NDAA protest at Klobuchar office

Occupy St. Paul will stage a sit-in to protest the military detention provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act by occupying the offices of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar on Tuesday morning, Jan. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon.

NDAA authorizes the military to seize American citizens and detain them indefinitely without charges, without trial and without any evidence being presented. This law could be used against individuals who voice disagreement as well as Occupy or any other movement the authorities might choose to use it against. It is completely against the Constitution and the principles of American democracy.

Occupiers across the U.S. are called upon to join Occupy St. Paul in defending the Constitution by occupying the offices of senators and holding accountable those that voted for the final version of this bill. Occupy St. Paul argues that these senators have broken their oath of office by having done so. This National Day of Protest sends the message loud and clear. Senators of either party who voted for this unconstitutional law must be held accountable.

An earlier version of this bill was approved by the Senate 93-7. After public outcry, some senators who voted for the earlier version, including Mennesota’s Al Franken, voted against the final version. The bill ended up passing 86-13 with one abstention.

Occupy St. Paul thanks the 13 senators who voted against the final version of the bill and suggests that people send the 13 a token of appreciation, such as a fruit basket! For the 86 senators who voted to sign away our constitutional guarantees and pave the way for a police state, Occupy speaks with one loud voice: This will not be tolerated!