Some resolutions for Progressive DFL members

[annm4peace]

Reminder: Precinct Caucuses are Tuesday, February 2 Time and locations vary. Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State website for details: www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=886.

info on Precinct Caucus and the Resolution form. It helps if you put the info on the DFL form but not required. You can print and put your info on it.

http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1A8A18E3-7D51-4870-9EBB-E87ED0FFE16B}&DE={34BD1CCE-AEC0-4404-B7E4-3FD196C0C9C7}


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Convention Against Torture Resolution


WHEREAS under color of law and on behalf of the United States, people have conspired to and committed torture;


WHEREAS no one has been prosecuted for these crimes;


WHEREAS the Obama Administration has expressed a willingness to investigate only those who have exceeded the since withdrawn illegal torture limits of the Office of Legal Counsel of the Justice Department;


WHEREAS the Obama Administration has argued in courts for immunity and "State Secrets" protections to thwart judicial compensation to victims of torture;

WHEREAS the Obama Administration has continued the practice of extraordinary rendition for interrogation purposes to countries where there are substantial grounds for believing there is a danger of torture;


WHEREAS the Obama Administration is thereby violating Articles 3, 12, and 14 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which was ratified by the United States Senate in 1994;

BE IT RESOLVED that the _________ Party supports a Congressional investigation into possible violations of the Convention Against Torture that have occurred since January 20, 2009, by the United States of America, and, if necessary, referring such violations to the International Criminal Court at the Hague or other appropriate body.


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Depleted Uranium Resolution


WHEREAS depleted uranium bullets and shells persist in the environment beyond the duration of a battle;


WHEREAS uranium-core munitions, considered today’s Agent Orange, indiscriminately expose civilians and combatants to toxic dust that can become lodged in the body irradiating surrounding tissue and can cause genetic defects and cancers;

WHEREAS U.S. military personnel and contract employees in Iraq and Afghanistan are exposed to depleted uranium dust;


BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Congress ceases funding for depleted uranium munitions and curtails sales of uranium-core bullets and shells abroad.


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Resolutions Opposing Charges Against the RNC 8


WHEREAS a free society is one in which people can organize collectively to improve their lives without fear of persecution by their government;


WHEREAS progressive movements for social change have historically suffered state intimidation and repression in our efforts to organize, including but not limited to the unconstitutional arrest of Minnesota labor organizers under "criminal syndicalism" laws of the first half of the 20th century;


WHEREAS the criminal conspiracy charges filed by Ramsey County, Minnesota prosecutors in September of 2008 against eight preemptively arrested organizers of Republican National Convention protests in Saint Paul (known as the "RNC 8") are still being pursued, with no evidence that the defendants committed any act of violence and with no alleged victim;


BE IT RESOLVED that we oppose the politically-motivated criminal charges against the "RNC 8" Republican National Convention protest organizers.


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Resolution in Favor of Repealing the Minnesota Patriot Act


WHEREAS a free society is one in which people can organize collectively to improve their lives without fear of persecution by their government;

WHEREAS changes to the Minnesota criminal code under the so-called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 threaten political speech by defining acts that "further terrorism" so broadly as to encompass civil disobedience designed to "disrupt or interfere with the lawful exercise, operation, or conduct of government, lawful commerce, or the right of lawful assembly," including strikes, union picket lines, and other collective actions to defend peoples' rights;


WHEREAS the first criminal charges under this law were filed by Ramsey County prosecutors in September of 2008 against eight preemptively arrested organizers of Republican National Convention protests in Saint Paul (known as the "RNC 8″), with no evidence that the defendants committed any act of violence;


WHEREAS due to public outcry, the "RNC 8" are no longer charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act but still face pending felony conspiracy charges of a political nature;


BE IT RESOLVED that we call on Minnesota state legislators to repeal section 609.714 of the Minnesota criminal code ("Crimes Committed in Furtherance of Terrorism") in order to prevent future politically-motivated repression of political and community organizing in the state.


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International Criminal Court Resolution



WHEREAS 108 nations of the world have ratified their support of the International Criminal Court;

WHEREAS the International Criminal Court has indicted President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan of war crimes and crimes against humanity and issued an arrest warrant for those crimes;


WHEREAS the United States labeled the crisis in Darfur, Sudan to be 'genocide' in 2004;


BE IT RESOLVED that the United States should ratify its support of the International Criminal Court to bring President Bashir to justice.

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Convention to End all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Resolution


WHEREAS all but six member states (Iran, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga) of the United Nations have signed and ratified their support of the United Nations Convention to End all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);

WHEREAS this convention was adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and took force in 1980;


WHEREAS the United States is the only United Nations member state that has signed but not ratified this Convention;

BE IT RESOLVED that he United States should ratify its support for CEDAW.


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Convention on the Rights of the Child Resolution

WHEREAS all but two member states of the United Nations (United States and Somalia) have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

WHEREAS this Convention has not been ratified because it prohibits military service for those under the age of 18;


WHEREAS the United States allows military service for those who are 17 years of age;

WHEREAS the age of adulthood is defined for other purposes as 18 years of age;


BE IT RESOLVED that the United States should ratify its support for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.


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International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) Resolution


WHEREAS the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) had extensive bipartisan and bicameral co-sponsorship and support in the United States legislature in the last legislative year;

WHEREAS the state of Minnesota has passed a state Violence Against Women Act;


BE IT RESOLVED that the United States should pass the International Violence Against Women Act.

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Anti-Torture Resolution

BE IT RESOLVED that the _________ Party calls on President Obama to appoint an independent, non-partisan commission to examine and report publicly on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees in the period since September 11, 2001.

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Child Sex Slave Resolution


WHEREAS all child sex slaves in Minnesota need protection from human traffickers;

WHEREAS Minnesota law needs to be changed so that child sex traffickers using fraudulent adoption visas and other fraudulent visas to bring children into the United States to sell as child sex slaves can be prosecuted as human traffickers under Minnesota law;


WHEREAS Minnesota law humiliates child sex slaves, and stigmatizes, and impairs the credibility of the testimony of child sex slaves;

WHEREAS Congressional hearings have found that child sex slaves are being arrested, not rescued;

WHEREAS in Minnesota, at least one child sex slave has been arrested, not rescued;

WHEREAS Minnesota law needs to be changed to be in compliance with federal law to allow Minnesotans and the federal government to know how many sex traffickers and patrons are being prosecuted in Minnesota;

BE IT RESOLVED that this caucus will support changes in Minnesota law to: Support police action directed towards prosecution of traffickers using fraudulent adoption visas and other fraudulent visas to bring children into the United States to sex as child sex slaves; Support police action directed towards prosecution of traffickers and patrons (users) of child sex slaves, not against the child sex slaves; Support provision of victim funds to be provided to protect, and provide for child sex slaves while they are waiting to be witnesses against the child sex slave traffickers; Support change of language in Minnesota law to language which dignifies and provides victim support for child sex slaves; Supports change in Minnesota law to enable collection of data in compliance with federal requirements so that Minnesotans can know how many sex traffickers and patrons are being prosecuted in Minnesota.

[dflprincess]

1. Thanks!

I have printed these off and will take them with me tonight.

[MNmom]

2. It would be great to see the DFL take some progressive actions!

Well written resolutions!

[annm4peace]

3. District 62, Precinct 12 Passed all these resolutions

and one calling for the Gov of MN to bring the National Guard home.


Yippeeee!!!!! Things are changing.. Last caucus I couldn't get 1/2 of these types of resolutions passed.