Politics & Government

Protest Planned at Cal Speech by US Attorney General

Members of World Can't Wait who oppose continuing U.S. detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay plan to protest at the Saturday commencement address by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at the UC Berkeley law school.

By Bay City News Service

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is speaking at University of California at Berkeley on Saturday and will be greeted by protestors targeting the Obama Administration's continuing detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Holder is scheduled to deliver the commencement address for UC Berkeley's School of Law at 10 a.m. Saturday.

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Protestors from the group World Can't Wait say they plan to appear outside the ceremony wearing orange jumpsuits to symbolize both Guantanamo detainees and other victims of torture.

The group said in a statement that in contrast to the school's "historical reputation as a beacon for human rights principles and international law, Holder serves the Obama Administration's policies of indefinite detention, targeted assassination outside due process and use of drone warfare in his official leadership role and his political voice."

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World Can't Wait has also called for the dismissal of UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo, who wrote legal opinions supporting the potential use of torture in the George W. Bush Administration.

Holder has served as attorney general since 2009 and is the first African-American to hold the position.

Berkeley graduates will have a variety of commencement speakers this month, including California Gov. Jerry Brown, who will address political science graduates on May 20, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who will deliver the keynote address at the May 18 commencement, a ceremony honoring all graduating seniors.

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