More than a generation has passed since the horrific events of September 11, 2001; events that ushered in new societal norms, forever wars, ICE, warrantless surveillance, and an assault on civil liberties.  Although Americans have become inured to these changes, Greens have not accepted them as necessary protections against further such disasters.

The Wisconsin Green Party affirms the National Green Party platform that continues to call for “a complete, thorough, impartial, and independent investigation of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including the role of the administration of George W. Bush, various U.S. based corporations and interests, and other nations and third parties.”

We agree with the platform demands that are a direct result of 9/11:

• The repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which gave the President the authority to launch a war on terror anywhere in the world.

• The repeal of the USA Patriot Act and revocation of the 2011 re-authorization of the USA Patriot Act, which gave broad new powers to domestic law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

• Ending  “the abuse of National Security Letters, which the FBI uses to force internet service providers, libraries, banks, and credit reporting companies to reveal sensitive information about their patrons.”

• Ending government surveillance of U.S. citizens

The Wisconsin Green Party further calls for the re-examination of the role of ICE (The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency that was established in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security, both of which were a response to the events of September 11, 2001) presently acting as a roving secret police force, and a re-examination of the role and duties of the Department of Homeland Security.

These efforts to seemingly make Americans safer have cost the lives of thousands of Americans and millions around the world according to Brown University’s Cost of War Project.  The same talking points have been recycled over and over leading us into our present war on Iran.  Our country is still in the grip of the fallout from what happened on September the 11th 2001.  Our country will continue down this path of self-destruction unless we are able to shine a light on the official narrative of what happened that fateful day, heal the collective trauma that resulted, commit ourselves to peaceful means of resolving conflicts and restore a government by the people free from fear.