Revolution #257, January 29, 2012
January 11 Protests Demand: Shut Down Guantánamo!
The following is based on info at worldcantwait.net:
January 11, 2012 was the 10th anniversary of the opening of the U.S. “war on terror” prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Some prisoners have been detained with no charges for years, and the U.S. has with impunity denied legal and human rights and has committed war crimes of torture against many detainees.
Obama had campaigned on a promise to immediately close this prison, yet it remains open.
A broad coalition of groups called for a major demonstration in Washington, DC and solidarity actions elsewhere against torture, unlawful detention and other human rights violations committed by the U.S. and to demand the closure of Guantánamo; the end of torture and impunity for torture; the end of unlawful detention at Bagram and all U.S. facilities; the end of Islamophobia and discrimination; and that all detainees either be charged and fairly tried, or released to countries that will respect their human rights.
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“About 800 of us marched from the White House, past the Department of Justice, and stood in front of the Supreme Court, opposite the Capitol. Amnesty International brought a lot of students,” reports Debra Sweet, director of The World Can’t Wait. 171 participants dressed in orange jumpsuits with black hoods to represent the 171 current Guantánamo detainees. |
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| Above: Two lawyers who represent detainees at Guantánamo were among many such attorneys who protested with signs that told about the prisoners. It was reported that many prisoners at Guantánamo were heartened when they learned about plans to protest the 10th year of the prison and some were reported to be planning protests inside Guantánamo itself. Photo: Andrew Courtney |
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| Daniel J. Lakemacher, a former Guantánamo prison guard and now a conscientious objector, speaking at one of the rallies along the march route. Photo: Andrew Courtney |
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| A protester at the January 11 demonstration in Chicago. Photo: FJJ/World Can't Wait Chicago for Chicago |
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