Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) she had to sign in order to defend Sheik Omar-Abdel Rahman. The SAMs are unconstitutional as a violation of both the First Amendment and the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. The Clinton Administration did not consider Lynne Stewart as a terrorist and a traitor. Her case was merely considered as an administrative fault. She received a letter to that effect, and could not visit her client in prison for some time. Then, she was allowed to visit him and pursue her work as a lawyer. It is only on April 9th 2002 that she was arrested, in the aftermaths of 911, when the climate was hysterical. So hysterical that the attorney general John Ashcroft went to David Letterman Late Night show to tell America that Lynne Stewart is a traitor to the nation.
Today, in the media, Lynne Stewart is either a terrorist and a traitor, and deserves the worst punishment, or an hero. But she is neither of them. She is a 70 year old woman with years of life experience as mother, a grand-mother, an activist and a lawyer. As a young white American, she fought for the blacks, because she believed in justice. Decades latter, she defended the Sheikh Omar-Abdel Rahman, because she still believed in justice.
Today, she is in jail, and she still believes in justice. Even if her trial bring us back to the worst period in America, namely the McCarthiysm.
Mr. President, I have known Lynne Stewart for five years now. The first time I heard of her was in the newspapers, in 2004. They described Lynne Stewart as a terrorist and, with my husband, we decided to contact her to see what really happened and who she was. We decided to make a documentary about her case to find out what happened. We have been very cautious to be as neutral as possible.
Mr. President, years latter, I can tell you that Lynne Stewarts only error was to be overconfident. She had confidence in justice, and the government of United States has betrayed her:
By attacking the First Amendment right of free speech, free press and petition;
by attacking the right to effective assistance of counsel by chilling the defense; (and)
by invading the private conversations, private-attorney-client meetings, faxes, letters and e-mails to gather the 'evidence'.
Mr. President, I urge you to free Lynne Stewart. She only did her work zealously.
On Thursday, November 19th, long time civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart was ordered by Judge John G. Koeltl to turn herself in to begin serving a 28-month prison sentence for her 2006 conviction for conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists. This 70 year old woman has devoted her life to the poor, the underprivileged, the black community and justice. Anyone who could not afford for a lawyer could knock at her door. Today, Lynne Stewart is fighting not only for her freedom but for any Americans freedom.
Lynne Stewart did not benefit of justice. Her case became only important after 911. Let me remind you that her only mistake was to ignore the US Bureau of Prisons Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) she had to sign in order to defend Sheik Omar-Abdel Rahman. The SAMs are unconstitutional as a violation of both the First Amendment and the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. The Clinton Administration did not consider Lynne Stewart as a terrorist and a traitor. Her case was merely considered as an administrative fault. She received a letter to that effect, and could not visit her client in prison for some time. Then, she was allowed to visit him and pursue her work as a lawyer. It is only on April 9th 2002 that she was arrested, in the aftermaths of 911, when the climate was hysterical. So hysterical that the attorney general John Ashcroft went to David Letterman Late Night show to tell America that Lynne Stewart is a traitor to the nation.
Today, in the media, Lynne Stewart is either a terrorist and a traitor, and deserves the worst punishment, or an hero. But she is neither of them. She is a 70 year old woman with years of life experience as mother, a grand-mother, an activist and a lawyer. As a young white American, she fought for the blacks, because she believed in justice. Decades latter, she defended the Sheikh Omar-Abdel Rahman, because she still believed in justice.
Today, she is in jail, and she still believes in justice. Even if her trial bring us back to the worst period in America, namely the McCarthiysm.
Mr. President, I have known Lynne Stewart for five years now. The first time I heard of her was in the newspapers, in 2004. They described Lynne Stewart as a terrorist and, with my husband, we decided to contact her to see what really happened and who she was. We decided to make a documentary about her case to find out what happened. We have been very cautious to be as neutral as possible.
Mr. President, years latter, I can tell you that Lynne Stewarts only error was to be overconfident. She had confidence in justice, and the government of United States has betrayed her:
By attacking the First Amendment right of free speech, free press and petition;
by attacking the right to effective assistance of counsel by chilling the defense; (and)
by invading the private conversations, private-attorney-client meetings, faxes, letters and e-mails to gather the 'evidence'.
Mr. President, I urge you to free Lynne Stewart. She only did her work zealously.
1141 Signatures
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Francis van den Heuvel
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Claude Herdhuin
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harchin
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Khalatbari
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Cynthia McKinney
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Claudine van den Heuvel
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Larry Pinkney
- Comments
- The time is right now!
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Karoline Dehnhard
- Comments
- Set an example: Free Lynne Stewart!
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Maja Romano
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Colia L Clark
- Comments
- Hold Strong Sister, we will fight until you are freed.
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BERTHELOT
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Stephen Lendman
- Comments
- Lynne heroically and unselfishly devoted her life to helping others. Yet she's now unjustly imprisoned. How America rewards its unwanted many. Lynne has scheduled Dec. 7 breast cancer surgery. Please let her have it in her chosen hospital with her private surgeon. Doing otherwise is an unconscionable human rights abuse and crime against humanity.
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Tom Siracuse
- Comments
- I appeal to you to intevene for Lynne's Stewart so she can be released for her operation and resume a life dedicated to justice...
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Elizabeth Oram
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BORDE Michel
- Comments
- Avoir de l'admiration,c'est peu dire....
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Sara Catalinotto
- Comments
- We need diversity within the legal system.
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Don DeBar
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Louis Novak
- Comments
- В
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Cayre Christiane
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Sheila Hamanaka
- Comments
- Free Lynn Stewart! go to www.justiceunity.org
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carol lang
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Jay Murphy
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jay sweeney
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Mujahid Ibn Abdellah
- Comments
- Please allow this courageous attorney to choose where she wants her medical operation conducted
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James Krivo
- Comments
- please let us have justice
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E. S. Krieger
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Christopher C. Black, Barrister, International Criminal Lawyer, Toronto, Canada
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- The imprisonment of this courageous and fine lawyer brings more shame on the American government, justice system and people. Lynne Stewart must not only be released but all due process restored in the United States inlcuding habeas corpus without which the USA will remain a pariah among civilised nations.
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John Moran
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Barbara Batchelor
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James DeMaegt
- Comments
- Please FREE Lynne Stewart
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Robert S. Witanek
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Vivian H Walter
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rosalie yelen
- Comments
- Breast cancer surgery is traumatic enough without having to have it done in a prison hospital. Lynne Stewart is not a criminal, or a terrorist. Get the facts and free her now.
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Caroline Hugh
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tamara grapek
- Comments
- We can only win over terrorism if we practice democratic principles at home. Lynnes' story is as horrible story of the malpractice of the principles America stands on!
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Harris Gleckman
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Russell Nash
- Comments
- I have long followed Lynne Stewert's magnanimous career, her selfless pursuit of justice for the most needy of our society, her affiliation with the late William Kunstler a giant champion for the oppressed, speaks for itself! It is a travesty for this women to have to endure one minute incarceration ,and an embarrassement to any who do not make a small gesture to one who has given so much. when we any of us need help and noone comes we should think of this moment and be ashamed!
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Valerie Van Isler
- Comments
- Free the People's Lawyer and a true defender of all our constitutional rights now.
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Edwin Johnston
- Comments
- Occupy everything!
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Enzo Bard
- Comments
- Being at the vigil to close the SOA (WHINSEC) I thought it ironic that while Lynn Stewart is accused of terrorism, our tax dollars are spent training Lartin American terrorists in a US military facility. Lynn Stewart is not a terrorist by any stretch of the imagination.
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Ken Coughlin
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Eleanor Ommani
- Comments
- If those who have given their lives for justice are treated as criminials, then where, Pres. Obama, Is the CHANGE?
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Bobbi Siegelbaum
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Eric Odell
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lillie galan
- Comments
- It's about time to stop or change illegal premises based on fear.
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Jalal Sabur
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Rosemarie Zacchi
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Gerard Cruz
- Comments
- Free Lynne Stewart.
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Dr. Jerrilyn McGregory
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John Mahon
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1141
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