The VFP Ban Torture Campaign is Proud to Present
Voices of Torture
Perspectives From a Witness and a Survivor
7:00pm
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Ethical Society in St. Louis, MO
Join us for an evening that will awaken your conscience.
Hear firsthand accounts of what torture is, how it affects the lives of its victims, and learn why torture is never the answer.
Featured Speakers
James "Yusof" Yee & Demissie Abebe
James “Yusuf” Yee was a former U.S. Army chaplain who ministered to Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay and witnessed firsthand the cruel and abusive treatment of detainees. He was detained and charged by the US government for several serious crimes, including aiding the enemy, spying, and espionage. During this time he was subject to the same kind of interrogation techniques he witnessed at Guantanamo Bay. The case fell apart due to a lack of evidence, and all of these charges were eventually dropped. Yee wrote a book, “For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire,” in which he describes his experiences and is critical of the government’s abusive treatment of detainees. Read his full bio at www.justiceforyee.com
Yee will also be speaking at the Darul Islam Mosque on Thursday, January 8th thanks to the support from stlislam.org and the St. Louis Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations--see below or visit stlislam.org for more details.
Demissie Abebe currently serves as the executive director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International and is a survivor of torture in Ethiopia. He was severely tortured after he tried to expose corruption in an agency responsible for development and assistance to the poor.
We are also inviting a legal expert on torture issues for the final portion of our event. He will participate with James Yee and Demissie Abebe in an informal dissussion about torture. The expert will provide
an additional opinion to round out the discussion. After some brief
introductory thoughts by the legal expert, we will move into a Q&A session
that will be a mix of audience and moderator questions.The event will be moderated by Michael McPhearson, the Executive Director of Veterans For Peace.
Denise Lieberman (Moderator)
Lieberman is a lawyer & activist specializing in constitutional law, civil liberties & civil rights. She is a Lecturer in the Political Science Department & an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. She recently served as the Legal Director of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. She brought many impact cases for the ACLU, including important cases challenging the stifling of free speech and FBI political surveillance after 9/11. Denise serves as co-chair of the Individual Rights Committee of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, where she works to advance civil liberties & social justice in the legal profession.
Lieberman is a lawyer & activist specializing in constitutional law, civil liberties & civil rights. She is a Lecturer in the Political Science Department & an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. She recently served as the Legal Director of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. She brought many impact cases for the ACLU, including important cases challenging the stifling of free speech and FBI political surveillance after 9/11. Denise serves as co-chair of the Individual Rights Committee of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, where she works to advance civil liberties & social justice in the legal profession.
Also Sponsored by:
Amnesty International-St. Louis
Military Families Speak Out-Midwest Chapter
For more information regarding the event:
Please contact Warren at Veterans for Peace
Email: wpopp.vfp@gmail.com
Phone: (314) 725-6005
Fax: (314) 725-7103
Download a PDF version of our event flyer to post and share with friends and family!
Download a PDF version of our event flyer to post and share with friends and family!
Can't attend the event on Friday? See Captain James Yee Speak at the Dar ul Islam Mosque on Thursday, January 8, 2009.
"Muslim Participation in Civic Responsibilities
Keeping the Faith in Times of Crisis"
Visit stlislam.org for more details