NORTH CAROLINA
STOP TORTURE
NOW

PO Box 50345
Raleigh, NC 27650
e-mail via:
contact AT ncstoptorturenow.net

(919) 834-4478
(evenings, or messages during business hours)

NCSTN CHRONOLOGY:

AN INCOMPLETE DIGEST OF NOTEWORTHY EFFORTS AND EVENTS

May 10, 2009 – At the invitation of UNC Law gradudates, NCSTN activists and allies gathered in protest of the appearance of torture advocate and former U.S. Attorney General Micahael B. Mukasey as the featured speaker for the commencement exercise. Mother's Day cards were distributed to graduates' families.

April 6, 2009 – NCSTN activists, again led by Chuck Fager of Quaker House, returned to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to learn whether any had discussed concerns raised February 2 with Congressman Bob Etheridge. The group left the Commissioners with copies of a 70-page, topically indexed packet NCSTN provided to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee regarding North Carolina's links to and support of the extraordinary rendition program.

March 2, 2009 – NCSTN activists, led by Chuck Fager of Quaker House, returned to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to learn whether any had discussed concerns raised February 2 with Congressman Bob Etheridge.

February 2, 2009 – Nearly 20 anti-torture activists from Johnston, Carteret, Orange, Durham, Wake, and Cumberland counties attended the meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to ask the Commissioners to take action against torture flights emanating from their county airport and operated by the CIA-affiliated shell company, Aero Contractors Ltd. But, the Commission took no action on a request to direct the Johnston County Airport Authority to adopt a pledge to prohibit future rendition flights and seek information about past flights originating from JNX.

January 17, 2009 – A score of activists vigil across the street from the Governor's Mansion, putting Governor Perdue on notice that we expect her campaign pledges of accountability to extend to ending the state's supporting role of the extraordinary rendition program.

December 9, 2008 – Nearly a score of activists and allies demonstrated in support of Maher Arrar's quest for justice in the U.S. Courts in downtown Raleigh. Later that evening, the event's co-sponsore, the Huma Rights Coalition of north Carolina honored NC STN co-founder Peggy Misch for her commitment and work on behalf of human rights.

November 17, 2008 – The Johnston County Airport authority referred a proposed policy statement committing the Board and airport operating staff to monitor and investigate Aero Contrctors. Reporter Bob Geary described the event on his blog for The Independent Weekly.

November 13, 2008 – Our group was honored to be recognized by the Wake County chapter of the ACLU as the 2008 winner of the group's Civil Liberties Award, for "... efforts to expose and stop torture and extraordinary rendition." The award was presented at the annual W.W. Finlator Dinner.

November 8, 2008 – Nearly a dozen activists gathered for a monthly vigil at the Johnston County Airport, encouraged by approving honks and waves from passing motorists. Informational literature was shared with the curious and two more Johnston County residents asked to join future efforts.

October 20, 2008 – Ten activists, including 6 service-learning students and three Johnston County residents delivered a policy statement crafted by the Duke Chapter of Amnesty International calling on the Johnston County Airport Authority to investigate tenant Aero Contractor's alleged historic and ongoing support of the extraordinary rendition program.

Septebmer 15, 2008 – NCSTN joined as a friend of the court in a lawsuit brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights against private contractors CACI International Incorporated and Titan Corporation (now L-3 Communications Titan Group) that charges the companies with torture and other heinous and illegal acts while they were providing interrogation and interpretation services, respectively at detention facilities in Iraq, including at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

September 14, 2008 – New Garden Friends Meeting, Greensboro, NC hosts "North Carolina Says NO to Torture," an event featurig a performance piece by Hector Aristizabal.

September 13, 2008 – Chuck Fager of Quaker House; represented NCSTN at the UNC Parr Center for Ethics' Symposium: "Torture & Interrogation: Have We Gone Too Far?" by offering his view on the Torture-Industrial Complex.

September 13, 2008 – Nearly twenty-two NCSTN members and allies, including at least three Johnston County residents, and an ally from Robeson County gathered during a 4-hour vigil concurrent festivities at the Johnston County Airport's annual Open House. At the request of airport officials we stopped giving out helium balloons out of concern for the safety of pilots and passengers, but distributed informational literature and engaged many Open House visitors in one-on-one conversation.

September 10-12, 2008 – Chuck Fager, of Quaker House; and Andy Silver represented NCSTN at the Evangelicals for Human Rights summit on "Religious Faith, Torture and our National Soul."

August 9, 2008 – Nine NCSTN members and allies (including three members of Amnesty International - Group 213, Raleigh) held another monthly vigil at the Johnston County Airport. A member of the Bill of Rights Defense Commitee of Durham distributed flyers to passing

July 28, 2008 – Following an invitation secured by an ally with the Triangle Chapter of Code Pink, four members and allies of NCSTN – including representatives of the ACLU and the Human Rights Coalition of North Carolina – met with Congressman Brad Miller (NC-13) to share our concerns and ask for his support.

July 18, 2008 – Seven constituents of Congressman Price meet to thank him for his support and seek guidance on the way forward toward Congressional investigations.

July 17, 2008 – Congressman Price (D - 4th District, NC) calls for a Congressional Investigation of Aero.

July 12, 2008 – Allies and NCSTN activists encouraged curious passers by pull to the roadside to learn more about Aero Contractors during our monthly vigil at the perimeter of the Johnston County Airport.

June 19, 2008 – HB 2417 passed out of House Judiciary I on a 4-3 vote. In advance of teh vote, the bill's sponsors distributed a persuasive editorial from The Fayetteville Observer.

June 17, 2008 – 37 constituents turned out in support of HB2417, Crimes of Torture and Enforced Disappearance, for its hearing in the House Judiciary I committee, but the bill was tabled for additional discussion and a vote on Thursday, June 19.

June 8, 2008 – Fifty-six members – including Congressman David Price (Dem. - NC-4) of the House urge U.S. Attorney General Mukasey to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this administration's authorization of torture.

May 21, 2008 – HB 2417 "Crimes of Torture and Enforced Disappearance " introduced in North Carolina General Assembly.

May 20, 2008 – Allyson and Walt Caison honored by NC Peace Action as Peacemakers of the Year, 2008.

May 3, 2008 – Duke Center for Human Rights and NCSTN co-host a conference titled: "Waterboarding, Ghost Planes and Guantánamo: Inside America's Secret War," featuring talks from Moazzam Begg, Tina Monshipour Foster and Brad Garrett, and an afternoon of strategy sessions and workshops.

May 1, 2008 – FBI's Assistant Director for Congressional Affairs, Robert Powers, tells Congressman Watt his agency has been waiting since October 2006 for a go-ahead to launch an investigation into Aero Contrators.

April 23, 2008 – During House Judiciary committee testimony, Congressman Mel Watt asks FBI Director Robert Mueller for an update on a criminal investigation of Aero Contractors referred to the agency by NC Attorney General Roy Cooper.

March 8, 2008 – Alerted by NCSTN, Irish allies meet a rendition-linked aircraft at Shannon and demand it be searcehd for captives.

March 7, 2008 – North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission specifically recognized what one commissioner called "the elephant in the room," -- US government sponsorship of torture and enforced disappearance supported by CIA-front companies operating in North Carolina. The Commission convened a Torture Offense Subcommittee that met on January 18 and noted that "the people of North Carolina do not condone torture and that it is contrary to who they are as Americans."

January 18, 2008 – The Torture Offenses Subcommittee of the NC Sentencing & Policy Advisory Commission meets to consider HB 1682 and classify the offenses created by the bill. The Subcommittee recognizes Aero Contractors as the “prototype offender” for whom the bill is designed. The Subcommittee recommends adding a preamble that North Carolinians do not condone torture, and recommends numerous other wording changes designed to strengthen the bill.

January 11, 2008 – NCSTN joins key allies in the human rights and civil liberties community to demand the closure of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

December 23, 2007 - The Fayetteville Observer covered NCSTN's ongoing effort to directly monitor and photograph aircraft linked to torture flights at stop-overs in North Carolina. The story focused on the August 29 arrival of N475LC at KFAY, which is documented at our planespotting page.

November 28, 2007 – NCSTN planespotter captures image of N478GS at Fayetteville Regional / Grannis Field.

Novemer 21, 2007 – NCSTN honored by the Independent Weekly with one of five 2007 Citizen Awards.

October 27, 2007 – NCSTN with the help of numerous co-sponsors organizes a "PEACE RALLY & WALK OF REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF WAR AND TORTURE," in Smithfield, NC home to Aero Contractors' headquarters.

October 18, 2007 – Maher Arar testifies by video link to a joint meeting of House subcommittees of the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary. Lawmakers apologize to Arar for his mistreatment. None of the three NC Congressgional Representatives sitting on the committee calls to expand the investigation of rendition to include Aero Contractors.

October 12, 2007 – Three NCSTN activists learned that the Johnston County District Attorney's office plans to dismiss charges against them connected to their attempts to deliver a Citizens' Arrest demanding Aero Contractors' senior management cooperate with investigations of criminal conduct by three of the company's pilots.

September 29, 2007 – The German government ends pursuit ofextradition requests for 13 CIA agents charged with kidnapping a German citizen and taking him to Afghanistan for interrogation and abuse. Relations with the US government, Berlin says, are more important.

September 26, 2007 – "Unheard voices in the War on Terror," a panel discussion hosted by Duke Human Rights Center features Canadian rendition survivor, Maher Arar via video link; Arar's legal counsel, ACLU lawyer Steve Watt; British journalist and author of Ghost Plane, Stephen Grey; NCSTN Coordinator, Christina Cowger; and readings from "Poems from Guantanamo."

September 7, 2007 – Germany Makes Official Request to US in 'CIA Rendition' Case. <http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2773299,00.html>

August 24, 2007 – Two planespotters photographed another rendition-linked aircraft at Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Airfield. This aircraft is registered to L 3 IS LLC, a Great Falls, Montana company thought to be yet another brass plate company doing front work for the CIA.

August 9, 2007 – Anonymous planespotter photographs another mysterious airplane at Johnston County Airport.

August 8, 2007 – NCSTN and ACAT-Germany send joint letters to Chancellor Merkel, Secretary of State Rice, and Attorney General Gonzales.

July 24, 2007 – Two NCSTN Activists spot and photograph an aircraft linked to rendition flights: N168D.

July 23, 2007 – Investigative reporter at SourceWatch.org reports identification of three pilots named by alias in German indictments.

June 26, 2007 – Four NCSTN Activists join in coordinated lobbying effort to restore habeas corpus. Three delegates meet with Congressman Brad Miller and ask specifically whether he will prompt to FBI to investigate Aero Contractors.

June 9, 2007 – Nearly two-dozen citizen activists receive training on the techniques of monitoring ground traffic and radio communications at Johnston County Airport.

May 10, 2007 – Three of eight activists who walked through an open gate onto Johnston County airport property while trying to deliver citizens’ arrests are convicted of criminal trespass.  Each served notice of intent to appeal the decision to a jury trial in Superior Court.

April 19, 2007 – Johnston County Democratic Party passed resolution asking for investigation of Aero.

April 18, 2007 – H.B. 1682, the North Carolina “No Place For Torture” Act, filed in NC House of Representatives.

April 9, 2007 – Citizens’ arrest at Aero headquarters, Johnston County airport.  Eight people arrested while attempting to deliver citizens’ arrest warrants.

March 21, 2007 – Press conference at NC General Assembly to announce letter from 75 non-profit organizations requesting investigation of Aero Contractors, delivered to Governor Easley, Attorney General Cooper, SBI Director Pendergraft, U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of NC George Holding, Johnston County Board of Commissioners, Global TransPark Authority Board members, and NC General Assembly members

March 20, 2007 – Response sent to 22 state legislators by J.B. Kelly, General Counsel to Attorney General Cooper, indicating the NC SBI had referred the Aero matter to the FBI, and stood ready to assist an FBI investigation.

March 19, 2007 – Meeting with U.S. Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13) by several constituents and NCSTN members, resulting in Rep. Miller’s agreement to cosponsor H.R. 1352, the “Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.”

March 2007 – NCSTN member approached Johnston County Board of Commissioners Chair Cookie Pope and other commissioners to ask for investigation; no response.

February 23, 2007 – Second meeting with U.S. Rep. Etheridge’s aide Russ Swindell about Aero, attended by members of CodePink, ACLU and NCSTN.

February 14, 2007 – Meeting with Rose Auman, District Director for U.S. Rep. David Price, regarding Aero and rendition.

January 18, 2007 – Twenty-two state legislators wrote to Attorney General Roy Cooper, refuting SBI Director Pendergraft’s claim that she lacked jurisdiction, and re-iterating call for investigation of Aero.

December 11, 2006 – NCSTN held a press conference at the NC General Assembly, featuring State Rep. Larry Hall and ACLU Senior Human Rights Advisor Steven Watt, to announce the start of a campaign to gather signatures of non-profit organizations supporting investigation of Aero.  Coverage received in several media.

October 17, 2006 – NCSTN members brought Aero problem to attention of South Carolina's U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and NC First Lady Mary Easley after Graham’s speech at NCSU.

October 2, 2006 – Twelve NC state legislators wrote to SBI Director Pendergraft, requesting investigation of Aero.  On October 17, 2006, Pendergraft responded, claiming a lack of jurisdiction, and stating that she had contacted her counterparts at the FBI and shared the legislators’ letter and attachments with them.

October 1, 2006 – Johnston County resident approached Chair of Johnston County Board of Commissioners, Cookie Pope, and other county officials at street fair to beg for investigation of Aero.

September 21, 2006 – Vigil outside Governor’s Mansion regarding Aero and rendition.

September 10, 2006 – Op-Ed urging Aero investigation by Barbara Zelter, NC Council of Churches, was published in the Charlotte Observer:  “N.C. A Link in Torture Chain”

September 8, 2006 – Letter from NC Council of Churches requesting investigation of Aero went to these GTPA board members:  Commissioner of Agriculture Troxler, Secretary of State Moore, NC Community College System President Lancaster, and additional board members Holding, Whichard, Allison, Capel, and Sloan.

September 1, 2006 – Letter requesting Aero investigation from NC Council of Churches to Governor Easley, Attorney General Cooper, SBI Director Pendergraft, GTPA Board Vice-Chair Gene Conti, GTPA Executive Director Darlene Waddell, and NC General Assembly members.

August 29, 2006 – NC State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird met with the Legislative Liaison from Attorney General Cooper’s office and asked that the SBI investigate whether the rendition flights were continuing.

August 15, 2006 – Concerns raised about Aero Contractors to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge at meeting in Raleigh.  Packet of information sent to his Lillington office by certified mail, return receipt requested, on August 18, 2006.

June 24, 2006 – A resolution condemning Aero Contractors’ involvement in torture and calling for investigation was passed at the NC State Democratic Convention in High Point, NC.

June 20, 2006 – Meeting by NCSTN members with GTPA Vice-Chair Gene Conti and GTPA Executive Director Darlene Waddell to request investigation of Aero.  No action resulted.

May 2006 – The Democratic County Conventions in Durham, Orange, and Wake passed resolutions against torture, rendition, and Aero Contractors.  A resolution was passed at the Fourth District Democratic Convention in Durham, calling on U.S. Senators and Representatives to support legislation to ban U.S. transport of CIA detainees via Aero Contractors.

May 2, 2006 – About 15 members of NCSTN attended the annual Board Meeting of the NC GTPA in Kinston, NC, and spoke to the entire board, raising the issue of Aero Contractors’ involvement in kidnapping and torture and requesting referral for investigation to the SBI.  Coverage was obtained in the Kinston Free-Press, other media. (Response on May 5, 2006, by Darlene Waddell, Executive Director of GTPA, refusing request.)

May 1, 2006 – Meeting with U.S. Rep. David Price to discuss the policy of torture and the role of Aero Contractors of North Carolina in "extraordinary rendition" flights.  Rep. Price received many materials linking Aero to the CIA’s outsourcing of torture.

April / May 2006 – Members of CodePink met with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s aide to discuss torture and North Carolina’s role in rendition.

April 17 and May 20, 2006 – ‘Listening Project’ conducted in Johnston County, surveying approximately 250 residents regarding torture.

April 7, 2006 – Vigil outside Governor’s Mansion, covered in News & Observer.

April 5, 2006 -- CodePink met with Russ Swindell, aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, about rendition and other issues.

April 5, 2006 – Meeting with Mr. Franklin Freeman, Chief of Staff to Gov. Easley, by five members of NCSTN, and George Reed, NC Council of Churches.  Mr. Freeman was presented with background information about Aero and rendition, and the Governor was asked to encourage the Attorney General to investigate.  Mr. Freeman said he would consult Andy Vanore, an advisor to the Governor.  On April 12, 2006, Mr. Vanore informed NCSTN there were no grounds to attempt to break the GTPA’s lease with Aero, nor to launch a criminal investigation of Aero, because North Carolina’s U.S. Senators and President Bush had indicated that the U.S. government does not engage in torture. 

January 6, 2006 – Visibility action at Aero’s hangar at GTP, Kinston.

January 5, 2006 – Trial of “Aero 14” in Johnston County, with expert witnesses Rev. Bill Finlator and Daniel Pollitt, law professor emeritus, UNC.

Ongoing since December 2005 – Monthly vigils at several locations:  Primarily at the intersection of Swift Creek Road and US Business Hwy 70, near the Johnston County Airport; but also at Glenwood Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall; and the Governor’s Mansion.

November 19, 2005 – STN also gathered at the recently completed Aero hangar at the Kinston Global TransPark to call attention to Aero’s Boeing 737, used for many CIA rendition flights.  At the same time, letters were delivered to several members of the Global TransPark Authority (GTPA) board. 

November 18, 2005 – Forty members of Stop Torture Now delivered a “peoples’ indictment” to Aero Contractors’ headquarters in Smithfield.  Fourteen members of the group were arrested for second degree, misdemeanor trespass, and the event was widely covered by the media, including the Raleigh News & Observer. Citizens’ Indictments delivered to Johnston County Commissioners, County Manager Rick Hester, the county attorney, Johnston County Airport Authority, and Aero Contractors Board members, including attorney/treasurer of board, Lamar Armstrong.

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updated 17 May 2009, JMcI

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