.:Free.Peace:.

Rape is one of the most violent and disgusting crimes in the world. In the United States, it has one of the lowest reporting, arrest, and prosecution rates of all violent crimes. There are many reasons for this, however, the very method used to find perpetrators is also the main reason why so much justice is lost for the victims. 

The rape kit is, in theory, a useful way of identifying a victim’s assailant. It is usually extremely traumatic and the testing can last anywhere between 4 and 6 hours. However, the DNA evidence gained can many times be worth it. Of course if nothing is done with these rape kits after the fact, they can be counterproductive. In the justice system today, there is estimated to be over 400,000 to 500,000 UNTESTED rape kits. Meaning the rape kits were performed, evidence taken, but the findings were never sent to be tested. No wonder 1 in 5 victims will never see their perpetrator brought to justice. In fact, because of this backlogging, a rapist has a 74% chance of getting away with it. 

Even when rape kits are sent to crime labs, many sit in storage for months or even years before being tested. The main reason for backlogging is the lack of resources and personnel who are able to perform the necessary testing. Backlogging represents a lack of justice for all the victims of rape - adults and children. Sexual violence and our government’s response to it must be top priority in this country. This backlogging is a blatant smack in the face to all affected by this gross and heinous crime. 

Peace, 

Ann X.

Earlier this month, a Guantanamo Bay prisoner saw light for the first time in 9 years. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, having been accused of instigating and planning an Yemeni terrorist attack in 2000, has been held at an undisclosed CIA black site. He has finally reached his trial date, facing charges of international war crimes. Take a guess as to whether or not the U.S. has authority to prosecute this “terrorist”. Obviously the answer is no. A country can only legally prosecute an individual for war crimes if they were militarily involved in the country in which the war crime was committed, at the time it was committed. In this case it was Yemen. The U.S. did not start their war of terrorism in this country til many years later. Thus, no authority.

Another ridiculous part of this case, is that Nashiri was one of three prisoners that George Bush admitted to having been water boarded. He was also threatened with a gun multiple times. In addition, he was tied down and blindfolded while a power drill was held at close range to his head. These accounts of torture were backed up by video evidence which were destroyed by the CIA in 2005. The intelligence gained from these torture sessions was later recanted by Nashiri as his way of getting out of the torture. Under law, any evidence admitted as have been gained through torture is not permissible in court. There goes the Prosecution’s only real evidence.

In addition, Nashiri is not allowed to call witnesses. And, up until a couple weeks ago, the prosecution was allowed to read, watch, and listen in on all forms of communication coming in for Nashiri. The U.S. Commission is also constantly updating their rules handbook, many times introducing the newest version moments before court time. No one involved in the trial is fully aware of what can and cannot be done within this case. Nashiri faces the death penalty, which is the first execution case heard in the military commissions.

There’s so much we don’t know.

Peace,

Ann X.

It wasn’t so long ago when our government arrested and indefinitely detained (meaning no reasoning, no trial, no hope of being released) Japanese Americans just for being Japanese. Fast forward to the McCarthy era when any citizen that would “probably” be a future threat were arrested and detained in the same fashion. The U.S. government has since apologized for these actions, but as we all know, apologies mean nothing if you keep repeating the same action.

And now here we are in 2011. In a closed door Senate session in June, provisions were added to the 2012 defense spending bill. Welcome back indefinite detentions! If this bill passes, the President/government would essentially have the right to indefinitely detain any person, both citizen and non-citizen, if they are found to be a terrorist threat. So no charge or trial and no ability to challenge their detention. I feel like the book “1984” is coming to life in which the government can detain anyone they want for any reason whatsoever with zero hope of being released. While the we are all focused on the Occupy movements, our government is attempting to pass some of the most unjust laws of our time. Don’t let them get away with this - go here to sign a letter to be sent to your Senator and help put an end to this stupidity.