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23 Oct, 2013

Oct 26: Civil Rights Groups to Organise ‘Stop Watching Us’ Rally Against NSA Spying

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WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/21/2013 — On October 26, thousands of civil rights activists will participate in the “Stop Watching Us” rally against mass surveillance at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Taking place on the 12th anniversary of the USA PATRIOT Act, the rally demands that Congress provide transparency, accountability and reform of the NSA’s mass domestic surveillance that collects and stores the phone records and Internet activity of people in the United States.

Participants in the October 26 rally will call on Congress to investigate the NSA’s mass surveillance programs, ban blanket surveillance of telephone and Internet activity and pursue accountability for any officials who mislead lawmakers and the American people. A petition with more than 570,000 signatures will also be delivered to Congress.

“Recent revelations about the National Security Agency’s surveillance program make it clear that all Americans, not just American Muslims, are under some form of government surveillance and that our basic constitutional rights are being abused,” said Council of American Islamic Relations Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw. “Now it’s time for all Americans to join together and call for an end to such abusive and unconstitutional government spying programs.”

WHAT: Stop Watching Us: Rally Against Mass Surveillance

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

WHERE: Marchers will first gather at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station at 11:30 a.m., then march to the Capitol Reflecting Pool (3rd Street and Madison Dr. N.W.) where the rally will take place until 3 p.m.

To sign up for the rally or to learn more about the NSA’s domestic spying program, CAIR recommends the following websites:

Saturday’s rally, in view of the Capitol Building, will feature speakers and performers from across the political spectrum.

The rally is supported by the StopWatching.us coalition, a group of more than 100 public advocacy organizations and companies from across the political spectrum. Coalition members include the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Access, ACLU, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Code Pink, Demand Progress, EFF, Fight for the Future, Free Press, FreedomWorks, the Libertarian Party, Mozilla, Public Knowledge, reddit, Restore the Fourth, Students for Liberty, ThoughtWorks, and many more.

The Atlantic Wire has called the StopWatching.us coalition “perhaps the most diverse collection of groups in the modern history of American politics.”

To speak to a rally organizer, or a member of the coalition, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202.716.1953 or christina@fitzgibbonmedia.com.