MCLI Intern Opportunities and Upcoming Actions

The Meikeljohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) is excited to let our supporters know about urgent upcoming actions and mobilizations. MCLI is also reaching out for interns and volunteers as we begin our Human Rights Reporting Project on Torture.

Upcoming Actions

Anti-War Action – On Sunday, April 15 2018 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., a demonstration organized by the “Spring 2018 Anti-War Coalition” is taking place starting with a rally at Lake Merritt Amphitheater and then marching to Oscar Grant Plaza, Oakland. “Spring 2018 Anti-War Coalition” (comprised of anti-war and activist organizations) is demonstrating as part of a national day of actions against U.S. militarism and state terrorism abroad and at home. For more information go here: http://noforeignbases.org/event/bay-area/

Sex Workers Rights Action – On Monday, April 16, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. a protest against SB 1204 will begin at the western steps of the State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA There will be a press conference at 12:15 after the protest. Participants will be asked to join with organizers speaking to lawmakers after the protest and to speak out against the Bill at the Public Safety Committee hearing April 17th, 8:30 AM in the Capitol, Room 3191 in Sacramento. The California legislature is attepting to pass legislation further eroding freedom of speech and endangering sex workers with the bill SB 1204 which makes it unlawful to assisting a sex worker instead of the current law which forbids threats, violence, or fraud against a sex worker. Fore more information go here: https://uspros.net/2018/04/10/action-alert-support-sex-workers-right-to-safety-oppose-sb-1204/

2018 Summer Internship Opportunities

In March 2018 MCLI will begin work on a report to the U.N. Committee Against Torture (CAT). MCLI is reaching out to communities experiencing systemic forms of torture and other cruel and unusual punishment as well as social justice leaders, advocates, and organizers working in those communities.

MCLI is seeking summer interns to work on reporting to CAT and to coordinate with communitiy members and allies. MCLI interns gain valuable knowledge on how to use international treaties in U.S. courts, the work of the U.N. and O.A.S. human rights monitoring bodies, and the role of local and state governments in the human rights reporting and monitoring process. MCLI interns assist with the national effort to accurately document U.S. human rights abuses, and to monitor the U.S. Government’s compliance with its international human rights treaty obligations, including crucial follow-up work on the U.N human rights monitoring committees.

Interns are taught to analyze a broad range of issues using a human rights framework. MCLI interns learn the difference between human rights as a concept and human rights as a reality in their own communities by participating in MCLI training workshops, attending public meetings, observing demonstrations and rallies, shadowing a Board Member, keeping a journal of reflections, researching and writing reports on human rights violations in the United States, and meeting with community members and other non-governmental organizations.

MCLI interns will have the opportunity to be mentored by renowned attorneys and political organizers such as Ann Fagan Ginger, Walter Riley, Steven DeCaprio, and Anita “Needa Bee” Miralle de Asis.

To sign up or for more information go here: http://www.mclihumanrights.org/get-involved/internships/