Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
'The Chasers' Confront Torture Lawyer John Yoo in Class
In this video, a satirical comedy group from Australia called the Chasers, confronts torture lawyer John Yoo during one of his recent classes at Berkeley. With a black hood over his head, the unidentified man stands on his chair, outstreches his arms and asks the professor, “How long can I be required to stand here ’til it counts as torture?”
Rather than respond, Yoo simply apologizes for having to end class. As he grabs his stuff and prepares to leave, the Chaser says, “If this is awkward for you, it’s very uncomfortable for me. I can tell you.”
The laughs that follow seem to be from a laugh track or from their TV show’s audience rather than the students in the class, but I’m not entirely sure. One student can definitely be heard asking the protester to please leave. Pretty sad.
Before Yoo – one of the authors of the Bush administration’s torture policy – makes it through the door, the Chaser gets in one last barb. “I’d love to move, but every time I do my balls get buzzed.” The students then clap, and at the last moment, Yoo is saved by a woman (probably from the administration) who comes through the door to remove the hooded man.
Again it’s hard to tell whether the students are approving of the protest that was about to cut their expensive class short or somehow supporting their teacher. Unfortunately, my guess is that most of those who paid big money to learn from Yoo are not particularly disturbed by his disturbing history.
As a side note, I’m often turned off when I see protesters confront those in power – or more often former officials – face-to-face, because of how nasty it can get. (This video of Code Pink’s Desiree Fairooz and Medea Benjamin yelling “war criminal” in Donald Rumsfeld’s face at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a couple months ago is the perfect example. It almost made me feel bad for Rummy, which is not the sign of a constructive protest.) But I think the fact that the Chaser remained calm and challenged Yoo somewhat comedically makes this particular interaction more enjoyable.
22 Comments so far
Show AllAn ironic side factor to this situation is how a historically progressive campus like UC - Berkeley has come to be the employer of John Yoo. The administrator at the end was quite wrong to state that the class was private: the University of California system (of which Berkeley is considered the crown jewel) is paid for by the taxpayers of the state, which in essence, makes it a public place. This satirical action should be the least of Yoo's worries.
You are supposed to be an registered student and pay the appropriate tuition and fees even if you are just auditing a class.
But back in the 60's and 70's, weren't the UC schools free for in-state students?
"But back in the 60's and 70's, weren't the UC schools free for in-state students?"
Back when education was a right, and not a privilege?
Somehow I think if a person just chose to sit quietly in that classroom Mr. Yoo wouldn't have felt the need to make a hasty exit, nor would an administrator have shown up. It was the fact that Yoo was being confronted for his criminality that caused the uproar. And, yes, back in the day California believed in providing its residents with an education. That was pre-Reaganomics.... Now only the wealthy who prefer to ignore human rights can afford to go to Berkeley.
The University of California system was officially established as "The Free University System."
Yes, tuition was free in the University of California system until an obscure former governor named Ronald Reagan put an end to the 101-year-old practice in 1970. That nifty move was part of a much broader effort to slash the education budget, which went on throughout his tenure.
The People fought back, though, by naming the UCLA Medical Center after him. And hiring the likes of Yoo.
But it wasn't just California, I believe Texas State Unis were free too. And when I was attending Virginia Tech in the 1970's it was nearly free. No "tuition" for state residents, just a "university fee" of about $350 a semester.
You were expecting a scene such as the last one in Dead Poets Society? I don't think so. Anyone in that class wanted to learn what Yoo had to teach -- namely how to subvert the process of law to your own ends. Lawyers are part of the problem, not the solution.
Well Eric, I think you need to get over your squeamishness over protesters confronting those in power.
And why was it left to some Australian comedians to do something like this? Why are the students allowing this war criminal on campus at all? I guess only us old-farts remember when "Berkeley" was synonymous with student radicalism.
"I'm turned off when see protesters confront those in power."
Wow! I shiver to think that this feeling applies to all young people or even all Americans, but I fear it does.
Clearly, the majority of Americans need to grow some balls and stop being weak-willed and weak-minded pussies. We can learn a lot from South Americans and from people like Dennis Kucinich who finally won a small victory after all of his muckraking.
Eric Stoner and America: get over it! Nothing will change until those in power are confronted with truth and discomfort - which is the least of what they deserve.
And to think of Berkeley as a place of radicalsim - student-wise or faculty-wise - is to be living in a nostalgic dreamworld.
I never stated that it is or that I expect it to be, I only wrote that it once was - but that was 40 years ago. I keep forgetting my age.
Oh, I didn't mean that as an attack on what you said (though I can see how it could be interpreted that way) - I was merely agreeing!
people like Yoo give us all a bad name.
What a great idea. This sort of thing should happen whenever these bush-league bastards have the nerve to show their faces in public.
Right On Chasers!
Mr. Yoo rationalized TORTURE. He and his masters muddied the reputation of theU.S.A.. Confrontation of toturers on our behalf is appeciated. Torture around the world violates the Geneva Convention.
Yoo is a sadistic coward, just as his bosses, Bush and Cheney.
Thank you Chasers for you brave support.
These Chaser boys hosed Bush but proper on their homefront back in his Prez days.
Chaser boys posed as a Canadian motorcade carrying a faux Osama Bin Laden, fooled security checkpoints & nearly gained access to President Bush at a Sydney hotel.
Aw yes, Boys Down Under used the Fig Leaf to Egg the Lame Duck & Quacks. Now this. Love it.
Crafty
What is so sad is that American students are sitting there lapping up the b.s. from this "professor" of torture. It took some foreigners to actually protest. It is American students that should be making life unbearable for Yoo and driving him off campus and out of a job.
The California University System like all other public and most private universities has been bought and paid for by Corporate America. The Universities now train our young in the path Corporatism, Capitalism and Empire. Free Thought does not make money for the corporations so it is not invested or supported. Civil Rights does not make money for the Empire and threatens it's logistics and so is not funded but silenced. Our young have been taught that if it makes money then it is valid and if it does not then it is not. America public universities are on their knees to the Corporations giving them anything they ask for. Including jobs for war criminals....
Do not look for a revolution to start on a campus near you.
Sad, but very true.
The USA is probably unique among western countries in the complete lack of any form political activism, aside from Ayn Rand fan clubs, on it's campuses.
Arnold Mousetrouser
For your interest the laughter and applause you say you heard when the Chaser confronted Yoo was from a very large and enthusiastic live studio audience in Australia who were being shown the confrontation on a large screen as part of the Chasers' weekly show.
Maybe Commondreams should ask to show the other Chasers' sketch referred to in the Comments: when they took a fake motorcade carrying an Osama Bin Laden lookalike through all the security barriers in Sydney to reach the hotel where George Bush was staying for an APEC meeting. Just waved through. Many red faces. The perpetrators gave themselves up when they had reached their goal and were later released, warned but not charged. It's been shown many times in Oz. It should be shown elsewhere. AM (Oz)
If you can't see this video, try viewing it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v0d25QydCU