Espionage Act: My Parents Were Executed

[lakhota]

My Parents Were Executed Under the Unconstitutional Espionage Act -- Here's Why We Must Fight to Protect Julian Assange.

The Espionage Act is a huge danger to our open society; it's been used to send hundreds of dissenters to jail just for voicing their opinions, transforming dissent into treason.

Rumors are swirling that the United States is preparing to indict Wikileaks leader Julian Assange for conspiring to violate the Espionage Act of 1917. The modern version of that act states among many, many other things that: “Whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information is to be used to the injury of the United States” causes the disclosure or publication of this material, could be subject to massive criminal penalties. It also states that: “If two or more persons conspire to violate any of the foregoing provisions … each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be subject to the punishment provided for the offense which is the object of such conspiracy.” (18 U.S. Code, Chapter 37, Section 793.)

I view the Espionage Act of 1917 as a lifelong nemesis. My parents were charged, tried and ultimately executed after being indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Espionage under that act.

The 1917 Act has a notorious history. It originally served to squelch opposition to World War I. It criminalized criticism of the war effort, and sent hundreds of dissenters to jail just for voicing their opinions. It transformed dissent into treason.

Many who attacked the law noted that the framers of the Constitution had specifically limited what constituted treason by writing it into the Constituton: “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort” (Article III, section 3). The framers felt this narrow definition was necessary to prevent treason from becoming what some called “the weapon of a political faction.” Furthermore, in their discussions at the Constitutional Convention they agreed that spoken opposition was protected by the First Amendment and could never be considered treason.

It appears obvious that the Espionage Act is unconstitutional because it does exactly what the Constitution prohibits. It is, in other words, an effort to make an end run around the Treason Clause of the Constitution. Not surprisingly, however, as we’ve seen in times of political stress, the Supreme Court upheld its validity in a 5-4 decision. Although later decisions seemed to criticize and limit its scope, the Espionage Act of 1917 has never been declared unconstitutional. To this day, with a few notable exceptions that include my parents’ case, it has been a dormant sword of Damocles, awaiting the right political moment and an authoritarian Supreme Court to spring to life and slash at dissenters.

It is no accident that Julian Assange may face a “conspiracy” charge just as my parents did. All that is required of the prosecution to prove a conspiracy is to present evidence that two or more people got together and took one act in furtherance of an illegal plan. It could be a phone call or a conversation.

In my parents’ case the only evidence presented against my mother was David and Ruth Greenglasses’ testimony that she was present at a critical espionage meeting and typed up David’s handwritten description of a sketch. Although this testimony has since been shown to be false, even if it were true, it would mean that the government of the United States executed someone for typing.

But the reach of “conspiracy” is even more insidious. It means that ANYONE with whom my parents could have discussed their actions and politics could have been swept up and had similar charges brought against them if someone testified that those conversations included plans to commit espionage. Thus, the case against my parents was rightly seen by many in their political community of rank and file Communist Party Members as a threat to them all.

Viewing the Wikileaks situation through this lens, it becomes apparent why the government would seek to charge Assange with conspiracy. Not only Assange, but anyone involved in the Wikileaks community could be swept up in a dragnet. Just as in my parents’ case, the prosecutors could seek to bully some involved into ratting out others, in return for more favorable treatment. This divide and conquer approach would turn individuals against each other, sow the seeds of distrust within the broader community, and intimidate others into quiescence.

This kind of attack threatens every left wing activist. I urge all progressives to come to the defense of Julian Assange should he be indicted for violating the Espionage Act of 1917.

www.alternet.org/rights/149345/my_parents_were_executed_under_the_unconstitutional_espionage_act_--_here%27s_why_we_must_fight_to_protect_julian_assange/?page=2

[Deleted]

Cry me a River here over this Assange character, NO I don't think theres any chance he will be convicted in a death sentence case.

BUT he is probably guilty of aiding this creep Manning on getting this stuff out there...so he's good for some charge.

[rovo]

Lakhota, So sorry to hear your parents were executed for espionage.

[lakhota]

Lakhota, So sorry to hear your parents were executed for espionage.

Thanks for your concern. Many of my ancestors were.

[traelin0]

Lakhota, FWIW, this old Libertarian agrees with you. The Espionage Act is Orwellian to say the least. It has a storied history during WW1, if for no other reason than the mere threat of it quelled opposition to the British and the war. Back then, Americans still hated the Crown (and rightfully so IMHO).

[marshabar1]

So sad.

I don't suppose we'll hear about those terrible spooks who stand guard on the wall for us that Asange has endangered or destroyed.

Oh well. It'd be a marshmallow world if only the U.S. would stand down and stop acting all special.

[chiver78]

Dec 29, 2010 20:48:57 GMT -5 rovo said:

Lakhota, So sorry to hear your parents were executed for espionage.

um....Lakhota is Robert (Rosenberg) Meeropol?

[lakhota]

Lakhota, FWIW, this old Libertarian agrees with you. The Espionage Act is Orwellian to say the least. It has a storied history during WW1, if for no other reason than the mere threat of it quelled opposition to the British and the war. Back then, Americans still hated the Crown (and rightfully so IMHO).

Agreed. We are living during a very scary time, Constitutionally speaking. Although I have mixed emotions about Julian Assange (very brave or very crazy or some combination of both), I remain very curious as to his final legal outcome - and the process to reach that outcome.

[traelin0]

If he is tried, the only protected media will be those who tow the party line. What I find most fascinating about this charade is the fact that noone (other than alternative media) have even touched the fact that he uncovered corruption of an unprecedented nature, IMHO. I guess it's true that in a world of traitors, truth is treason.

[lakhota]

If he is tried, the only protected media will be those who tow the party line.

I totally agree, which makes it even more scary.

[warsaw (banned)]

Assange only advertised and repeated what was already online, as I read it...

[Tennesseer]

First it's unicorns. Now it's a marshmallow world with Frank and Dino.

[SweetVirginia]

Hey Tenn, 2 Quick questions. What is the "exalt" link for? And what does the Karma 3 on your profile mean?

[dmsm]

And how do I repy to just one poster .. Habving trouble geting the hang of things here.

[Tennesseer]

Good evening Sweet Vrginia and dmsm.

First Sweet-if you agree with a poster's general responses, regardless of thread or a particular response, you click on exalt and their karma goes up.

Now dmsm-on the upper right hand side of your reply (or post), you will see the words quote, modify and maybe even deleted. Click on the poster's quote button and a window will open up with the quote and an area for you to respond.

[deziloooooo]

go to the link of the person you want private with , look left and find the folded letter, click , your there.
Karma is if i like your post as just the greatest post in the world on the subject, i click on it and you get a stroke from me that registers for all to see. She has three strokes right now.
I'm not Tennessee , Tennessee helper..no not really, just here as your post showed up.

oops, Tennessee showed up, better explanations I am sure..hey Tennessee , didn't mean to take away your thunder, weren't sure were you were, pardon me ..

[sanityjones]

Thanks for the clarification dezi.........

[Tennesseer]

No problem Dezi-I may have misunderstood dmsm's question. Is she asking how to send an email to a poster? Not sure.

[SweetVirginia]

Good evening Sweet Vrginia and dmsm.

First Sweet-if you agree with a poster's general responses, regardless of thread or a particular response, you click on exalt and their karma goes up.

Thank you Tenn!

[deziloooooo]

on the response to someone..think so, what I answered her anyway.

[handyman2]

Sorry about your parents. We studied in school history the case. Don't remember the details about it, it was a long time ago.
As for Assange I think what ever he will be charged with if he ever is must be based on what his intent was. If his intent was to damage a nation then he may be charged with treason but if it was just to diseminate seceret documents then the charge may be different. However I feel from what I have read it could have endangered lives.

[lakhota]

It was NOT my parents. It was the author's parents.

Sorry I left the NOT out. However, it should have been obvious to almost anyone who read the article.

[ed1066]

It was my parents. It was the author's parents.

Come on everyone! When has Lakhota EVER posted her own opinions or realities? Reposting the contents of the left-wing blogosphere is the name of the game here...

[lakhota]

dezi, as usual I don't have a clue as to what you're ranting about. I posted the OP word for word. I could not place the entire title of the article in the subject field because it wouldn't fit in the space allowed. If you have a problem with it, I suggest you contact the author, Robert Meeropol:

Activist, author, attorney, and public speaker, Robert Meeropol, is the younger son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. In 1953, when he was six years old, the United States Government executed his parents for “conspiring to steal the secret of the atomic bomb." In 1990, Robert started the Rosenberg Fund for Children, a public foundation which he describes as his “constructive revenge.” The RFC provides for the educational and emotional needs children in the U.S. whose parents have been harassed, injured, jailed, lost jobs or died in the course of their progressive activities, and also helps activist youth in the U.S. who themselves have been targeted.

Contact Information: [e-mail] ♦ tel: [phone] ♦ fax: [phone]

[deziloooooo]

What I got was that YOU were making that claim...Son of.....now I feel foolish..that's what i got out of it....dunb , will delete all my post{sheesh}

Ok deleted..and in a quick scan , seems I wasn't the only one...if you had picked up on that, it would have been nice to have you inform us...
No I didn't go to the link at the bottom of the page..you made no comment as to why you were posting the thread..still don't know the reason behind it..you had to have had a reason..to make a point on something....put quote marks around it....something to identyfy?

Where's that smite button when you really need it..

[lakhota]

I'm not here to clarify the obvious.

BTW, JULIAN ASSANGE is the POINT of the thread - as stated in the TITLE.

[deziloooooo]

My friend, it was not obviouse and I was not the only one who picked it up that way and your attitude sucks with your remark, {Moderators is that , my remark to the man, not allowed here?}

[traelin0]

OMG, that image is disturbing, LMAO.

[lakhota]

[ed1066]

OMG, that image is disturbing, LMAO.

Yes it is, but at least now we FINALLY know what Lakhota looks like...