NORTH CAROLINA STOP TORTURE NOW

NCSTN CHRONOLOGY:

AN INCOMPLETE DIGEST OF NOTEWORTHY EFFORTS AND EVENTS

January 19 – NC Stop Torture Now and allies—including Steven Watt, Legal Director of the ACLU Human Rights campaign; Professor Deborah Weissman, UNC School of Law Human Rights and Immigration clinic; and David LaMotte, representing the NC Council of Churches—delivered a report authored by students in the clinic and accompanied by declarations from two survivors of kidnapping, secret detention and torture facilitated by Aero Contractors. The delivery of the report was covered widely by local media including the News & Observer, ABC11-WTVD, the Smithfield Herald, and WPTF.

October 3, 2011 – About two dozen supporters of torture accountability, including at least 7 Johnston County residents, gathered to watch as the Johnston County Board of Commissioners listened and responded to a letter from the wife of Abou El-Kassim Britel, who was transported to more than 8 years of torture. The letter from Khadija Anna L. Pighizzini, read by Allyson Caison, says plainly: "Aero Contractors, which transported my husband to secret detention and torture on behalf of the CIA, has its headquarters in North Carolina." Anna also wrote: "The evil that we experienced has scarred us deeply. We are tired, and incredulous that human beings can suffer so much while others remain totally indifferent."

October 2, 2011 – Organized by Peggy Misch, who is the NC Stop Torture Now liaison to the Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee, volunteers asked visitors to Chapel Hill's annual arts festival, Festifall, to endorse a North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture. We collected 98 postcards from about 52 individuals who called on Governor Perdue and Attorney General Cooper to investigate Aero Contractors and endorsed the Commission.

September 15, 2011 – Allyson Caison visited the office of her Congresswoman, Rep. Renee Ellmers, Second District, North Carolina. Ellmers' district includes the headquarters of Aero Contractors at the Johnston County Airport. Allyson spoke with staffer Adam Wood and explained our concern desire for a thorough, independent and public investigation of North Carolina's support for U.S.-sponsored torture and–particularly–Aero Contractors' association with the kidnap, clandestine transport, secret detention and torture of numerous individuals.

July 4, 2011 – Peggy Misch and Joan Walsh did personal outreach and offered action opportunities during the Independence Day celebration in Carrboro. Among the actions offered at the event was the opportunity for folks to endorse the Call for a Citizens' Inquiry on Torture.

June 22-26, 2011 – Peggy Misch offered educational materials and resources to participants in the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, a national gathering, hosted in Charlotte this year.

June 23-26, 2011 – NCSTN members shared information, did personal outreach, and offered action opportunities to particpants in the inaugural Wild Goose Festival, described by the festival's public relations manager, Mike Morrell, as "a gathering to promote justice, spirituality and art ... " Among the actions offered at the event was the opportunity for folks to endorse the Call for a Citizens' Inquiry on Torture.

June 6, 2011 – At the Johnston County Board of Commissioners meeting this date, Commissioner Mims assigned Commissioner Wade Stewart to view the video Allyson and Chuck had provided each commisioner one month earlier (see below) and report back.

May 22, 2011 – The Durham Herald-Sun published a letter from NC Stop Torture Now member, Joan Walsh asking why Senator Richard Burr is such a fan of torture.

May 4, 2011 – Chuck Fager and Allyson Caison again visited the Johnston County Board of Commissioners at their regularly scheduled meeting and provided each Commissioner, the County clerk, County Attorney, and a member of the Johnston County Airport Authority Borard of Directors with a copy of the 20-minute National Religious Campaign Against Torture video Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever, which may be viewed online here.

April 4, 2011 – Chuck Fager and Allyson Caison visited with the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to update them on efforts for accountability. Commissioner Cookie Pope recommended Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption(HIllenbrand, Random House, 2010) to Chuck.

March 28, 2011 – Students from the UNC Law School Immigration and Human Rights Clinic and a Johnston County activist reported on their meeting with Johnston County Manager Rick Hester and County Attorney David Mills. The county officials identified Sheriff Bizzell as the appropriate person to investigate Aero Contractors.

March 25-26, 2011 – Duke Divinity School, Duke Human Rights Center, North Carolina Council of Churhes, and National Religious Campaing Against Torture convene a two-day conference: "Towards a Moral Consensus Against Torture."

March 10, 2011 – Town Hall Precinct of the Orange County Democratic Party, NC adopted two resolutions on "US Loss of Moral Bearings Regarding Due Process for Detainees," and "Support of Due Process for Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists."

February 12, 2011 – NCSTN members joined allies at the fifth annual HK on J march and rally.

February 1, 2011 – Geoffrey Mock, Chair of Amnesty International's Middle East Country Specialists reminded readers of the News & Observer that Egypt's new vice president, Omar Suleiman, personally guided the cruel and inhuman treatment of at least two prisoners transported to captivity by Aero Contractors under direction of the CIA in a program of enforced disappearance the human rights group calls systematic.

December 15, 2010 – NC Stop Torture Now joined an effort organized by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law to call on Attorney General Holder and the US Department of Justice to launch "a thorough investigation—conducted by all relevant Inspectors General with full access to all relevant witnesses, documents, tapes, photographs, and other material, and culminating in a public report—would serve the interests of justice, and … 'provide greater accountability and reliability in the invocation of the state secrets privilege.'"

The letter reminds the Justice Department of its own policy providing that, "in a case where the state secrets privilege is properly invoked but the complaint raises credible allegations of government wrongdoing, 'the Department [of Justice] will refer those allegations to the Inspector General of the appropriate department or agency.'"

NCSTN joined the ACLU of North Carolina, Amnesty International USA, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights First, No More Guantánamos, Physicians for Human Rights and other groups and individuals in signing the letter.

November 17, 2010 – Accompanying a report on the British government' s agreement to provide unspecified settlement payments to several former Guantánamo Bay detainees, for that nation's alleged complicity in their torture, The News & Observer included a sidebar noting that at least 5 of the detainees scheduled to receive compensation had been flown to torture by Aero Contractors, Ltd. a company headquartered in North Carolina and -- for some time operating out of a state-subsidized facility in Kinston, NC.

November 15, 2010 – Hundreds of North Carolinians signed their names on a letter to torture survivors and their families, offering acknowledgement and apology in the absence of government action. In just three weeks during October 2010, members of North Carolina Stop Torture Now combined with allies at the Peace Booth to collect signatures from about 800 residents of over 80 communities in North Carolina. The development was announced as a new report by Amnesty International revealed progress in eight European countries toward accountability for crimes in connection with the U.S.-led extraordinary rendition program.

“As citizens of North Carolina,” the letter to survivors states, “we express our deep regret for the suffering you have endured or are continuing to suffer either at the hands of our government or proxy states.” North Carolinians feel a special responsibility to reach out to torture survivors, the letter continues, because North Carolina’s taxpayer-funded airports have hosted the torture taxis, and the state is home to many who have served in the Armed Forces or in covert operations.  These North Carolinians may themselves have suffered from witnessing or participating in human rights abuses.

October 3, 2010 – NC Stop Torture Now joins the Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee for outreach to visitors to Festifall, Chapel Hill's annual autumnal arts festival. NCSTN asked visitors to write brief apolitical letters of support to the 184 men yet detained at Guantánamo Bay.

September 29-30, 2010 – NCSTN Coordinator, Christina Cowger, represented NCSTN at a meeting among national experts and organizational leaders to consider "Tactical Mapping for Accountability."

September 24, 2010 – Raleigh News & Observer publishes an opinion piece co-written by Steven Edelstein and Christina Cowger. Read the piece here.

September 2, 2010 – Constituents of Rep. David Price and their allies met the Congressman to thank him for his support and seek guidance on continuing efforts to achieve accuntability. Among the items shared with Rep. Price was a summary of survivors' attempts to obtain restorative justice via the U.S. judiciary.

July 24, 2010 – Members and allies gather for a vigil on the airport perimeter.

May 5, 2010 – The Clayton News-Star published an opinion piece, "Torture program scarred many people," Christina Cowger's articulation of our view that accountability for U.S.-sponosred torture must begin at the top and make room for healing the harm to victims, survivors and perpetrators.

May 1, 2010 – A small group met and gathered nearly 30 signatures on this petition at the Clayton Wal-Mart. As has become familiar, nearly 2 in 3 of those approached agreed to sign the petition.

April 8-10, 2010 – NCSTN collaborated with Duke Human Rights Center, the Immigration & Human Rights Policy Clinic at The University of North Carolina School of Law, and the International Human Rights Law Society at Duke University Law School to organize a three-day conference Weaving a Net of Accountability: Taking on extraordinary rendition at the state and local level. The conference received generous support from a diversity of organizational and individual co-sponsors and was hosted by Duke University.

March 21, 2010 – Rev. Mark Davidson, Pastor at the Church of Reconciliation; Rev. Robert Seymour, Pastor Emeritus at Binkley Baptist Church; and Steve Edelstein, Esq., a member of NC Stop Torture Now; offered comments at a dedication of Chapel Hill Church of Reconciliation's display of a Rabbis for Human Rights and National Religious Campaign Against Torture banner reading: "Honor the Image of God …Stop Torture Now."

March 15. 2010 – The News & Observer prints an Op-Ed by NCSTN coordinator and Weaving a Net conference organizer questioning revocation of invited speaker's visa.

February 2, 2010 – NCSTN releases a Scorecard on Torture: The Obama Administration's First Year, which was reprinted by The Independent, mentioned briefly in the Raleigh News & Observer and covered on Greensboro Fox Channel 8 Web site.

December 7, 2009 – Chuck Fager and Jule Shanklin represented NCSTN at the monthly meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners.

November 14, 2009 – NCSTN collaborated with No More Guantánamos to host a fundraiser for the E P M civil rights fund, which helps underwrite the costs associated with three NC attorneys' legal advocacy on behalf of Sharifullah and other Guantánamo detainees.

November 2, 2009 – Chuck Fager was the lone NCSTN representative at the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. In spite of a confrontation with a hostile constituent, Chuck noted that the Commissioners are increasingly engaged with us and our issues.

Septebmer 8, 2009 – Two commissioners, Tony Braswell and W. Ray Woodall, chose to leave the meeting rather than hear a constituent address the Board and present petitions gathered in events described below.

August 8, 2009 – Petition drive continues. Six members gather another 60 signatures from Johnston County residents on this petition.

August 3, 2009 – Johnston County resident Timothy Hodges, president of the county NAACP, leads testimony to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners during the public comment period of the board's monthly meeting.

July 12, 2009 – More than a dozen volunteers from the North Carolina counties of Johnston, Durham, Orange, and Wake carried out a “stop torture” visibility vigil.

During nearly 2 hours, motorists passing below responded mostly in support of a message urging them to “Stop CIA Torture Flights!”

Along NC Highway 42, a Johnston County resident pulled over, signed our petition and asked to become more involved.

July 2, 2009 – Christina Cowger, Spencer Bradford (NC Council of Churches), Steven Edlestein and Johnston County residents Allyson Caison and Julia Elsee met with Al Delia, Policy Director, and Megan Brown, Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Beverly Perdue to encourage the Governor to proactively engage in efforts to end North Carolina's support for the ongoing extraordinary rendition program.

June 13, 2009 – A small but committed contingent of NCSTN members gathered signatures on this petition in the parking lot of the Clayton Wal-Mart on US Business Hwy 70. During two hours on the asphalt, 5 of us gathered approximately 50 signatures. Remarkably, those we approached were most often supportive of our efforts. A consensus among those who worked the crowd was that nearly two-thirds of those approached signed.

June 1, 2009 – Chuck Fager and Allyson Caison revisited the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. This was Chuck's fourth visit to the Board to advocate for an investigation of Aero Contractors and Chairman Wade Stewart initially acted to silence Commissioner Braswell's objection to another appeal, but responded to Chuck's inquiry by noting his and the Commission's stalwart support for Aero Contractors and even endorsing an expansion of the extraordinary rendition program to capture adversaries in North Korea and Iran.

Allyson offered the Commissioners testimony summarizing an article she she shared with the Commissioners reporting on how one Al Qaida captive had resisted waterboarding and other torture, but broke down and spilled his guts after being offered a cookie. Allyson then noted that this showed how even seemingly small gestures of humanity could help promote big changes, and concluded her testimony by sharing homemade chocolate chip cookies to each of the board members.

May 10, 2009 – At the invitation of UNC Law graduates, NCSTN activists and allies gathered in protest of the appearance of torture advocate and former U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey as the featured speaker for the commencement exercise. Mother's Day cards were distributed to graduates' families.

April 28, 2009 – NCSTN releases a statement summarizing our view on transparency, accountability and restitution.

April 6, 2009 – NCSTN activists, led by Chuck Fager of Quaker House, returned to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to learn whether any had discussed concerns raised February 2 with Congressman Bob Etheridge. The group left the Commissioners with copies of a 70-page, topically indexed packet NCSTN provided to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee regarding North Carolina's links to and support of the extraordinary rendition program.

March 20, 2009 – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) heard testimony, March 20, from Colleen Costello, Human Rights USA, Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights, and other allies in the struggle to end the U.S. torture policy and seek meaningful accountability for the most recent authors and perpetrators of these policies during a battle described by the Bush Administration as a War on Terror. North Carolina Stop Torture Now filed a letter in support of the petition for this hearing by the World Organization for Human Rights USA and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

March 10, 2009 – North Carolina state Representatives Paul Luebke (30th District), Earl Jones (60th District), and Pricey Harrison (57th District) wrote selected members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation to seek follow-up on earlier calls for an FBI investigation of Aero Contractors.

March 2, 2009 – About two dozen anti-torture activists again visited the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to learn if they would investigate or take action against their renegade tenant. Floyd McGurk, a retired Army officer with 2 sons and other family members on activity duty in Iraq testified, as did four Johnston County residents including the wife of an activity duty Marine. Ultimately, the Board took no action except to promise to raise the issue with Congressman Etheridge as private citizens. Chairman Wade Stewart even offered an endorsement of torture: ""If torture were not ... at times ... effective ... it would have ceased 2,000 years ago, because it didn't work." The meeting was reported in the March 11 edition of The Herald (Smithfield, NC).

February 2, 2009 – Nearly 20 anti-torture activists from Johnston, Carteret, Orange, Durham, Wake, and Cumberland counties attended the meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners to ask the Commissioners to take action against torture flights emanating from their county airport and operated by the CIA-affiliated shell company, Aero Contractors Ltd. But, the Commission took no action on a request to direct the Johnston County Airport Authority to adopt a pledge to prohibit future rendition flights and seek information about past flights originating from JNX.

January 17, 2009 – A score of activists vigil across the street from the Governor's Mansion, putting Governor Perdue on notice that we expect her campaign pledges of accountability to extend to ending the state's supporting role of the extraordinary rendition program.

December 9, 2008 – Nearly a score of activists and allies demonstrated in support of Maher Arar's quest for justice in the U.S. Courts in downtown Raleigh. Later that evening, the event's co-sponsor, the Human Rights Coalition of North Carolina honored NC STN co-founder Peggy Misch for her commitment and work on behalf of human rights.

November 17, 2008 –The Johnston County Airport authority referred a proposed policy statement committing the Board and airport operating staff to monitor and investigate Aero Contractors. Reporter Bob Geary described the event on his blog for The Independent Weekly.

November 13, 2008 –Our group was honored to be recognized by the Wake County chapter of the ACLU as the 2008 winner of the group's Civil Liberties Award, for "... efforts to expose and stop torture and extraordinary rendition." The award was presented at the annual W.W. Finlator Dinner.

November 8, 2008 – Nearly a dozen activists gathered for a monthly vigil at the Johnston County Airport, encouraged by approving honks and waves from passing motorists. Informational literature was shared with the curious and two more Johnston County residents asked to join future efforts.

October 20, 2008 – Ten activists, including 6 service-learning students and three Johnston County residents delivered a policy statement crafted by the Duke Chapter of Amnesty International calling on the Johnston County Airport Authority to investigate tenant Aero Contractor's alleged historic and ongoing support of the extraordinary rendition program.

September 15, 2008 – NCSTN joined as a friend of the court in a lawsuit brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights against private contractors CACI International Incorporated and Titan Corporation (now L-3 Communications Titan Group) that charges the companies with torture and other heinous and illegal acts while they were providing interrogation and interpretation services, respectively at detention facilities in Iraq, including at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

September 14, 2008 – New Garden Friends Meeting, Greensboro, NC hosts "North Carolina Says NO to Torture," an event featuring a performance piece by Hector Aristizabal.

September 13, 2008 – Chuck Fager of Quaker House; represented NCSTN at the UNC Parr Center for Ethics' Symposium: "Torture & Interrogation: Have We Gone Too Far?" by offering his view on the Torture-Industrial Complex.

September 13, 2008 – Nearly twenty-two NCSTN members and allies, including at least three Johnston County residents, and an ally from Robeson County gathered during a 4-hour vigil concurrent festivities at the Johnston County Airport's annual Open House. At the request of airport officials we stopped giving out helium balloons out of concern for the safety of pilots and passengers, but distributed informational literature and engaged many Open House visitors in one-on-one conversation.

September 10-12, 2008 – Chuck Fager, of Quaker House; and Andy Silver represented NCSTN at the Evangelicals for Human Rights summit on "Religious Faith, Torture and our National Soul."

August 9, 2008 – Nine NCSTN members and allies (including three members of Amnesty International - Group 213, Raleigh) held another monthly vigil at the Johnston County Airport. A member of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee of Durham distributed flyers to passing

July 28, 2008 – Following an invitation secured by an ally with the Triangle Chapter of Code Pink, four members and allies of NCSTN – including representatives of the ACLU and the Human Rights Coalition of North Carolina – met with Congressman Brad Miller (NC-13) to share our concerns and ask for his support.

July 18, 2008 – Seven constituents of Congressman Price meet to thank him for his support and seek guidance on the way forward toward Congressional investigations of the U.S. torture program and North Carolina links to extraordinary rendition.

July 17, 2008 – Congressman Price (D - 4th District, NC) calls for a Congressional Investigation of Aero.

July 12, 2008 – Allies and NCSTN activists encouraged curious passers by pull to the roadside to learn more about Aero Contractors during our monthly vigil at the perimeter of the Johnston County Airport.

June 19, 2008 – HB 2417 passed out of House Judiciary I on a 4-3 vote. In advance of the vote, the bill's sponsors distributed a persuasive editorial from The Fayetteville Observer.

June 17, 2008 – 37 constituents turned out in support of HB2417, Crimes of Torture and Enforced Disappearance, for its hearing in the House Judiciary I committee, but the bill was tabled for additional discussion and a vote on Thursday, June 19.

June 8, 2008 – Fifty-six members – including Congressman David Price (Dem. - NC-4) of the House urge U.S. Attorney General Mukasey to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this administration's authorization of torture.

May 21, 2008 – HB 2417 "Crimes of Torture and Enforced Disappearance " introduced in North Carolina General Assembly.

May 20, 2008 – Allyson and Walt Caison honored by NC Peace Action as Peacemakers of the Year, 2008.

May 3, 2008 – Duke Center for Human Rights and NCSTN co-host a conference titled: "Waterboarding, Ghost Planes and Guantánamo: Inside America's Secret War," featuring talks from Moazzam Begg, Tina Monshipour Foster and Brad Garrett, and an afternoon of strategy sessions and workshops.

May 1, 2008 – FBI's Assistant Director for Congressional Affairs, Robert Powers, tells Congressman Watt his agency has been waiting since October 2006 for a go-ahead to launch an investigation into Aero Contractors.

April 23, 2008 – During House Judiciary committee testimony, Congressman Mel Watt asks FBI Director Robert Mueller for an update on a criminal investigation of Aero Contractors referred to the agency by NC Attorney General Roy Cooper.

March 8, 2008 – Alerted by NCSTN, Irish allies meet a rendition-linked aircraft at Shannon and demand it be searched for captives.

March 7, 2008 – North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission report specifically recognized what one commissioner called "the elephant in the room," -- US government sponsorship of torture and enforced disappearance supported by CIA-front companies operating in North Carolina. The Commission convened a Torture Offense Subcommittee that met on January 18 and noted that "the people of North Carolina do not condone torture and that it is contrary to who they are as Americans."

January 18, 2008 – The Torture Offenses Subcommittee of the NC Sentencing & Policy Advisory Commission meets to consider HB 1682 and classify the offenses created by the bill. The Subcommittee recognizes Aero Contractors as the “prototype offender” for whom the bill is designed. The Subcommittee recommends adding a preamble that North Carolinians do not condone torture, and recommends numerous other wording changes designed to strengthen the bill.

January 11, 2008 – NCSTN joins key allies in the human rights and civil liberties community to demand the closure of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

December 23, 2007 - The Fayetteville Observer covered NCSTN's ongoing effort to directly monitor and photograph aircraft linked to torture flights at stopovers in North Carolina. The story focused on the August 29 arrival of N475LC at KFAY, which is documented at our planespotting page.

November 28, 2007 – NCSTN planespotter captures image of N478GS at Fayetteville Regional / Grannis Field.

November 21, 2007 – NCSTN honored by the Independent Weekly with one of five 2007 Citizen Awards.

October 27, 2007 – NCSTN with the help of numerous co-sponsors organizes a "PEACE RALLY & WALK OF REMEMBRANCE FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF WAR AND TORTURE," in Smithfield, NC home to Aero Contractors' headquarters.

October 18, 2007 – Maher Arar testifies by video link to a joint meeting of House subcommittees of the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary. Lawmakers apologize to Arar for his mistreatment. None of the three NC Congressional Representatives sitting on the committee calls to expand the investigation of rendition to include Aero Contractors.

October 12, 2007 – Three NCSTN activists learned that the Johnston County District Attorney's office plans to dismiss charges against them connected to their attempts to deliver a Citizens' Arrest demanding Aero Contractors' senior management cooperate with investigations of criminal conduct by three of the company's pilots.

September 29, 2007 – The German government ends pursuit of extradition requests for 13 CIA agents charged with kidnapping a German citizen and taking him to Afghanistan for interrogation and abuse. Relations with the US government, Berlin says, are more important.

September 26, 2007 – "Unheard voices in the War on Terror," a panel discussion hosted by Duke Human Rights Center features Canadian rendition survivor, Maher Arar via video link; Arar's legal counsel, ACLU lawyer Steve Watt; British journalist and author of Ghost Plane, Stephen Grey; NCSTN Coordinator, Christina Cowger; and readings from "Poems from Guantanamo."

September 7, 2007 – Germany Makes Official Request to US in 'CIA Rendition' Case. <http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2773299,00.html>

August 24, 2007 – Two planespotters photographed another rendition-linked aircraft at Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Airfield. This aircraft is registered to L 3 IS LLC, a Great Falls, Montana company thought to be yet another brass plate company doing front work for the CIA.

August 9, 2007 – Anonymous planespotter photographs another mysterious airplane at Johnston County Airport.

August 8, 2007 – NCSTN and ACAT-Germany send joint letters to Chancellor Merkel, Secretary of State Rice, and Attorney General Gonzales.

July 24, 2007 – Two NCSTN Activists spot and photograph an aircraft linked to rendition flights: N168D.

July 23, 2007 – Investigative reporter at SourceWatch.org reports identification of three pilots named by alias in German indictments.

June 26, 2007 – Four NCSTN Activists join in coordinated lobbying effort to restore habeas corpus. Three delegates meet with Congressman Brad Miller and ask specifically whether he will prompt to FBI to investigate Aero Contractors.

June 9, 2007 – Nearly two-dozen citizen activists receive training on the techniques of monitoring ground traffic and radio communications at Johnston County Airport.

May 23, 2007– The Kinston Free Press reports that Aero Contractors is no longer flying from the Kinston JetPort at the stat-subsidized Global TransPark facility.

May 10, 2007 – Three of eight activists who walked through an open gate onto Johnston County airport property while trying to deliver citizens’ arrests are convicted of criminal trespass.  Each served notice of intent to appeal the decision to a jury trial in Superior Court.

May 10, 2007 – NCSTN representatives and allies including Christina Cowger and Steven Edelstein provided Julia White, Senior Policy Advisor to Attorney General Roy Cooper, and Kristi Hyman, his Chief of Staff with documentation of Aero’s involvement in rendition to torture.

April 19, 2007 – Johnston County Democratic Party passed resolution asking for investigation of Aero.

April 18, 2007 – H.B. 1682, the North Carolina “No Place For Torture” Act, filed in NC House of Representatives.

April 9, 2007 – Citizens’ arrest at Aero headquarters, Johnston County airport.  Eight people arrested while attempting to deliver citizens’ arrest warrants.

March 21, 2007 – Press conference at NC General Assembly to announce letter from 75 non-profit organizations requesting investigation of Aero Contractors, delivered to Governor Easley, Attorney General Cooper, SBI Director Pendergraft, U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of NC George Holding, Johnston County Board of Commissioners, Global TransPark Authority Board members, and NC General Assembly members

March 20, 2007 – Response sent to 22 state legislators by J.B. Kelly, General Counsel to Attorney General Cooper, indicating the NC SBI had referred the Aero matter to the FBI, and stood ready to assist an FBI investigation.

March 19, 2007 – Meeting with U.S. Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13) by several constituents and NCSTN members, resulting in Rep. Miller’s agreement to cosponsor H.R. 1352, the “Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act.”

March 2007 – NCSTN member approached Johnston County Board of Commissioners Chair Cookie Pope and other commissioners to ask for investigation; no response.

February 23, 2007 – Second meeting with U.S. Rep. Etheridge’s aide Russ Swindell about Aero, attended by members of CodePink, ACLU and NCSTN.

February 14, 2007 – Meeting with Rose Auman, District Director for U.S. Rep. David Price, regarding Aero and rendition.

January 18, 2007 – Twenty-two state legislators wrote to Attorney General Roy Cooper, refuting SBI Director Pendergraft’s claim that she lacked jurisdiction, and re-iterating call for investigation of Aero.

December 11, 2006 – NCSTN held a press conference at the NC General Assembly, featuring State Rep. Larry Hall and ACLU Senior Human Rights Advisor Steven Watt, to announce the start of a campaign to gather signatures of non-profit organizations supporting investigation of Aero.  Coverage received in several media.

October 17, 2006 – NCSTN members brought Aero problem to attention of South Carolina's U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and NC First Lady Mary Easley after Graham’s speech at NCSU.

October 2, 2006 – Twelve NC state legislators wrote to SBI Director Pendergraft, requesting investigation of Aero.  On October 17, 2006, Pendergraft responded, claiming a lack of jurisdiction, and stating that she had contacted her counterparts at the FBI and shared the legislators’ letter and attachments with them.

October 1, 2006 – Johnston County resident approached Chair of Johnston County Board of Commissioners, Cookie Pope, and other county officials at street fair to beg for investigation of Aero.

September 21, 2006 – Vigil outside Governor’s Mansion regarding Aero and rendition.

September 10, 2006 – Op-Ed urging Aero investigation by Barbara Zelter, NC Council of Churches, was published in the Charlotte Observer:  “N.C. A Link in Torture Chain”

September 8, 2006 – Letter from NC Council of Churches requesting investigation of Aero went to these GTPA board members:  Commissioner of Agriculture Troxler, Secretary of State Moore, NC Community College System President Lancaster, and additional board members Holding, Whichard, Allison, Capel, and Sloan.

September 1, 2006 – Letter requesting Aero investigation from NC Council of Churches to Governor Easley, Attorney General Cooper, SBI Director Pendergraft, GTPA Board Vice-Chair Gene Conti, GTPA Executive Director Darlene Waddell, and NC General Assembly members.

August 29, 2006 – NC State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird met with the Legislative Liaison from Attorney General Cooper’s office and asked that the SBI investigate whether the rendition flights were continuing.

August 15, 2006 – Concerns raised about Aero Contractors to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge at meeting in Raleigh.  Packet of information sent to his Lillington office by certified mail, return receipt requested, on August 18, 2006.

June 24, 2006 – A resolution condemning Aero Contractors’ involvement in torture and calling for investigation was passed at the NC State Democratic Convention in High Point, NC.

June 20, 2006 – Meeting by NCSTN members with GTPA Vice-Chair Gene Conti and GTPA Executive Director Darlene Waddell to request investigation of Aero.  No action resulted.

May 2006 – The Democratic County Conventions in Durham, Orange, and Wake passed resolutions against torture, rendition, and Aero Contractors.  A resolution was passed at the Fourth District Democratic Convention in Durham, calling on U.S. Senators and Representatives to support legislation to ban U.S. transport of CIA detainees via Aero Contractors.

May 2, 2006 – About 15 members of NCSTN attended the annual Board Meeting of the NC GTPA in Kinston, NC, and spoke to the entire board, raising the issue of Aero Contractors’ involvement in kidnapping and torture and requesting referral for investigation to the SBI.  Coverage was obtained in the Kinston Free-Press, other media. (Response on May 5, 2006, by Darlene Waddell, Executive Director of GTPA, refusing request.)

May 1, 2006 – Meeting with U.S. Rep. David Price to discuss the policy of torture and the role of Aero Contractors of North Carolina in "extraordinary rendition" flights.  Rep. Price received many materials linking Aero to the CIA’s outsourcing of torture.

April / May 2006 – Members of CodePink met with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s aide to discuss torture and North Carolina’s role in rendition.

April 17 and May 20, 2006 – ‘Listening Project’ conducted in Johnston County, surveying approximately 250 residents regarding torture.

April 7, 2006 – Vigil outside Governor’s Mansion, covered in News & Observer.

April 5, 2006 -- CodePink met with Russ Swindell, aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, about rendition and other issues.

April 5, 2006 – Meeting with Mr. Franklin Freeman, Chief of Staff to Gov. Easley, by five members of NCSTN, and George Reed, NC Council of Churches.  Mr. Freeman was presented with background information about Aero and rendition, and the Governor was asked to encourage the Attorney General to investigate.  Mr. Freeman said he would consult Andy Vanore, an advisor to the Governor.  On April 12, 2006, Mr. Vanore informed NCSTN there were no grounds to attempt to break the GTPA’s lease with Aero, nor to launch a criminal investigation of Aero, because North Carolina’s U.S. Senators and President Bush had indicated that the U.S. government does not engage in torture. 

January 6, 2006 – Visibility action at Aero’s hangar at GTP, Kinston.

January 5, 2006 – Trial of “Aero 14” in Johnston County, with expert witnesses Rev. Bill Finlator and Daniel Pollitt, law professor emeritus, UNC.

Ongoing since December 2005 – Monthly vigils at several locations:  Primarily at the intersection of Swift Creek Road and US Business Hwy 70, near the Johnston County Airport; but also at Glenwood Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall; and the Governor’s Mansion.

November 19, 2005 – STN also gathered at the recently completed Aero hangar at the Kinston Global TransPark to call attention to Aero’s Boeing 737, used for many CIA rendition flights.  At the same time, letters were delivered to several members of the Global TransPark Authority (GTPA) board. 

November 18, 2005 – Forty members of Stop Torture Now delivered a “peoples’ indictment” to Aero Contractors’ headquarters in Smithfield.  Fourteen members of the group were arrested for second degree, misdemeanor trespass, and the event was widely covered by the media, including the Raleigh News & Observer. Citizens’ Indictments delivered to Johnston County Commissioners, County Manager Rick Hester, the county attorney, Johnston County Airport Authority, and Aero Contractors Board members, including attorney/treasurer of board, Lamar Armstrong.

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updated 15 October2011, JMcI

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