Human rights defender Lynne Stewart needs your help
Lynne Stewart has for decades been a valued member of the New York progressive community and until recently a lawyer who defended the rights of many. Targeted under some of Attorney General John Ashcroft's most blatantly unconstitutional "anti-terrorism" laws, Lynne's arrest and persecution was unfolding in the same time period as Farouk's -- yet she still took time away from her own dire situation to remain a staunch supporter and friend to him. Now convicted and disbarred, she needs and deserves the help of human rights supporters everywhere.
-- Konrad Aderer
Dear Friends,
So embarrassing to have to write a letter like this. However, the Lynne Stewart Organization (formerly the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee) is having severe financial problems. Our work which is completely outreach--using the case and its many issues, and my legal/political career to organize people and keep supporters informed in these days of mounting political discontent.
Perhaps we were too ambitious after the euphoria surrounding our sentence victory, but at this moment we are without funds to even pay Pat Levasseur for her dedicated and ongoing work.
As you may know, I am now disbarred and have not worked since 2004. Ralph and I scrape by with Social Security and direct gifts from family and supporters. (If you remember, Judge Koeltl described me as "destitute"! ! Not true, but close!!) I am able to carry out a rigorous personal appearance schedule only because the LS Organization pays the expenses. So, if I do a fund raiser for WBAI(the local Pacifica radio station) on Central Park West in New York, there is still the cost of transportation and parking etc. So far in 2007, I have been in Boston on 3 occasions, Philadelphia 4x, Washington DC, Chicago, California ,Oregon Florida, Washington and local (NY) appearances and speeches too numerous to mention. While we fund raise when appropriate, the vast majority of my speaking engagements are not compensated, because I am there for other worthy causes (Leonard Peltier, Mumia, Anti War, Immigrant Rights, Muslim Anti Discrimination, Political Prisoners, Death Penalty, etc) Not to whine, but it all costs and we find ourselves at the bottom of the proverbial financial barrel.
If you are able, please send something to get us through the next few months. We are putting together fund raisers for the fall and hope to be able to bring news of the issues on my appeal at that time. But Now is Urgent.
Please send donations to Lynne Stewart Organization, Suite 700, 350 Broadway, NY NY, 10013. You can do it by credit card via Paypal at our website (lynnestewart. org) Checks can be made out to Lynne Stewart Organization or to National Lawyers Guild Foundation, memo LS Organization for a tax deduction. All mailed to above address.
The work is there to be done and I want to do it but we need a little (pardon the analogy) gas for our engine.
Love Struggle,
Lynne Stewart