Close NSA and Save America

By Adwoa Masozi, on January 13th, 2014

On Friday December 6, 2013 activists from Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia gathered near the headquarters to make a statement to passerbys about the National Security Agency, the US’s principal spy agency conducting warrantless, unconstitutional dragnet surveillance on all Americans and much of the world: CLOSE THE NSA. and SAVE AMERICA.

It isn’t enough to be outraged. Times like this require concerted, committed, and focused grassroots [creative] action. With Bill of Rights Day approaching on December 15 speak out, and for millions of others whose rights are being trampled by the emerging surveillance state. There has never been a better time to raise your voice!

Organizations represented during the banner drop include: Bill of Rights Defense Committee CODEPINK: Women for Peace Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition Restore the Fourth We Act Radio

Filmed by Robin Bell Edited by Adwoa Masozi Music by Petteri Sainio

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Rally Against Mass Surveillance

By Grassroots DC, on October 25th, 2013

The NSA is spying on everyone’s personal communications. It’s operating without any meaningful oversight.

On October 26th, the 12th anniversary of the signing of the USA Patriot Act, we’re holding the largest rally yet against NSA surveillance. We’ll be handing more than a half-million petitions to Congress to remind them that they work for us — and we won’t tolerate mass surveillance any longer.

A stellar group of whistleblowers, activists, researchers and others from both sides of the political spectrum will be speaking at this historic event. The list includes:

Congressman Justin Amash Former senior NSA executive and whistleblower Thomas Drake Social critic Naomi Wolf Jona Bechtolt, from electro-punk band YACHT Claire L. Evans, also from YACHT Lt. Dan Choi, LGBT advocate and U.S. veteran Rainey Reitman, EFF Bruce Schneier, internationally renowned security technologist Craig Aaron, Free Press Kymone Freeman, Director of the National Black LUV Fest Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson Khalilah Barnes, EPIC Shahid Buttar, Bill of Rights Defense Committee Malachi Byrd, DC Youth Poetry Slam Team Wafa Ben Hassine, writer and human rights advocate Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich Laura Murphy, ACLU NOT4PROPHET, Hip Hop MC and community organizer Black Alley, DC-based soul-garage band

Location: Marchers will gather in front of Union Station at 11:30 a.m. by the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain in Columbus Circle. Shortly after noon we’ll march to the National Mall at 3rd Street and Madison Dr. NW, in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, where there will be a stage set up for our rally speakers, musicians, and performers.

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Enemies of the State? Government Surveillance of Communities of Color

By Grassroots DC, on October 23rd, 2013

The National Security Agency is tracking our phone calls and monitoring our emails, Web searches and other online activity — with the aid of companies like Verizon, Facebook and Google.

But what does all of this mean for communities of color?

The federal government has a long history of spying on people of color to discredit racial justice movements. During the 1970s, the government passed legislation to rein in these programs. But since Sept. 11, those safeguards have been eroded, and many in these communities are now under both digital and physical surveillance.

This spying has affected the Muslim-American community in particular. In 2002, the New York Police Department created a surveillance program targeting local Muslim Americans, forcing the community to live in fear. The program continues to this day.

Join us at one of D.C.’s premier cultural venues for a lively and wide-ranging panel discussion on how local and federal spying operations impact movements for social and racial justice. The conversation will also explore ways to fight back to protect our online digital rights and Internet freedom.

Morgan State University Professor Jared Ball, the host of the radio program Super Funky Soul Power Hour, will moderate the discussion. Our amazing panelists include former political prisoner and Black Panther Party leader Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, ACLU D.C. Program Director Seema Sadanandan, communications specialist and media activist Adwoa Masozi, Desis Rising Up and Moving Legal and Policy Director Fahd Ahmed, May First/People Link founder Alfredo Lopez and other special guests.

This event is presented by Free Press, the Center for Media Justice and Voices for Internet Freedom.

Busboys and Poets (Langston Room) 2021 14th St NW Washington, DC 20009 Thursday, October 24, 2013 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT)

The event is free and open to the public but you must RSVP to reserve your seat. Space is limited. Food and drinks are available to order during the event.

This discussion is a prelude to the Rally Against Mass Surveillance on October 26. More information about the rally is available here.

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