photo by Lauriel
by Vargus Pike
Mr President,
On January 26th, 2011 a statement was issued by you regarding the ongoing violence perpetrated on the peoples of Egypt by their government under Mubarak. You specifically said, “The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere.”
On March 8, 2011 you spoke regarding the uprising in Libya, “Last month, protesters took to the streets across the country to demand their universal rights, and a government that is accountable to them and responsive to their aspirations. But they were met with an iron fist…instead of respecting the rights of his own people, Qaddafi chose the path of brutal suppression. Innocent civilians were beaten, imprisoned, and in some cases killed. Peaceful protests were forcefully put down.”
On August 18 2011 you spoke these words about the crisis in Syria, “The United States has been inspired by the Syrian peoples’ pursuit of a peaceful transition to democracy. They have braved ferocious brutality at the hands of their government. They have spoken with their peaceful marches, their silent shaming of the Syrian regime, and their courageous persistence in the face of brutality – day after day, week after week. The Syrian government has responded with a sustained onslaught. I strongly condemn this brutality…the United States opposes the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Syria, and we support the universal rights of the Syrian people “
Since September 17th, 2011 when the Occupy Wall Street movement began citizens of the United States of America have been repeatedly and systematically brutalized by police forces across the country for trying to exercise their right to free speech and assembly. People have been beaten, teargassed, and pepper sprayed. Personal property including devices recording police brutality have been destroyed and members of the press have been bullied coerced and denied access to report police actions. Police actions have taken place in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness. To date more than 6,000 arrests have been made. Mayors in cities from New York and Boston, to Oakland and Portland appear to have conspired in a coordinated effort to deny their citizens the right to Assemble and petition their government for the redress of grievances.
In light of your remarks upholding the rights of the people of Egypt, Libya, and Syria, I feel compelled to call upon you to show the same concern for the rights of the American people and the United States Constitution. Therefore I respectfully request that you do one of two things: either immediately form a federal task force to investigate the systematic denial of basic fundamental human rights of American citizens by federal state and local governing bodies throughout these United States or resign as president for failure to uphold that Constitution and for failure to protect the people you swore to serve.
Respectfully,
Vargus Pike
