This page will be updated soon to reflect the current status of the Community of Sanctuary effort after Ithaca Common Council passed a version of the sanctuary resolution (below) on October 1, 2008.
Contact information is also contained in the Sanctuary Petition Packet below.
Download Sanctuary Petition Packet
Download Petition Form
note: petition form must be printed on 8-1/2″ x 14″ legal sized paper.
SANCTUARY PETITION
[City of Ithaca]
WHEREAS, according to former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the Bush Administration’s War on Iraq is in violation of the Nuremberg Charter and the decisions of the United Nations; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 1, Article 2 of the UN Charter states:
3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations, and
WHEREAS, according to Article VI, Section 2 of the United States Constitution these international treaties are part of the “Supreme Law of the Land” to which “the Judges in every state shall be bound”; and
WHEREAS, Ithacans and others face serious challenges regarding the environment, the economy, energy, food and water that could be met more fully by consistently strengthening these international agreements; and
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Ithaca, and the Mayor and the Common Council of the City of Ithaca acting as their elected representatives, have an interest in upholding the U.S. Constitution for the purposes of preserving peace and democracy at both the local and national level; and
WHEREAS, Army statistics show that an alarming and increasing number of U.S. military personnel are returning from sometimes multiple tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan with debilitating psychological disturbances especially Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the abhorrent things they might have seen and might have been required to do in the course of their ordinary military duty; and
WHEREAS, these wars have had and continue to have a detrimental impact on our families, communities and our nation; and
WHEREAS, an inspiring and growing number of military personnel and veterans have come to recognize that they have a moral obligation to voice their opposition to these conflicts, and are currently organizing through educational efforts, in the great tradition of democracy, civil rights, and human rights, to end these wars; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Ithaca are cognizant of and deplore the fact that military personnel regardless of their views of the current wars have suffered beyond the pain and suffering directly related to their own involvement in the wars, that this suffering has been extensive, that a good deal of this suffering could and should have been prevented; and
WHEREAS, many military personnel and veterans in addition to hardships that are directly war related also often face limited financial resources and limited access to healthcare; and
WHEREAS, various healers are planning to provide their skills to aid in the healing and recovery of soldiers and veterans, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and the Common Council of the City of Ithaca publicly proclaim Ithaca to be a “Community of Sanctuary” thus respecting the rights of its residents to support lawfully and proactively military personnel and veterans who are organizing to stop the wars in and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and the Common Council of the City of Ithaca have and will continue to respect the rights of all people within the city of Ithaca who are working to build peaceful, democratic communities at home and around the world; and be it
RESOLVED, That all other City Officials and all City Employees, as is customary, shall, to the extent permitted by law, respect and not interfere with the lawful activities of military personnel and veterans who are opposed to the immoral wars in and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and who reside, permanently or temporarily, within the city limits.
ADDENDUM A:
Violations of International Law
Synopsis: Bush attacked Iraq, against the decisions of the United Nations, and thus violated the UN Charter. Planning and committing a war of aggression is a violation of the Nuremberg Charter. According to the US Constitution these international treaties are part of the “Supreme Law of the Land.” This proves the illegality of the Iraq War.
UN & Nuremberg Charters part of “the supreme Law of the Land”
Article VI of the US Constitution states that:
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land;”
Because Bush violated International Laws that we agreed to by treaty, then he is also violating the supreme Law of the Land which is an impeachable offense. Note that it says “or which shall be made” so treaties signed after the Constitution was adopted are still covered.
Violation of The United Nations Charter
Chapter 1, Article 2 of the UN Charter states:
3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
Bush lied to the UN and to Congress about the seriousness of the threat from Iraq, and invaded Iraq in defiance of a vote from the UN Security Council. His actions inflamed the Arab world and set a dangerous precedent for any other country that wants to defy the UN and start their own war.
Violation of the Nuremberg Charter
Principle Vl of the Nuremberg Charter states:
The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under; international law:
a. Crimes against peace:
i. Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or
a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
ii. Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment
of any of the acts mentioned under (i).
The Bush Administration invaded a sovereign country that had not threatened the United States and had no ability to do so. The Administration had been making plans to invade Iraq even before 9/11.
Violation of the Torture Laws
The evidence below shows that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Gonzales are guilty of violating “Federal Torture Act” Title 18 United States Code, Section 113C, the UN Torture Convention and the Geneva Convention by ordering and condoning the use of torture. Many prisoners have died as a result. Also, false information provided under torture was used to help justify the Iraq War with disastrous consequences.
From: www.impeachbush.tv
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