Margot Giblin Orange Friday, Amnesty International Action, 8.15.am Friday 8.3.07, Cnr Murray and Macquarie Sts. Hobart
ALBERTO R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States of America, has been invited to join the next Standing Committee of Attorneys General in Australia by video-link, Steve Kons, Tasmania’s Attorney-General, told Tasmanian Times at this morning’s rally.
Gonzales was sworn in as his nation’s 80th Attorney General on February 3 2005.
Gonzales has said that Department of Justice employees have ‘a special obligation to protect America against future acts of terrorism. We will continue to make that our top priority while remaining consistent with our values and legal obligations’. http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/gonzales-bio.html
Asked for his view of this morning’s rally Kons said:
“We’ve expressed concern all along the way with the Federal Government’s handling of this matter and we’ve taken a stand on it — not just in relation to the individual, David Hicks, but as an issue.”
The Federal Government, he said, should step in and protect its citizens.
TT: What one thing he would like to see the Federal Government do today?
Kons : Act within the rule of law.
This was the second Orange Friday action in Hobart and there will be one every Friday, same place, same time ‘for as long as it takes’ said Clare Wiseman. She is the Tasmanian Branch President of Amnesty International and these morning rallies will continue until David Hicks is either given a fair trial or released.
Passing motorists who were in agreement tooted horns in increasing numbers as more people joined the demonstration, took a postcard to send to the Prime Minister or signed the petition asking that David Hicks future be resolved quickly.
Similar actions were taking place today in Launceston and Burnie in Tasmania as well as in N.S.W and Queensland.
