Ramsey Clark | |
|---|---|
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| Born | December 18, 1927 Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Died | April 9, 2021 New York City, New York, United States |
| Nationality | Statesian |
William Ramsey Clark (December 18, 1927 – April 9, 2021) was a Statesian lawyer and human rights activist. Despite once being the Attorney General of the U.S. government, he challenged U.S. imperialism and defended countries targeted by imperialist aggression.[1]
Early life
Clark was born in a prominent Texan family in 1927, and his father, Tom Clark, was a Supreme Court justice.[1]
Government career
Clark served as Attorney General under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He enforced desegregation of southern schools and helped draft the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act. He also drafted laws to provide housing and protect indigenous treaties.[1]
Anti-imperialist activism
In 1972, Clark traveled to Vietnam during Nixon's bombing campaign. He also witnessed the 1979 Iranian Revolution against the US-backed Shah and SAVAK and supported the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua. He visited Cuba several times to challenge the U.S. blockade and condemned U.S. aggression against Korea. He defended many political prisoners targeted by the United States: Leonard Peltier, Jamil al-Amin, Lori Berenson, Jose Maria Sison, and others.[1]
Iraq
In 1991, Clark traveled to Iraq during the U.S. invasion to create a 19-point indictment of the bloodthirsty Bush regime. The indictment led to mass hearings in 19 countries and 26 U.S. cities. The final tribunal occurred in New York City in February 1992. He organized international delegations against the U.S. genocidal sanctions. After the second U.S. invasion, he provided legal defense for Saddam Hussein.[1]
Yugoslavia
Clark visited bombed schools, hospitals, and factories in Yugoslavia during the NATO bombing. He met with Slobodan Milošević and called for the arrest of Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sara Flounders (2023-04-12). "Ramsey Clark, human rights fighter – 1927-2021" Workers World. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-04-23.