Torture is a profound abuse of the rule of law. A lack of full accountability for those responsible for U.S. torture policies has far-reaching and unexpected implications. A just rule of law cannot be established without full accountability for torture of U.S. detainees. If we allow those who committed and authorized torture, whether interrogators or senior executive officials, to go uninvestigated and unpunished we risk destabilizing the international legal regime and delegitimize our domestic criminal justice system. True accountability for torture is not only a moral imperative, but because of international obligations such as the Convention Against Torture, a legal obligation. Has the Department of Justice been politicized once again? What credibility does the criminal justice retain when our nation’s most public criminals escape any prosecution for acts far more deplorable—and harmful to national security—than those of the millions of Americans who languish in jails and prisons?

This event will feature an interactive panel:

• Shahid Buttar, hip-hop and electronica MC, civil rights lawyer, poet, dancer, independent columnist, and grassroots community organizer
• Matthew Alexander, former military interrogator
• Jesselyn Radack, former Dept of Justice official

The speakers will present concrete action opportunities to promote torture accountability, with a discussion to follow.

Please RSVP here.