[Seattle-editorial] URGENT! FEATURE PROPOSAL: Candlelight Rally Tonight

[Susan Gleason]

hi folks, 

looking for very quick thumbs ups on this.  we've been without a fresh feature, as you know, since December 8th. this event is happening tonight, and we've needed a feature on this INS issue for a long time.  

there are many past links we can incorporate into the feature, plus coverage from those attending tonight (i'll be there).

thanks!  -- Susan
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subtitle: GOVERNMENT REPRESSION INTENSIFIES:  "Special Registration"
title:  Candlelight Rally Tonight to Protest Round-ups and Detentions of Immigrants

A <a href=" http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21369&group=webcast">candlelight rally</a> is scheduled for this evening, 5pm in the International District (Hing Hay Park at 423 Maynard Ave South, 1 block south of Jackson), to protest the registration and detention of visitors from Muslim countries by the INS and U.S. Justice Department.

<a href=" http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=227803&group=webcast">Jan 10th</a>marked the end of a second phase of Justice Dept. registration for visiting male citizens over the age of 16 from Somalia, Afghanistan, North Korea and other Arab 
and African countries. Starting Jan. 13th a new phase begins, requiring male nationals visiting from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to register.

On <a href=" http://www.indymedia.org/archive/features/2002/12/2002-12.html#6530">December 17th</a>, thousands of men lined up at INS centers across the country to comply with the new <a href=" http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawenfor/specialreg/index.htm">"special registration"</a> laws. They were fingerprinted, photographed, and interrogated. Hundreds found themselves shackled and detained without explanation. Those held were people without green cards, or visitors to the U.S. on business, tourist or student visas from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan. Many were held in freezing cold cells, strip searched, and were otherwise abused. Reports indicate that approximately one quarter of those who came voluntarily to get registered were detained.

Event organizers with <a href=" www.notinourname-seattle.net">NION (Not In Our Name)</a>, see these actions as,"part and parcel 
of a bigger government agenda that includes stripping away of civil liberties, squashing of dissent, and a new normalcy of never-ending war, repression and intimidation being pushed forward by the Bush/Ashcroft regime." For the full story click <a href=" http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21369&group=webcast">here<a/> and <a href=" http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21367&group=webcast">here</a>
.

Event Co-Sponsors:  <a href="http://hatefreezone.org">Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington</a> | <a href="http:// www.notinourname-seattle.net">Not in Our Name – Seattle</a> 

Additional Coverage:  <a href=" http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21367&group=webcast"> January 10th Press Conference </a> |
<a href=" http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=227803&group=webcast"> Global Indymedia features </a>