Protesting Power

War, Resistance, and Law

By (author) Francis A. Boyle

Not available to order

Publication date:

13 November 2007

Length of book:

242 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781461641407

In this indispensable book, distinguished activist lawyer Francis A. Boyle sounds an impassioned clarion call to citizen action against Bush administration policies, both domestic and international. Especially since the Reagan Administration, hundreds of thousands of Americans have used non-violent civil resistance to protest against elements of U.S. policy that violate basic principles of international law, the United States Constitution, and human rights. Such citizen protests have led to an unprecedented number of arrests and prosecutions by federal, state, and local governments around the country. Boyle, who has spent his career advising and defending civil resisters, explores how international law can be used to question the legality of specific U.S. government foreign and domestic policies. He focuses especially on the aftermath of 9/11 and the implications of the war on Afghanistan, the war on terrorism, the war on Iraq, the doctrine of preventive warfare, and the domestic abridgement of civil rights.

Written for concerned citizens, activists, NGOs, civil resisters, their supporters, and their lawyers,
Protesting Power provides the best legal and constitutional arguments to support and defend civil resistance activities. Including a number of compelling excerpts from his own trial appearances as an expert witness and as counsel, the author offers inspirational and practical advice for protesters who find themselves in court. This invaluable book stands alone as the only guide available on how to use international law, constitutional law, and the laws of war to defend peaceful non-violent protesters against governmental policies that are illegal and criminal.
Professor Boyle has been a true champion of the U.S. Constitution and of the rule of law. . . . In a way, his highly informative book, Protesting Power: War, Resistance, and Law, is simply an extension of his love of justice and his deep concern for our Republic, which continues to drift dangerously towards the creation of a police state. I say: Read Professor Boyle's well written and fully documented book. It is filled with valuable lessons for all activists.