Students Speak: Protesters criticize Gonzales' work as former Attorney General
Charlie McIntosh
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Campus News
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Concerned students and citizens gathered to stage a protest at about 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in an attempt to call attention to Gonzales' controversial association with wiretapping, water-boarding and a series of attorney dismissals in 2006.
"We're just making sure Gonzales knows that he's not welcome here," said Corbin Gibson, a Senior Political Science major at UTM. "We don't welcome war criminals into our city and much less our university. We want to call into account his actions regarding the Bill of Rights and also his actions regarding torture."
Gibson played a large part in organizing the protest before the UTM fall break upon hearing that Gonzales would be speaking at the university. Many protesters joined a Facebook group telling them where to be and when to arrive the night of Gonzales' speech.
"Under the UN declaration against torture - signed by Ronald Reagan - it mandates that all countries investigate or prosecute torture," Gibson said. "Not doing so is a violation of international law."
Gibson referred to a number of controversies regarding wiretapping and prisoner treatment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which led to Gonzales' political resignation in 2007.
While Gibson doesn't expect Gonzales to be arrested because of a student-organized protest, he does believe it will raise awareness for the issue. As far as an actual arrest within U.S. borders, Gibson places that issue into the hands of President Obama.
"Obama has said many times that he doesn't want to look in the past, he wants to look into the future," Gibson said. "I disagree with this. I think it's our responsibility to prosecute such people, but we'll see how it goes. I hope something happens."
One UTM student attended the protest garbed in trash bags, a nod to the leaked Abu Ghraib prison photographs released earlier this decade.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 16
Smoke Dog
Smoke Dog
posted 10/28/09 @ 10:52 PM CST
I like how Dr. Charles Hammond feels that UTM is not a reputable institution. Plus, after all the crap the school has wasted money on since the financial difficulties, this $14,500 was over the line. (Continued…)
Charles Hammond, Jr.
posted 10/29/09 @ 5:05 PM CST
Dear Smoke Dog,
Please take a moment to reread the relevant sections of the article.
You'll notice, for one, that I do not bestow the title "Dr. (Continued…)
RLT2
posted 10/30/09 @ 6:43 AM CST
Smoke Dog Bogged Down
Wow, whats wrong Smoke, the good Professor, DR Hammond has responded to your criticism with intelligent answers and explains his position very adequately; where is your retort? Oh, sorry you are unable too. (Continued…)
Alumnus
posted 11/01/09 @ 1:00 AM CST
I can't believe the witch hunt still goes on. President Bush did whatever it took to keep this country secure after 9/11. Not only have we not had attacks, but recent attempts at attacks were thwarted because of the intelligence obtained from the techniques that people protest about. (Continued…)
clarification
posted 11/04/09 @ 7:04 AM CST
Dr. Hammond, I feel the need to address some inaccuracies in your information.
For starters, the Japanese version of waterboarding was much different from the technique practiced in Guantanamo. (Continued…)
Mike
Mike
posted 11/04/09 @ 5:11 PM CST
There is no need to get all upset. This is just the cause of the month for all the people that think that they were personally called to save the world. (Continued…)
Reply
posted 11/05/09 @ 8:09 AM CST
First of all I want to say that it is everyone's right to speak up, protest, march, or whatever.The majority of people in this country don't do any of that. (Continued…)
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