Democracy Now! — Thursday, May 12, 2016

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The Spring Reading is now published. Order all 12 signs here or choose your individual signs here for immediate access. You may listen to a free audio introduction here.

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Michael Ratner, 1943-2016. According to David Cole: “Under his leadership, the center grew from a small but scrappy civil rights organization into one of the leading human rights organizations in the world. He sued some of the most powerful people in the world on behalf of some of the least powerful.” Image: video still

Michael Ratner, the president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, has died at 72. For the past four decades he has been a leading champion of human and civil rights, from leading the fight to close Guantánamo to representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to holding torturers accountable, at home and abroad.

Today’s show focuses on remembering his life and legacy. Guests include Julian Assange, Reed Brody of Human Rights Watch; Michael Smith, board member of the Center for Constitutional Rights; and Jules Lobel, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights. You can read his obituary by The New York Times here, and a tribute by William Rivers Pitt for Truthout here.

We are honored to offer this broadcast as part of our affiliation with the Pacifica Network. Find out where the Democracy Now! crew is visiting next during the show’s 100-city tour, celebrating 20 years on the air.

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