NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - May 14 - Yesterday President Obama decided not to release detainee torture photos in response to American Civil Liberties Union's information request.  The Bill of Rights Defense Committee stands with the ACLU and the American people in supporting the disclosure of these photos as required by law. The President has repeatedly promised to uphold government transparency and the rule of law, but this unprincipled maintenance of secrecy disappointingly betrays those promises.

One of President Obama's first official acts was to order the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention center, but he later appealed District Court Judge John D. Bates' ruling that detainees at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan have habeas corpus rights.  Obama campaigned against the Bush administration's extensive use of the state secrets privilege to halt lawsuits that might expose the government's own unconstitutional activities, such as warrantless wiretapping, but since taking office his Justice Department has actually expanded the state secrets privilege and continued its use.  And this week we learned that the administration plans to restart military commissions to try detainees and potentially detain prisoners indefinitely, both clear violations of the Constitution and international treaties.  Yesterday's decision to appeal the release of these torture photos is yet another addition to this mounting heap of the Obama administration's hypocrisy.  Mr. Obama has betrayed his own ideals as well as his legal obligations and the trust of the American people.

Chip Pitts, president of BORDC's Board of Directors, said, "Greater transparency and accountability is not merely a subject for nice speeches, but an indispensable prerequisite to learning the lessons of the mistakes made during the last eight years, ending U.S. double standards, and reinvigorating our national reputation and genuine national security."

While we had high hopes for the new administration, it has become clear that the only way the government will change is if the American people unite to demand transparency, accountability, and justice.  Grassroots action is our only option.  We encourage Americans of conscience to join with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee in taking action to oppose the President's violations and demand that Congress reclaim its constitutional role as a check on executive power.  Visit www.constitutioncampaign.org to join our People's Campaign for the Constitution and build a coalition in your community to stand up against these policies and hold your President and members of Congress accountable for their actions.