Take Action With National Religious Campaign Against Torture Add your voice to the Statement of Conscience at http://www.nrcat.org/ with Amnesty International    Ensure Accountability for War Crimes    Call on Congress to Demand Prosecution of Abusive Contractors.      For More Information, Click Here  with Witness to Torture    Click Here To Learn More

Past Activities of 
Metro New York Religious Campaign Against Torture 

June 2008 Torture Awareness Month MNYRCAT Interfaith Vigil In Remembrance of the Victims & Survivors of Torture June 26th 6 p.m. Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is at 47th and First Avenue) Interfaith Press Conference Denominational Leaders will Announce Their Denomination’s Opposition to Torture followed by a procession to: 7 p.m. U.N. Chapel Interfaith Prayer Service in Remembrance of the Victims & Survivors of Torture. (U.N. Chapel is across from the U.N. at First Avenue and 44th Street at the U.N. Church Center)   Leaders at press conference and service include: Bishop Jeremiah Park, UMC New York Annual Conference Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid, Majlis Ash Shura of NY Nancy Black, Friends NY Quartlerly Meeting Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbis for Human Rights NA Rev. David M. Bryce, UU Metropolitan District of NY Rev. Michael Caine, UCC NY Conference Rev. Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church Rev. Bob Coleman, The Riverside Church On Mon, 7/7/08, Hallinan, Rev. Mark, S.J. wrote: "We had a very successful Interfaith Service on June 26th, 2008 to mark the U.N. International Day in Remembrance of the Survivors and Victims of Torture An important part of that service was the testimony of a Chilean Torture Survivor. That testimony is attached. It is a remarkable story of the depths of human depravity, but also of the resiliency of the human spirit." To read the testimony, Click Here

Declaration of Principles for a Presidential Order Banning Torture The Golden Rule. We will not authorize or use any methods of interrogation that we would not find acceptable if used against Americans, be they civilians or soldiers. One National Standard. We will have one national standard for all US personnel and agencies for the interrogation and treatment of prisoners. The Rule of Law. We will acknowledge all prisoners to our courts or the International Red Cross. No secret prisons. Prisoners will have the opportunity to prove their innocence in ways that fully conform to American principles of fairness. Duty to Protect. The US will not transfer any person to countries that use torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Checks and Balances. Congress and the Courts will have access to the information they need to be fully informed about our detention and interrogation practices. Clarity and Accountability. All US personnel who authorize, implement, or fail to prevent the use of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners will be held accountable.   Go to the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) website and Endorse these Principles: www.nrcat.org – Click on: Tell the President: Ban Torture   Go to the “No Torture” “No Exceptions” website and send a message to the presidential candidates to reject torture www.rejecttorture.org

Metro New York Religious Campaign Against Torture Anti-Torture Workshop For Clergy and Religious Leaders April 30, 6 to 9 PM Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South Featured Speakers Professor Baher Azmy Seton Hall Law School, Attorney for former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Murat Kurnaz   Gabor Rona International Legal Director, Human Rights First  and  Father Mark C. Hallinan Social Ministries, Society of Jesus, N.Y. Province Download talk by Father Hallinan (pdf format)

Prayer Vigil To End Torture In Law And In Fact, Friday, January 11 To Commemorate The 6th Anniversary of boys and men being brought to Guantánamo Prison   Juma Interfaith Prayers 12:30pm, Vigil 1:00 to 2:00pm Foley Square, NYC Pearl & Centre Streets  Juma led by Imam Talib Abdur Rashid Statement by Dr. Andrew D. Saperstein, Associate Director, Reconciliation Program, Yale Center for Faith and Culture (will open as a .pdf document) Speakers included: • Rev. Donna Schaper, Judson Memorial Church, moderator • Andrew Saperstein, Evangelicals for Human Rights • Hassan El Menyawi, Visiting Professor at Davidson College, International   Human Rights Law, speaking as a Torture Survivor • Imam Talib, The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem • Sensei T.K. Nakagaki, New York Buddhist Temple • Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Rabbis for Human Rights (NYC) • Rev. Bob Coleman, The Riverside Church

Sept. 24, 2006 Panel Discussion: Torture: How to Stop It   St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Manhattanville   Speakers Prof. Rev. George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological   Seminary & founder of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Jennifer Harbury, human rights lawyer, author of "Truth,   Torture, And The American Way"; widow of Comandante Everardo, leader of Guatemalan resistance forces in the 80s who was  assassinated by the Guatemalan military

June 2006, Torture Awareness Month, we organized and participated in the following activities:   Sunday, June 18th  - Torture, and the Religious Response 1-3 p.m., Panel discussion at The Riverside Church Moderated by: Rev. Chick Straut, Social Special Asst. for Mission and Social Justice Ministries, The Riverside Church   Priti Patel, Human Rights First Mark Denbeaux, author of Profile of 517 Guantanamo Detainees Jeanne E. Herrick-Stare, National Religious Campaign Against   Torture, American Friends Service Society Michael Feinberg, Rabbis for Human Rights Representative from the Islamic Society of North America       Sunday, June 25th - Shut Down Guantanamo and Stop Torture: Raise Awareness 6 p.m., Judson Memorial Assembly Room Moderated by: Edget Betru, Organizer, Guantánamo Global Justice Initiative, Center for Constitutional Rights       Sara Havens, attorney with Allen & Overy, represents fourteen   Yemeni prisoners at Guantanamo George Hunsinger, Director, National Religious Network Against   Torture Performance piece by Michael Cates and Pierce Woodward Representative from Amnesty International       Monday, June 26th - Shut Down Guantanamo and Stop Torture: Take Action - Procession to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to call on Ambassador John Bolton to join the International Consensus Against Torture.