The Institute for Policy Studies joins a coalition of civil rights/libertarian groups coming together to thank to the Latin American countries that have offered asylum to Edward Snowden and call on the Justice Department to stop the NSA from its illegal surveillance of the Americans and foreigners. They will also protest the Justice Department’s relentless campaign to hunt down and block whistleblower Edward Snowden’s attempts to seek asylum, including the revocation of his passport and the storm-arming of foreign governments to prevent them from granting asylum.

The coalition believes that Edward Snowden has disclosed issues of enormous public interest in the US and around the world. Instead of addressing these issues, the US government is more intent on going after Snowden. “The US attempts to pressure governments to block Snowden’s attempts to seek asylum are deplorable,” said Michael Bochenek, Director of Law and Policy at Amnesty International. “It is his unassailable right, enshrined in international law, to claim asylum and this should not be impeded.”

“The offers of asylum to Snowden from Latin American countries are another example of how we in the U.S. benefit from Latin America’s renewed independence. As with preventing wars and promoting global justice, it’s good for us, too, to have more independent nations who can’t be bullied, and a more multi-polar world,” said Mark Weisbrot, Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

• 9 am Bolivian Embassy, 3014 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC
• 10 am Nicaraguan Embassy, 1627 New Hampshire Ave NW (corner 18th)
• 11 am Venezuelan Embassy, 1099 30th St NW
• 12 noon Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW (between 9th and 10th)

Speakers TBA

This event is sponsored by CODEPINK, Institute for Policy Studies, Defending Dissent Foundation, Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition, Restore the 4th DC, and School of the Americas Watch.