Re: My thanks, too. Some media coverage: Thanks to all of you for your support!

[Andy Griggs]

How about an online petition addressed to Academy members - with the appeal attached and a place for people who are not Academy members to sign on as well!

Roots Action might take that on - or Move On

Andy Griggs, Program Director,
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
andy....@gmail.com

310-704-3217

Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence

On Jan 13, 2013, at 12:57 PM, DavidClennon wrote:

[sorry to be SO long-winded]

Thanks to Andy and ICUJP and endorsers for making it happen.

The program and MC (Grace) at the protest Friday were very professional.

My only tangible contribution was to borrow the chair from Sbarro, so speakers

could be better seen and heard.  Fed Bldg renovations apparently required

fencing, so we were deprived of the steps we've used in the past.

Thanks to World Can't Wait for the powerful visuals which contributed to the

coverage by KABC (am I remembering correctly?).  The detainees in prison

clothing, with hood and chains are the graphic reminder we needed to bring 

home what we were speaking about.

Thanks to Steve Rohde for forwarding press coverage and summarizing

and listing clearly the things we need to think about going forward.

I've been talking with CCR and ICUJP about a public appeal, by Academy

members, to other Academy members: Voting with Conscience for Academy

Awards (or a better title).  Ed & Martin (Asner & Sheen) have agreed to be

signers.  I'm hopeful that we could get as many as 10 signers, but the

public tirade (Friday) by Sony's co-Chair Amy Pascal might make others

think twice.

I'm not sure how to bring the attention of Academy members to the appeal

(so that they actually read it and realize exactly what we're urging).  Any attempt

to disseminate it would be greatly reinforced and legitimized by public

support from as many of our organizations as feel comfortable with the

statement.  An obvious, and somewhat expensive, would be to take out

ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.  Press conference at the L.A.

Press Club (Center?), which I haven't been in for at least 15 years.

Or press conference in the church two blocks north of the Oscar site.

(Emphasizing that torture is a moral, not a political, controversy.)

I got no other ideas at the moment.  

(I'll be interested to see how the Golden Globes play out.  

All Awards shows are a farce, and the Globes only recently 

acquired any credibility.  TV, all the mediums, feed on awards 

shows.  Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press 

Association, show biz newshounds & commentators from

anywhere outside the U.S.  They tend to fawn over American

culture, but there might be some wild cards, voters who've

retained some of their own national perspectives.)

And that's enough Hollywood gossip.  

Thanks again to the people who did the work to make it happen.

Dave C

######################################

DRAFT STATEMENT BY ACADEMY MEMBERS [1.7.13, 2130hrs]

We are members of various branches of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  In ordinary circumstances we would not even consider issuing a public statement like this.  But the historical context in which the film "Zero Dark Thirty" was produced calls for some reflection on the immorality and illegality of torture and the power of film to influence the emotions and thoughts of its audience.  "Zero Dark Thirty" presents gruesome scenes of torture which seem to mirror, accurately, the reality of the torture practiced by American military and intelligence personnel in the course of the "War on Terror."  

We do NOT object to depictions of torture onscreen.  What troubles us is that the film seems, to us, to encourage a tolerance of torture in the minds of viewers.  A careful viewing of the film clearly shows that the two lead interrogators extract a key clue to the whereaouts of Osama Bin Laden through torture, and the threat of continued torture. Further, none of the film's characters who commit, or authorize, the torture of the prisoners at their mercy expresses any regret or remorse about their deeds.  And "Zero Dark Thirty" never even suggests that the actions those characters have taken in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden were dishonorable.  In simple terms, the torturers are the good guys.

By the time the bad guy is killed and the end credits begin to roll, "Zero Dark Thirty" has encouraged, in its audience, if not outright approval of torture, then, at least, a tolerance for it. 

The following organizations have expressed grave concern over "Zero Dark Thirty"'s perceived condoning of torture (tentative list):

Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace

The Center for Constitutional Rights

The American Civil Liberties Union

Human Rights Watch

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture

  

We deplore acts of terrorism.  They are heinous crimes.  We believe that terrorists must be brought to justice.  But torture is also a crime, a crime under U.S. and international law -- a crime against humanity and a war crime.  We feel that torture is profoundly immoral, under any circumstances -- regardless of its "effectiveness."  The practice of torture by American intelligence and military personnel has lowered us into the realm of cruelty inhabited by the terrorists themselves.  "Zero Dark Thirty" catches its audience up, emotionally, in "The Greatest Manhunt in History."  It involves viewers in its philosophy that the ends justify the means, even when the means include torture.  By the time the bad guy is killed and the end credits begin to roll, "Zero Dark Thirty" has encouraged, in its audience, if not outright approval of torture, then, at least, a tolerance for it.   

We believe that directors, writers and actors share in the responsibility for the moral vision embodied in a film.  The Academy instructs its members to evaluate only the artistic merits of a film and the crafts employed to make it.  But artistry cannot be completely divorced from morality, can it?  Surely ethics and esthetics overlap somewhere.

We don't presume to tell our fellow Academy members how they should vote.  All we are saying is that, in addition to our artistic evaluation of the nominees, we will take into account the voice of conscience, as we cast our ballots, knowing that all the members of the Academy have their own standards of morality and ethics, as well as their standards of artistic achievement.  The Academy doesn't ask its members to ignore their consciences as they make their choices for Best Achievements. 

This is not an issue of artistic freedom of expression.  We are not calling for censorship of "Zero Dark Thirty."  That would frustrate the free exchange of ideas.  Our goal is simple -- we hope that "Zero" will not be honored by Academy (or Guild) members -- honored for making American heroes out of thugs who, in real life, would deserve to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. 

Awards season is upon us and many people around the world will be watching the outcomes of various awards competitions.  We hope that we can show the international community that our country, once again, shares the view of the vast majority of nations that cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners is reprehensible and unacceptable [un-American?]. 

**************************************************************

 

-----Original Message----- 
From: ROHDE...@aol.com 
Sent: Jan 13, 2013 10:47 AM 
To: andy....@gmail.com 
Cc: iacen...@peoplesmail.net, aarula...@ACLU-SC.ORG, ama...@afsc.org, djj...@earthlink.net, antiracis...@yahoo.com,arich...@hadsellstormer.com, billionw...@gmail.com, bluew...@dslextreme.com, bobmccl...@yahoo.com, cflju...@gmail.com,cpa...@hadsellstormer.com, cpo...@stcamillus.ftml.net, cw...@ACLU-SC.ORG, cyber_b...@yahoo.com, dennis...@gmail.com,dsto...@hadsellstormer.com, elly....@gmail.com, and...@gmail.com, ema...@afsc.org, eofi...@gmail.com, fdo...@sbcglobal.net, gfr...@bordc.org,haristi...@gmail.com, Hoff...@aol.com, hollyco...@yahoo.com, j...@allsaints-pas.org, jgu...@ptvla.org, jlaf...@nlg-la.org, juliema...@gmail.com,kwazin...@aol.com, l...@worldcantwait.org, l...@allwomencount.net, land...@schulerbrown.com, lgaz...@ccrjustice.org, LKas...@ccrjustice.org,l.e...@hadsellstormer.com, mar...@mpac.org, medea.b...@gmail.com, michae...@redfuture.com, msra...@gmail.com, na...@bordc.org,nicole.se...@gmail.com, o...@igc.org, organ...@bordc.org, peterl...@gmail.com, Sa...@swlaw.edu, sarah...@gmail.com, scott...@gmail.com,sha...@bordc.org, sjoh...@cair.com, squ...@ucla.edu, sssh...@gmail.com, thewep...@earthlink.net, todd...@lawnet.ucla.edu, Vcla...@aol.com,vtam...@gmail.com, worldcan...@yahoo.com, zapati...@gmail.com, partaz...@nrcat.org, KMen...@aiusa.org, la_vs...@lists.riseup.net,occupylosang...@googlegroups.com, tmo...@nrcat.org, ulisan...@verizon.net, Di...@curbprisonspending.org, causeco...@msn.com,jne...@ccrjustice.org, kbran...@ccrjustice.org, adick...@ccrjustice.org, icujp...@icujp.org 
Subject: Re: [la_vs_ndaa] Some media coverage: Thanks to all of you for your support! 

And.........we need to form a Working Group to plan a major public protest on Oscar night Feb 23 that clearly expresses the messages outlined below AND that 4. the Bush officials who authorized and conducted torture must be brought to justice and 5. the Obama administration must be held accountable for (a) defending and extending Bush policies (ie NDAA, etc.) AND (b) for its own war crimes in the use of DRONES in violation of international law.

 

Best, Steve

 

In a message dated 1/13/2013 10:00:58 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, rohde...@aol.com writes:

Friends:   The more I review the media coverage of ICUJP's protests all day Friday, the more pleased and proud I am of what we accomplished.  

We got major coverage including a major network in a major city which has squarely framed the issue:  1.  ZDT depicts torture because the US in fact DID torture;  2.   We condemn ZDT because it makes heroes of CIA agents who authorized and conducted torture and 3. We are advocating

CENSURE not CENSOR of ZDT. 

Let's actively sustain this campaign through the Oscars and  beyond.  This is a long term struggle. 

And let's defend the courage of David Clennon and his brave colleagues. 

Onward.......

Best, Steve  

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 13, 2013, at 5:59 AM, Andy Griggs <andy....@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks to Jon Krampner for getting this started and gathering most of it 

If you see anything we missed - please send it to him at bluew...@dslextreme.com

Please send pictures or videos to me at ic...@pacbell.net

Close Guantanamo Now  and related Press coverage:

ICUJP Photo album

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.525364527495063.125780.204450476253138&type=1

 

David Clennon’s article in Truthout:

http://tinyurl.com/bzth2sa

 

KABC-TV (5 o’clock news):

 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=8951253

 

Common Dreams:

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/11-4

 

Xinhua (official press agency of People’s Republic of China):

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/12/c_132097973.htm

 

China Daily (re-purposing of Xinhua article by an English-language daily published in People’s Republic of China): 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2013-01-12/content_8013419.html

 

Sina.com English (re-purposing of Xinhua article; website identifies itself as an online media company serving China and the global Chinese communities):

http://english.sina.com/world/2013/0111/547932.html

 

KCBS online article mentions our protest – and the 2^nd comment follows:

http://tinyurl.com/c4455ba

http://tinyurl.com/b2xp3zo

 

KCBS 9 PM News had this coverage of the leafleting http://tinyurl.com/cs4j4a6

 

Hollywood Reporter (more about the movie)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/martin-sheen-ed-asner-join-411733

 

Variety

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118064558/

 

And one more from Hitfix:

http://www.hitfix.com/awards-campaign/sonys-amy-pascal-defends-zero-dark-thirty-after-academy-members-attack

 

 

 

My comment added to several of these articles:

 

 The issue is not censorship here--it is US-condoned torture that occurs abroad and at home. The movie "normalizes" the use of torture and paints a picture of the good guys (CIA and the US) and the bad guys (Arabs and Islam)! Torture is wrong legally and morally. there is never a justification for it - whether called "enhanced interrogation" or "Secure Holding Units" (prolonged solitary confinement).

Torture is a war crime - and those who allow it should be held accountable.

Yes the movie is fiction - but that ignores the influence the media has over its viewers. The facts are that torture did not lead to the capture of Osama Bin Laden, and that is reinforced by statements from Diane Feinstein, John McCain, and Leon Panetta.

We must demand that the Senate Intelligence Committee release the report on CIA involvement in torture - the people of the US deserve to know the truth. And may I recommend a 20 minute film about torture? "Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever" is produced by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and is available at their website www.nrcat.org/factnotfiction.

Andy Griggs, Program Director,
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
andy....@gmail.com

310-704-3217

Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence

=

[Andy Griggs]

Great idea, John and others regarding the luncheon--anyone know the date or time? 

Andy Griggs, Program Director,
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
andy....@gmail.com

310-704-3217

Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence

On Jan 13, 2013, at 6:11 PM, John Obrien wrote:

Logistics make it far easier to hold a protest at the Oscar luncheon for visibility and effect with media coverage, 
whereas the Oscars awards are blocked off to demonstrators, to even get near on Highland and Hollywood Boulevard.

An action at the luncheon then allows insiders in the Entertainment field to follow up and distribute orange ribbons to those attending the Academy Award celebration - if allowed by those in charge of that Academy Award show.  I am
familiar with what it took for Amfar to distribute AIDS Red Ribbons years ago - which had the support of IATSE and SAG.  The orange ribbons likely may not get that same support - to allow people standing in the entrance area to that theater to approach people with these ribbons to wear - as was done with the previous Red Ribbons for the Tony, Golden Globes, or Oscar shows.

---

Subject: Re: My thanks, too. Some media coverage: Thanks to all of you for your support!
From: andy....@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:31:48 -0800
CC: ROHDE...@aol.com; iacen...@peoplesmail.net; aarula...@ACLU-SC.ORG; ama...@afsc.org; antiracis...@yahoo.com; arich...@hadsellstormer.com;billionw...@gmail.com; bluew...@dslextreme.com; bobmccl...@yahoo.com; cflju...@gmail.com; cpa...@hadsellstormer.com; cpo...@stcamillus.ftml.net;cw...@ACLU-SC.ORG; cyber_b...@yahoo.com; dennis...@gmail.com; dsto...@hadsellstormer.com; elly....@gmail.com; ema...@afsc.org;eofi...@gmail.com; fdo...@sbcglobal.net; gfr...@bordc.org; haristi...@gmail.com; Hoff...@aol.com; hollyco...@yahoo.com; j...@allsaints-pas.org;jgu...@ptvla.org; jlaf...@nlg-la.org; juliema...@gmail.com; kwazin...@aol.com; l...@worldcantwait.org; l...@allwomencount.net; land...@schulerbrown.com;lgaz...@ccrjustice.org; LKas...@ccrjustice.org; l.e...@hadsellstormer.com; mar...@mpac.org; medea.b...@gmail.com; michae...@redfuture.com;msra...@gmail.com; na...@bordc.org; nicole.se...@gmail.com; o...@igc.org; organ...@bordc.org; peterl...@gmail.com; Sa...@swlaw.edu;sarah...@gmail.com; scott...@gmail.com; sha...@bordc.org; sjoh...@cair.com; squ...@ucla.edu; sssh...@gmail.com; thewep...@earthlink.net;todd...@lawnet.ucla.edu; Vcla...@aol.com; vtam...@gmail.com; worldcan...@yahoo.com; zapati...@gmail.com; partaz...@nrcat.org; KMen...@aiusa.org;la_vs...@lists.riseup.net; occupylosang...@googlegroups.com; tmo...@nrcat.org; ulisan...@verizon.net; Di...@curbprisonspending.org;causeco...@msn.com; jne...@ccrjustice.org; kbran...@ccrjustice.org; adick...@ccrjustice.org; icujp...@icujp.org
To: djj...@earthlink.net