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Jan. 11: Day of Action to Shut Down Guantánamo |
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Written by Gerald L. Rudolph
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Thursday, 03 January 2008 |
"Immediately close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba,
and either release its inmates or bring them before an impartial tribunal."
— United Nations Human Rights Commission
CALL TO ACTION
Witness Against Torture has
declared January 11, 2008, six years after the first prisoners arrived
at Guantanamo, an International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantánamo.
In Washington, DC, we will hold a permitted demonstration at the
National Mall followed by an orange jumpsuit procession to the Supreme
Court. There will also be solidarity demonstrations in Chicago, Miami,
London and Paris, with more being added every day. We invite you to
come to Washington and participate, or else join or plan an action in
your own community. We also encourage people around the world to wear
orange t-shirts, armbands or other orange clothing on January 11th to
mark the date.
JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC
Friday, January 11, 11:00am. (National Mall
).
The day involves several elements:
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Demonstration at the National Mall. Witness Against Torture has teamed up with
Amnesty International and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture to hold a permitted demonstration on the National Mall at 11:00am. (
Gather at 12th street NW between Madison Dr NW & Jefferson Drive SW - near the Smithsonian Metro Stop.)
"Prisoners of Guantánamo March."
Hundreds marched in last year's procession
A provocative street theater performance involving people wearing
orange jump suits and black hoods. We will march from the National Mall
to the Supreme Court in an orderly silent procession hauntingly evoking
the moral disgrace that is Guantánamo. With your help, we will form a
prisoner contingent including as many protesters as there are
prisoners.
Funeral Ceremony at the Supreme Court. Following
the procession to the Supreme Court, we will hold a Funeral Ceremony to
remember the four men who died in custody at Guantánamo and to mourn
the death of Habeas Corpus. Like last year, some may choose to risk
arrest. To participate, please consider attending an orientation meeting on Thursday, 4pm, at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church (
1525 Newton Street, NW) or come early to the
National Mall for an orientation and rehearsal at 10:00am. Please let us know in advance if you are willing to participate in either the Prisoners Contingent, Nonviolent Direct Action, or both. Email
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or call Matt Daloisio at 201-264-4424.
For up-to-date details as well as information about housing, food,
rides and directions, legal support and much more, please visit our
website at www.WitnessTorture.org.
WEAR ORANGE ON JANUARY 11TH!
Wherever
you are on January 11th, we encourage you to wear orange to raise
public awareness and strengthen the movement to demand an end to
torture and indefinite detention. Consider wearing one of Witness
Against Torture's Orange "Shut Down Guantánamo" T-shirts, an
ACLU arm band, or even an orange jump suit.
JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF LOCAL VIGILS - ATTEND OR ORGANIZE AN ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY
If you can't join us in Washington D.C., please consider attending or
organizing a vigil, march or a public forum in your community. Actions
are currently planned in 30 cities, including New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami, London, Paris and elsewhere.
Visit www.WitnessTorture.org
for up-to-date details about solidarity events, as well as to find
ideas for actions, to post to our calendar, or to download flyers and
other resources.
WHO WE ARE
Two years ago Witness Against Torture drew international attention
after it walked to Guantánamo to visit the prisoners. Upon its return,
the group has organized vigils, marches, nonviolent direct actions and
educational events to expose and decry the administration's
lawlessness, build awareness about torture and indefinite detention,
and forge human ties with the prisoners at Guantánamo and their
families.
Some of the organizations endorsing the Jan 11 Day of Action include:
Act Against Torture
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
The Catholic Worker
Center for Constitutional Rights
CodePink
Declaration of Peace
International Federation of Human Rights
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Network of Spiritual Progressives
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
School of the Americas Watch
Torture Abolition and Survivors Coalition
United for Peace and Justice
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Voices For Creative Nonviolence
War Resisters League
World Can't Wait
...and more. See a full list of endorsers.
www.WitnessTorture.org
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