Privacy SOS

Virginia says NO to indefinite detention

The State of Virginia, where the homeland security industrial complex of “Top Secret America” has flourished since 9/11, has given its neighbor, the US Congress, a surprising slap in the face.  

It is now one of three states (the others are Maine and Arizona) that have passed legislation condemning the indefinite detention provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act.

The new law “prevents any agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the military of Virginia from assisting an agency of the armed forces of the United States in the conduct of the investigation, prosecution, or detention of a United States citizen in violation of the United States Constitution, Constitution of Virginia, or any Virginia law or regulation.”

Similar legislation is being considered in Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and West Virginia, and a dozen communities have passed anti-NDAA resolutions with ongoing campaigns in many more.  

The campaigns have been spurred by groups across the political spectrum, from the ACLU and Bill of Rights Defense Committee, to the Virginia-based Tenth Amendment Center which espouses states’ rights.  Check out these links to get involved.

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