Columbia Law Human Rights Organizations have launched an online tool called the Trump Human Rights Tracker, which records and summarizes the human rights affected or violated by each of the president’s orders. It is already chilling reading.Although in its early days, the site already has seven entries, all of which link to the executive orders the Trump/Bannon presidency has enacted, as well as the analyses of various human rights' groups and the United Nations. Reading the latter is a particularly constructive exercise.
Consider, for example, the executive order Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States. While Trump publicly insists that the removal of illegal aliens will be limited to 'criminals', the actual language of the order says something quite different; this excerpt illustrates some of those it applies to:
(a) Have been convicted of any criminal offense;It is c and d that have therefore allowed heartbreaking scenes like this to occur:
(b) Have been charged with any criminal offense, where such charge has not been resolved;
(c) Have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense;
(d) Have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a governmental agency;
In essence, anyone who has gained access to the U.S. illegally is now more vulnerable than ever under Trump's executive order, even someone like the above who poses no threat to security and has children who are, in fact, American citizens. While some will exult in such measures, those willing to look at the human dimensions and tragedy involved will not.
I have bookmarked the Human Rights Tracker, and intend to visit it regularly for further study and analysis. I hope you will too.
I'm proud to see that the Pacific Coast states are pushing back. California may move from a collection of "sanctuary cities" to become a sanctuary state. Washington may follow suit. Trump has already threatened to withhold federal transfers to California if the state defies him. That has sparked some California leaders to talk about building a wall of their very own. If red state America does descend into something truly odious it will only bolster those of us on the left coast who advocate the creation of a new state reflective of our common interests and values. With Trudeau at the helm and O'Leary waiting in the wings, I would seriously consider seeing B.C. throw in with Washington, Oregon and California.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Mound. My own affinity for West Coast values was what made my decision to boycott travel to the U.S. such a difficult one. All I can say is that it is very heartening to see so many rising up against the Orange Ogre and his henchmen and women.
Delete.. thank you .. very very interesting & I will review..
ReplyDeleteI think as we saw though from Stephen Harper Inc - the overall effort regsrding Donald Trump Inc will require constant on the bounce accurate scathing reportage of how they lie daily. Their attitude being it is mind numbing to the electorate & public to even attempt to keep track of the content of the lie. Mainstream media certainly fails. So on each individual front, it is very important to fight the good fight. But calling such ideologues or crooks out every single day.. for the liars they are is even more criucial.. and so is attacking mainstream media for normalizing such institutional deceit.
Just follow news from David Aiken or John Ivison to see how they wildly oscillate from partisanship 'news' and opinion back to seemkngly reasonable 'journalism' - leaving one wondering of their relatioship to Paul Godfrey.. ie paycheque
At the same time, we need to laud the real journalists & Indy Bloggers & tweeters who get right to the facts. Damien Gillis in BC certainly exemplifies that capability & so do many First Nations representatives.. Jesse Housty comes to mind for example.
How interesting it is to see where creeps like Ezra Levant have steered the fringe media.. while braying they are responsible journalists - fer gowds sake.. I thought they were a chairitable organization..
The times do require constant vigilance, Salamander, at least as much as is humanly possible. I try to keep on top of things through my FB news feeds, my bookmarked alternative news sites, and friends on FB who often lead me to some very interesting information. I am convinced that were I to rely solely on the MSM (including even my beloved Toronto Star), I would be largely in the dark about the real story of America's fandango with fascism.
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