Chico Peace and Justice Center

July 31, 2007
Chico Peace and Justice Center

The right of habeas corpus has been a part of our country's legal tradition longer than we've actually been a country. It means that our government has to explain why it's holding a person in custody. But now, the War on Terror has nixed many of the rules we used to think of as fundamental. At Guantanamo Bay, our government initially claimed that prisoners should not be covered by habeas - or even by the Geneva Conventions - because they're the most fearsome enemies we have. But is that true? Is it a camp full of terrorists, or a camp full of our mistakes?

The Peabody Award winning "Habeas Schmabeas 2007" radio show from Public Radio International was played following by a discussion.