The US Congress passed this week a bill that will sanction torture, indefinite detention and kangaroo-court military tribunals. The House of Representatives also passed legislation that will authorize the administration’s massive spying operations to monitor and database the phone conversations and records of American citizens. These bills mark a major stage in the destruction of democratic rights in the United States, implemented in conjunction with a policy of military aggression abroad.

David North, chairman of the editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party, will speak at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 2, addressing the crisis of American democracy and the perspective of the SEP. Also speaking will be John Burton, a civil rights attorney and the SEP candidate for Congress in California’s 29th Congressional District.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be followed by discussion on the SEP campaign in the November elections. The WSWS invites all its readers in Southern California to attend this important meeting.

The meeting details are:

Monday October 2, 7 p.m.
Pasadena Public Library, Central Branch
Donald R. Wright Auditorium
285 East Walnut Street
Pasadena, California

Click here for a map of the location.