Current events

Hacktivist collective group “Anonymous” has vowed to release contact information for approximately 1,000 people alleged to be members of the Ku Klux Klan (“KKK”) in an effort to shut the group down. This is the same group responsible for the Ashley Madison cyber breach just a few months back.

The group issued a statement promising the identities would be released through a twitter account:

"After closely observing so many of you for so very long, we feel confident that applying transparency to your organizational cells is the right, just, appropriate and only course of action. You are abhorrent. Criminal. You are more than extremists. You are more than a hate group. You operate much more like terrorists and you should be recognized as such. You are terrorists that hide your identities beneath sheets and infiltrate society on every level. The privacy of the Ku Klux Klan no longer exists in cyberspace." -- Operation KKK

On Monday, November 2, 2015 the group followed through and published its first batch of information including an unverified list of 57 phone numbers and 23 emails addresses belonging to unconfirmed KKK members. Members mentioned on the list were several U.S. senators and mayors. One of these “outings” was the mayor of Lexington, Kentucky Jim Gray and Senator Dan Coats, R-Ind., who both claim to not be affiliated with the organization. The full list of members is to be released on November 5, 2015 to coincide with the group’s “Million Mask March”

Former Confederate soldiers founded the KKK after the Civil War as a way of fighting against the reforms imposed by the North during the Reconstruction. The Klan saw a huge resurgence in the 1920s on a wave of anti-immigration, largely fueled by bigotry against Jews, Catholics, and blacks. The Klan gained popularity against in the 1950s and 1960s when it used murder and terror to stop the Civil Rights movement. Since then, the Klan has been severely weakened and now exists as a loose grouping of individual chapters that survive off racial hate.

The idea of abolishing the KKK is something that sounds great and absolutely something I believe most people could get behind and fully support. However, I feel that the release of alleged members is irresponsible and completely unfair. It seems like this release will trigger a new round of witch-hunts and examinations into the lives of people who may be completely innocent of the wrongdoing they will be charged with. Being a confirmed member of the KKK is career suicide for probably any person in the professional world but doubly so for elected officials. For southern representatives, in addition to being wrong, being a member of the KKK would alienate at least ½ of your voting population and constituents. It would completely destroy your credibility and in our day, being labeled a racist is almost as bad as being named a communist was during McCarthyism.

When Anonymous hacked the Ashley Madison website, it was fun and exciting. These were people who, of their own free will, signed up and paid money to a site designed to cheat on their spouses. These people were the scum of the scum. On one hand, I can certainly see how members of the Ashley Madison site could be compared with members of the KKK. However, the idea of potentially ruining people’s lives by throwing unsupported allegations around is so distasteful to me. With the Ashley Madison breach, there were credit cards and email addresses to support the identities of these people. Here it seems like Anonymous got their information by joining the sites themselves. The group has not revealed how they have come across the names they have; only stating that they hacked their sites.

As someone involved with politics, I am on a number of political newsletters and the mailing lists for candidates I would never support simply because my information was given to a cause I do support and was then transferred it to one I do not. To say that I support a specific cause or candidate simply because they have my email address is a completely inaccurate representation of the facts and certainly not credible evidence.

My other issue with this newest data dump is that the group is still hiding behind the safety of the Internet. They are violating people’s privacy while remaining completely private. They are committing these cyber crimes and acting almost as badly as the KKK members themselves. Anonymous wants to create a better society when they could clearly be defaming people and not facing retribution. It seems pretty hypocritical. 

For more information see: - http://ktla.com/2015/11/02/anonymous-hacker-group-says-it-will-reveal-id... - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/anonymous-reveals-kkk-members-info_5... - http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/11/02/reports-hacktivist-...

AIDS Walk San Diego kicked off at the corner of University and Harvey Milk, in Hillcrest for the 25th time on Sept. 27. Members of the three law schools were there to commemorate, honor, and remember those afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Thomas Jefferson, California Western and University of San Diego combined their efforts to form a team of more than 21 walkers who raised over $1100 for AIDS research.

"It was great to get all three law schools together for a good cause,” said Phylicia Coleman, 2L and president of the Black Law Student Association. “I think joining in with the other law schools showed camaraderie and allowed us to expand our network,” Coleman added that this event is the second that BLSA has worked with OUTLaw on. “It's been a great experience," said Coleman.

While some participants were out to show general support, others had very personal reasons for walking.

“The AIDS awareness walk is a great way for those affected by the disease, allies and supporters of the community to come together and remember those lost or affected by the disease raise money for a cure,” said Chalsie Keller, 3L and member of OUTLaw.

Daven Rajan, 3L and National Lawyers Guild member, echoed Keller’s sentiment by saying one of the many reasons he walks “is simply because the greater the number, the greater the awareness.”

“HIV/AIDS is one of the longest wars we have been fighting, and yet we still have not completely been able to combat it,” Rajan said. “It’s an issue that we need to re-remind ourselves of, because people forget.” Rajan added, “The country has come along way in its reaction to HIV/AIDS; however the fight is far from over.”

For Precious Harrison-Cobb, 2L and BLSA member, the motivation to walk hits very close to home. “My motivation for the walk was to walk in the honor of both of my parents that died HIV positive,” said Harrison-Cobb. Harrison-Cobb’s father died when she was about 12, and her mother died when she was 17. “Since 2006, I have made HIV/AIDS awareness my duty, and I hope that I can continue to educate, inspire, and support America in overcoming this epidemic,” said Harrison-Cobb.

June Fan, 2L and co-president of OUTLaw also participated. “I walked for my friend, who is fighting HIV, and all those who are affected by the disease,” said Fan.

Charlene Mayers, 3L and member BLSA and OUTLaw, also has a personal connection. "I have close friends and family in my life living with HIV/AIDS,” said Mayers. “Seeing them use their diagnosis to educate those around them has been so inspiring for me.” Mayers added, “I walk because each of us have a responsibility to bring the issue to the forefront!"

Other walkers included Jeffrey Carr, 2L and co- president of OUTLaw, Michelle Evenson, 3L and OUTLaw member, Brittney Green 2L and BLSA member, and various members of the Pride Law groups from Cal Western and USD.

Over 8,000 individuals, teams, social clubs, local businesses, schools and universities, faith organizations came together to raise funds to support the more than 20,000 San Diegans living with HIV/AIDS, according to The Center San Diego’s web page.

La Jolla, Ca- The emergence of America’s first political parties in the late 1700’s; the Democratic- Republicans, and the Federalists, was the result of deep constitutional disagreements between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Before the 1st Continental Congress had even convened, both men had already moved away from attacking each other’s political policies, and had moved to slandering one another. Very soon after the parties emerged, George Washington, during his farewell address prophetically warned the nation from embracing the idea political parties based on geography, as it would alienate those, who should hold brotherly affection towards one another.

Indeed, in preparation for the upcoming November 4th midterm-elections, red and blue battle lines have been drawn along district lines of San Diego, and the unprecedented level of partisan strong-arming, and deep socio-political divisions, have many expecting yet another mean-spirited and bitter and bitter election cycle. Representing California’s 52nd congressional district in San Diego this November, Democrat Scott Peters has consistently been an advocate for bi-partisan reform, rejecting the notion that bickering and in- fighting are a part of human nature. As a very rare proof of concept, he recently joined hands with Republicans Darrel Issa and Duncan Hunter to pass H.R. 683, a bill which would protect religious minorities in Iraq from ISIL. Also, he recently joined as 1 of only 5 Democrats to be allowed membership in the U.S. Changer of Commerce, which has historically been solidly Republican. While he certainly holds the ‘incumbency advantage, local students are less concerned with ISIL, as they are with the un-certain futures of their educational and professional careers. To that end, he will have to convince college voters, that beyond a strong desire to enact student loan reform; he actually has the ability to rally bi-partisan support for his reform bills.

Recently, Congressman Peters took the opportunity to invite journalists from UCSD, San Diego’s 3 law schools, and local community colleges to a round-table interview, held in La Jolla. It was a valuable opportunity for Peters to directly address college students, towards whom much of his recent legislative efforts have been targeted. For Peters, the need for student loan repayment reform is clear, yet he admits, that it will be very difficult to pass any important bills through at least this congress. “I ran for congress in 2011 because we saw congress totally get stopped...I think we got a long way to go... this congress has been, I think among the least productive Congresses in history... So even something we have wide agreement on...we can’t get a vote on.”

Peters may be on to something; as Congress’ official website (Congress.gov), by its own action reports and bill summaries, is on track become the least productive congress in U.S. history. In 2013, Peters attempted student loan reform, but his efforts were almost immediately stalled in Republican controlled House Ways and Means committee and the House Sub-Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. So far, this year Peters has introduced the Student Loan Refinancing Act of 2014 (H.R. 4622) which would call on the Secretary of Education to automatically lower all federal student loans to 4 %, and the Student Loan Repayment Act of 2014 (H.R. 5399) which would give incentives to employers to help repay their employee’s student loans to help speed up the repayment process. However, the Congressman has little faith that his congressional colleagues will work together to get either bill passed this year.

The legislative process is indeed, a purposely arduous process, especially with politically divisive issues. Reducing the $1.2 Trillion outstanding student debt, which the Federal Consumer Protection Bureau now lists as the second highest source of consumer debt is a national issue, affecting the children of both Democrats and Republicans. Explaining one possible solution to the gridlock, Peters explained that, “I don’t have a lot of control over that, because it’s the Speaker of the House who decides what gets on to the floor.”

To put into perspective where congress is, and how far it has dropped, take into consideration the law, which a few of Congressman Peters’ resolutions would have been amended had they passed. When the 89th Congress of the United States of America passed the Higher Education Act of 1965 (H.R. 9567) in a landslide 313-63 roll-call victory, Peters was only 7 years old. In 1972, when it was re- authorized, the representative of California’s 52nd District, was only a few years away from attending college. Due to the federal-aid he received, he would eventually go on to work as an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency for 15 years. An attorney, who is also a product of federal student loans, certainly can empathize with TJSL students, but empathy only goes so far against the stubborn and powerful.

The nature of our political system has changed quite a bit since 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson signed H.R. 9567 into law. The triumph and sense of entitlement many politicians get from being difficult for its own sake, was not nearly as pervasive, as it is now. The world in which Congressman Peters spent his childhood; where 91% of Democrats, and 66% of Republicans, put their differences aside to pass H.R. 9567; does not exist anymore.

Instead voters are threatened with government shut downs members of congress don’t like each other, valid political discourse has been replaced by ad hoc mud-slinging, and whether attributed as the cause of or the result of; voter apathy is too high to care about relevant issues...let alone President Obama treacherous act of giving a military salute with a cup of coffee in his hands. Congressman Peters’ efforts are well intended, and his record shows that he will almost surely continue to fight for what he believes in, as he should. One part of the bi-partisan philosophy Peters engenders however, is the ability to compromise. That type of compromise is similar to what was left of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, as congressman and woman on both sides nit-picked and tore at the bill (and each other), until their respective parties were satisfied.

New York, NY- Late last month, President Barack H. Obama, addressed the United Nations General Assembly. Acknowledging that the world faces many threats, including the recent Ebola outbreak in Africa, and Russian aggression in Ukraine; President Obama made clear, that the most pressing and concerning issue facing the world, is the specter of the terrorist organization ISIS. “The shadow of World War that existed at the founding of this institution has been lifted, and the prospect of war between major powers reduced... yet there is a pervasive unease in our world -- a sense that the very forces that have brought us together have created new dangers and made it difficult for any single nation to insulate itself from global forces,” remarked Obama, who in recent weeks, has ordered over 175 targeted airstrikes in Syria.

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) has captured vast swathes of strategic territory in both Iraq and Syria, and is thought to be more extreme in their violence, and fanatical in their beliefs, than Al Qaeda. Formed during the vacuous and violent power struggle in Iraq, after the late Saddam Hussein was ousted; the group has established Buquba, Iraq, as its main headquarters for their advance into Syria, a region they consider as their homeland. According to the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC), a 2,800 strong group of government, legal, and academic professionals, who compile and provide valuable research on religious based violence, their surprising strength and prowess is a recent development. “The ISIS was preceded by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) that was established during October 2006, and comprised of various insurgent groups...The organization known as the ISIS was formed during April 2013 and has evolved in one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria and Iraq.”

Policy makers on both sides of the aisle agree that ISIS must be stopped, and the United States, must lead the effort. In an address to the nation on September 10, Obama laid out a comprehensive, 4-part strategy to deal with ISIS, “...tonight, following consultations with allies abroad and Congress at home... I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat...Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.”

The strategy Obama outlined, included air-strikes (which are already underway), increasing ground support, further mobilizing international intelligence gathering, and finally humanitarian support to religious minorities in the region being affected by the attack. While scattered, and unconfirmed reports of an ISIS attack on U.S. soil have been floating around since January, the President stated that there was no God or religion on the planet that condones the brutal manner in which ISIS has taken control of the oft troubled region. In sharp contrast to President Bush’s “against us or with us” comments following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, one point Obama reiterated time and again, in his address to the nation, and to a lesser degree to the U.N., was that the, “United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. Islam teaches peace. Muslims the world over aspire to live with dignity and a sense of justice. And when it comes to America and Islam, there is no us and them, there is only us -- because millions of Muslim Americans are part of the fabric of our country.” Indeed, while it is clear from recent statements by Muslim leaders, coalition members, and the U.S. Congress, that there is resounding agreement on the need for military force against ISIS; what has also become clear in recent days, is that air-strikes will not be enough. While President Obama has assured the American people, and the world, that he would not place U.S. boots on the ground, drawing America into another war in Iraq, the option has been left open. The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, explained that while he feels the current coalition strategy is appropriate, he would not hesitate recommending that the Commander in Chief deploy ground, if necessary. Recent Gallup polls regarding U.S. military action against ISIS show that while, “...60% of American’s support military action in Iraq/Syria...54% oppose the use of ground troops...” Despite the support for military action, another top concern for Americans is still our rumbling economy. Many economists have posited rightly, that if the billions of dollars spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, had been spent domestically instead, the economy very likely could have withstood the Great Recession of 2008. In that case, there is an apparent informational gap between the government and its people, as the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments recently reported, “The cost of U.S. military operations against ISIL through September 24 is likely between $780 and $930 million...If air operations are conducted at a higher pace and 5,000 ground forces are deployed, the costs would be between $350 and $570 million per month. If operations expand significantly to include the deployment of 25,000 U.S. troops on the ground, as some have recommended, costs would likely reach $1.1 to $1.8 billion per month.” A fight that many leading political scientists and economists feel is either un-winnable, un-sustainable, or simply not our business; may only be mathematically possible with a quick end to current operations. Whether you distinguish between ISIS/ISIL or conflict/campaign, there is no questioning now, that the U.S. is fully committed to seeing this to the end. In rare form, President Obama has acquired vast bi-partisan support from Congress for the current action, and both parties have publically announced they would offer little resistance to any further requests by the Obama Administration – whether it be for resources, soldiers, or a formal declaration of war. While the air strikes have most surely destroyed their intended targets thus far, the true effectiveness of Obama’s strategy will only be known in the coming weeks. However, with new terrorist organizations springing from where the last were buried, there is no telling what new vacuum of insurgency could be created, and how many fronts or how many years the ‘War on ISIS’ will require.