Belafonte: Department of Homeland Security = Gestapo!

Belafonte Continues Tirade Against Bush

Jan. 21, 2006

By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Entertainer Harry Belafonte, one of the Bush administration's harshest critics, compared the Homeland Security Department to the Nazi Gestapo on Saturday and attacked the president as a liar.

"We've come to this dark time in which the new Gestapo of Homeland Security lurks here, where citizens are having their rights suspended," Belafonte said in a speech to the annual meeting of the Arts Presenters Members Conference.

"You can be arrested and not charged. You can be arrested and have no right to counsel," said Belafonte.

Belafonte's remarks on Saturday — part of a 45-minute speech on the role of the arts in a politically changing world — were greeted with a roaring standing ovation from an audience which included singer Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, and members of the arts community from several dozen countries.

Continued at link...

Give 'em hell, Harry!

he's right on this, of course, but that whole hugging Chavez and "GW is the world's biggest terrorist" kinda rubbed me the wrong way. I HATE GW but let's keep it real.

who took over the #1 spot from*????

Could Bin Laden even touch the body count numbers these guys are putting up in Iraq?

Gestapo + Orwellian Title = Department of Homeland Security

I disagree with many of their tactics and activities (and I've worked with them), but they are NOT a Gestapo by any means.

Only the most radical of social libertarians have claimed such a thing.

Welcome to DU! I probably would've huggged Chavez because he seems to care more about people in this country who can't afford the high prices to heat their homes this winter and actually trying to do something about it than Great Leader and his repub-led house and senate, but that's just me. Anyway :hi:

Where are the voices (and consciences) of our society ?
Most of all.. where are the musicians? Where are the songs of protest?

Lets hear more strong voices like Harry !!

He is an ambassador of goodwill for America.

This is what we have come to. The only way to salvage our reputation is to have our artists let people in other countries know that not all of us are drinking the Bush Kool-Aid.

Keep talking, Harry, you're getting people's attention!

This is even worse...

New Patriot Act creates the “Secret Service, Uniformed Division”

America has never had a federal police force, but hidden in the new “Patriot” Act is language that creates just such a beast.



The Secret Service, Uniformed Division will not operate solely in DC, but anywhere former Presidents travel, or foreign dignitaries, or even “as the President, on a case-by-case basis, may direct.”

A federal police force, directed by the President. Is this not the Gestapo all over again?

If the new “Patriot” Act passes, the new SSUD federal police can show up at:



A federal goon squad on hand to arrest any ‘disruptors’ during the next Presidential Election… how can you look in the mirror and tell yourself that there’s hope for 2008? Or is that just an excuse to continue doing nothing right now?

Information on the USSS/UD was posted at your other thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2383338

Belafonte Continues Tirade Against Bush

From Associated Press
January 21, 2006 6:47 PM EST
NEW YORK - Entertainer Harry Belafonte

>snip<

The Harlem-born Belafonte, who was raised in Jamaica, said his activism was inspired by an impoverished mother "who imbued in me that we should never capitulate to oppression."

He acknowledged that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks demanded a reaction by the United States, but said the policies of the Bush administration were not the right response.

"Fascism is fascism. Terrorism is terrorism. Oppression is oppression," said Belafonte, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Bush, he said, rose to power "somewhat dubiously and ... then lies to the people of this nation, misleads them, misinstructs, and then sends off hundreds of thousands of our own boys and girls to a foreign land that has not aggressed against us."