NPR/POV ... William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe

[defendandprotect]

for anyone interested who may have missed this the other night on POV . . .

William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe


http://www.pbs.org/pov/disturbingtheuniverse/photo_gallery_watch.php

[Blue_Tires]

1. thanks for this...

[defendandprotect]

2. "All Power to the People" -- for those who might not have the time to watch the video . . .

In my experiences, the best stuff that comes along challenges traditional

concepts in a way which makes us immediately see them exposed in a new light --

Kunsler often exposed the prejudices of our established order -

White racism in America -- the prejudice of our Courts filling prisons with minorities --

Kunsler made clear that our Courts are to be used for moral purpose --

Power greater than the law --

"Only the absolute is justice -- not the law" --


Some may remember Attica -- government had the last word on that with violence --

In the documentary you see a prison officer being held who is saying that he can

speak not only for himself but that he knows other officers want the same thing as

the prisoners want --

What were the issues -- ?

better living conditions -- they had no educational programs -- the medical care was

horrendous -- and there were no minority guards.

They wanted to STOP "Slave labor in the prison" -

After 3 days of negotiations -- armed troops amassed outside the prison --

Despite the lies of government/Rockefeller . . .

"Everyone who was killed that day was killed by gunfire."

"Neither guards nor prisoners had any meaning in this white totalitarian world."

"The murderers were the people with guns and the state had sent them-"

40-41 people dead -- 32 were prisoners --

"Racism governed the whole thing-"


Even after the Chicago trial -- the FBI followed Kunsler and his wife --

tracked and followed them -- later they discovered the FBI had taken an apartment

across the street!

FBI was targeting lawyers -- trying to put an end to resistance --


What was the issue with the American Indian Movement -- ?

They wanted US government to "Honor the Treaties" -- !!

US sent 20 personnel carriers -- US armed forces had surrounded the town - blocked access.

FBI let Kunsler in --

After 71 days -- massacre everted -- leaders were charged with conspiracies --

Kunsler put the government on trial --

Judge: "US government is guilty--"

Judge found that the FBI had suppressed evidence -- Committed illegal surveillance --

even persuaded police to drop rape charges against prosecution's star witness --

That they were "Polluting the Waters of Justice" --

That there had been "government misconduct" --

"Illegal use of military foce you can't do without Congressional or presidential approval --"

"Not just because J. Edgar Hoover wants you to do this--"

Judge was converted from believing in his government to distrust --"


Kunsler argued the flag burning case before the Supreme Court -- which ruled that it was

"expressive conduct protected by the first amendment"

Kunsler had argued that the first amendment was designed to protect that which we hate --

to give it a place in the markeplace --


Kunsler also defended the "Central Park Rapists" -- keep in mind many in the public

called for the death penalty to be returned -- called them "animals" etal --

Kunsler pointed out that "No blood was found on any of the boys -- "

After 7 years in prison -- in 2002 -- they discovered they had the "Wrong Guys!

and the boys were exonnerated --

Kunsler pointed out that they had been "convicted by public opinion."

All of the guilty verdicts in Central Park Jogger Rape were set aside in 2002 --

all exonnerated --



Kunsler was brilliant in his understanding that "all white people are racist" --

that "We are blind to the depths of our own prejudices --

and that as long as there is such a thing as prejudice there is no such thing as

a fair trial."


Kunsler pointed out that we think there is an order to life and an order to the

systems -- "and that a person who goes thru this order and is convicted has gotten

all that is due to him" --

There is an aura of legitimacy -- the aura of legality --

But he points out that better men have gone to their deaths --

and that all the illegalities of history were done legally . . .

The Jewish Holocaust in Germany -- LEGAL
Sacco and Vanzetti -- LEGAL
Haymarket - LEGAL
100's of rape trials in South -- LEGAL
Jesus -- LEGAL
Socrates - LEGAL

"Because all tyrants learn that it is far better to do this thing through some semblance

of legality than to do it without that pretense -- "

An Established system -


Kunsler speaking to college students --

"That the best thing a person can do is to stand up to an injustice --

even when no one agrees with you --

even if you have to risk everything to do it - "

and he points to Michangelo's statue of DAVID - DAVID's CHOICE --

"Every person's life had a moment --

when you are thinking of doing something that will

jeoparadize yourself --

And if you don't do it - no one will be the wiser --

so it's easy to get out of --"