Activist Post

Two weeks after her passionate plea went viral (seen below), the Clark County Commission passed Daphne Lee’s Anti-NDAA resolution 6-0 shortly after noon on Tuesday. This resolution condemns the detention provisions of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as unconstitutional, and urges Nevada’s congressional delegation to take action to repeal those provisions.

The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act was overwhelmingly passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 31, 2011. The 2012 NDAA declared the United States a battlefield in the war on terror and two provisions, Sections 1021 & 1022, authorized the indefinite detention, without charge or trial, of any person, including American citizens, accused by the President of undefined “support” of terrorist activity or commission of a ‘belligerent act” and the application of the laws of war to U.S. soil.

While PANDA does not support the specific language in the resolution, the effort and education that came out of this push has been tremendous.

In March, the Las Vegas City Council passed a joint resolution 5-2, sending it to the county before it could be implemented. From March to September, Daphne lobbied the County to take up the resolution and make it official. When it became obvious that the commission did not want to deal with the issue, she approached them at public comment and the commission forced her to wait 8 ½ hours before speaking her three minute piece.

The response was instant. The video of that speech went viral last week, generating over 150,000 views between two uploads. Libertarian icon Ron Paul interviewed her on his Ron Paul Channel. People from across the country poured out support in favor of the resolution. On December 3rd, when she brought the issue before the commission again, over 15 people joined her in support.

When the Commission decided to delay the resolution another two weeks, she turned up the pressure. An editorial was broadcast on the local news channel, activists across the state were rallied in support, and calls and emails flooded the Commission.

When she showed up this time, over 40 people showed in support. As PANDA Nevada’s Take Back Campaign Coordinator, she said:

I am so proud today that I can say my home town stands on the side of liberty when she is tested. The Las Vegas City Council and Clark County Commission have courageously stepped up to voice dissent against these egregious provisions, and for that, I am grateful.

In the end, she was able to break the will of the most politically powerful commission in Nevada using pressure, and the will of the people. One person really can make a difference.

The Take Back Campaign is taking the nation by storm. Albany, NY, Oxford and Webster, MA, and Emmett, Idaho have passed the Restoring Constitutional Governance Resolution and prohibited the NDAA indefinite detention provisions, and the application of the laws of war to non-military members, in their city.

Is yours next? Join the Take Back campaign, and take back your city now: http://pandaunite.org/takeback/

P.S. Commissioner Tom Collins left the room when this resolution came up for a vote. Please politely let him know how much be betrayed his voters by not voting for the resolution:

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/countycommissioners/districtb/Pages/default.aspx