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New Report From ACLU And RWG Finds Racial Profiling Still Pervasive (06/30/2009)
NEW YORK – Widespread racial profiling by law enforcement agents as a result of Bush-era policies remains a pervasive problem throughout the United States, according to a report out today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Rights Working Group (RWG). Government policies are a major cause of the disproportionate stopping and searching of racial minorities by law enforcement agencies, according to the report, which was submitted today to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

ACLU Report Documents Racial Profiling Nationwide (06/30/2009)
A report published today indicates that the policies of the Bush Administration have resulted in a continuing and widespread problem of racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. The report, produced by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Rights Working Group, documents the disproportionate stopping and searching of racial minorities by law enforcement agencies.

New Report Documents Racial Profiling In Louisiana (06/30/2009)
New Orleans, LA - Widespread racial profiling by law enforcement agents remains a pervasive problem in Louisiana and throughout the United States, according to a report out today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Rights Working Group (RWG). Government policies are a major cause of the disproportionate stopping and searching of racial minorities by law enforcement agencies, according to the report, which was submitted today to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Italian "Extraordinary Rendition" Victim Still Held In Morocco Based On Tortured Confession (06/25/2009)
NEW YORK – Human rights groups today asked two U.N. Special Rapporteurs to investigate the case of Abou Elkassim Britel, an Italian citizen and victim of the CIA's unlawful "extraordinary rendition" program who is currently held in a Moroccan prison based on a confession coerced from him through torture. The American Civil Liberties Union and Alkarama for Human Rights requested that the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism investigate the circumstances of Britel's forced disappearance, rendition, detention and torture, and raise his case with the governments of the United States, Morocco, Pakistan and Italy.

Terrorism Finance Laws Undermine American Muslims' Religious Freedom, Says ACLU (06/16/2009)
NEW YORK – U.S. terrorism finance laws and policies unfairly prevent Muslim Americans from practicing their religion through charitable giving, create a climate of fear and distrust in law enforcement and undermine America's diplomatic efforts in Muslim countries, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report out today. The 164 page report, "Blocking Faith, Freezing Charity," is the first comprehensive report that documents the serious effects of Bush administration terrorism finance laws on Muslim communities across the nation.

U.N. Expert Calls On U.S. To Address Ongoing Issues Of Racism (06/16/2009)
NEW YORK – The United Nations special rapporteur on racism offered recommendations for the U.S. to address ongoing issues of discrimination in a presentation before the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) today. At the invitation of the United States government, former special rapporteur Doudou Diene toured the U.S. in May and June 2008 to conduct an analysis of ongoing racism and ethnic discrimination. Today, current special rapporteur Githu Muigai presented Diene's findings. This is the first session of the UNHRC in which the U.S. is participating as a member.

Terrorism Finance Laws Undermine American Muslims' Religious Freedom, Says ACLU (Arabic) (06/16/2009)

U.N. Expert On Extrajudicial Killings Calls For Special Prosecutor (05/29/2009)
NEW YORK – The U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings called for a special prosecutor to investigate the policies and practices that have led to unlawful deaths and other abuses in the United States' international operations. In a report made public late yesterday, Special Rapporteur Philip Alston said there have been "chronic and deplorable accountability failures with respect to policies, practices and conduct that led to alleged unlawful killings."

U.S. Elected To U.N. Human Rights Council (05/12/2009)
NEW YORK – The United States was today elected to a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the new administration's decision to join the Council, which has been shunned by the Bush administration.

U.N. Expert Calls On U.S. To Address Ongoing Issues Of Racism (05/08/2009)
NEW YORK – In a report made public today, the United Nations independent expert on racism urged the U.S. to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system and end the practice of sentencing juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also called on Congress to pass the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) and create a bipartisan commission to evaluate the on-going fight against racism and the occurrence of re-segregation, especially in housing and education.