No to UC Complicity with War Criminals and the Torture State! Fire, Disbar, and Prosecute “Torture Professor” John Yoo! | Press Release

EVENT: Protest demonstration; street theater; public information At the 2009 Commencement Ceremonies for Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall)

WHERE: UC Berkeley: Greek Theater (commencement) and Great Hall and Clark Kerr Courtyard (gala reception)

WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:00 AM onward

PHOTO OP: Is There a War Criminal On UC Faculty?

The organization WORLD CAN’T WAIT has announced it will bring a large anti-torture protest demonstration to the 2009 graduation ceremonies at UC’s Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall), denouncing the continuing presence of former Bush administration lawyer John Yoo on UC’s tenured faculty.

Joined by protesters from other organizations and the UC community, World Can’t Wait calls for John Yoo to be prosecuted for torture, as a war crime and a crime against humanity.

One year after a similar large protest at Boalt’s 2008 graduation, World Can’t Wait will again rally to call for John Yoo’s prosecution, disbarment, and his firing from the university for his role in crafting torture memos for the Bush administration. They point to the extensive revelations that have continuing to pour out showing the construction of a torture apparatus and policies, spearheaded from the top of the Bush administration, and to the growing public outcry in response.

“This year, we will even more emphasize the shameless role of Boalt’s Dean, Christopher Edley, who continues to shamelessly protect John Yoo against investigation and prosecution, while he allows Yoo to teach and influence the future generation of lawyers and judges,” said World Can’t Wait organizer Curt Wechsler.

Protesters plan to be outside the Greek Theater as the graduation processional approaches. They say their focus is to expose the refusal of those in power to take responsibility for repudiating torture, and for bringing the torturers to justice. Organizers anticipate that many graduates and faculty members will express support for this message.

World Can’t Wait’s Stephanie Tang explained: “Many members of the legal community, including at UC, are outraged by the work of the Torture Team -- Yoo, Bybee, Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush. What does it signal, that the horrors of the torture chamber now sit squarely at the center of American power in the world? We invite students, graduates, their families, alumni, and UC faculty and staff to do everything they can inside the graduation to join with the protest outside.”

PRESS ADVISORY from THE WORLD CAN’T WAIT!
For Immediate Release: Friday May 8, 2009
CONTACT: Curt Wechsler 818-480-1860