Welcome.
The decade-long, global struggle to close Guantánamo has roared to new life, inspired by the hunger strike of men at the prison demanding an end to their indefinite detention.
In the United States, there have been vigils and rallies, calls to the White House and US military, solidarity fasts and even open-ended hunger strikes, citizen petitions, direct 
actions, and newspaper editorials insisting that President Obama make good on his promise of five years ago to close the prison. Through attorneys, news of this activism has made it to the hunger striking men, adding to the hope that sustains them through their difficult and courageous sacrifice.
Pressured by the prisoners’ hunger strike and a vigorous public outcry, President Obama on May 23, 2013 restated his goal of shuttering Guantánamo.
We have heard empty promises from the President before. We know the struggle ahead is a tough one. But we also know that we can and must do this: close Guantanamo in a fair and just way, end US torture and indefinite detention, and begin making amends to those persecuted by US detention policy. We also recognize that the abuse of prisoners through extended solitary confinement, physical violence, and psychological torture is pervasive in the US prison system. We must work to link anti-Guantánamo activism with resistance to these practices and support prisoner protests in all US prisons.
CloseGitmo.net is a collaborative effort to increase the power of our shared struggle. Always bigger than any organization or network, the struggle has dramatically grown since the hunger strike began in February 2013. It’s time to link up in new ways — strengthen collaboration among all groups and individuals who share our broad goals and maximize our political impact. Toward these ends, CloseGitmo.net website will:
• educate about the reality in Guantanamo by posting the best, latest reporting from the prison and by disseminating relevant policy and legal developments
• publicize and report on rallies, vigils, direct actions, public lectures, and other events aimed at closing Guantánamo and/or resisting prison abuse
• highlight the heroic actions of the solidarity hunger strikers committed to refusing food (or dramatically reducing calorie intake) in solidarity with the men at Guantanamo
• coordinate letter-writing campaigns, rolling fasts, call-ins, and twitter storms
• build mutual solidarity among movements to close Guantánamo and those working to stop torture in US detention centers
• offer accurate, high-quality information to media reporting on our efforts
• provide links to and RSS feeds from the many organizations working to close Guantánamo and end abuses in US prisons
• profile poetry, songs, writings, visual art, videos and other materials to educate, inspire, and sustain us in our vital work
• help connect anti-torture activists in the United States with those around the world
• publicize and support each others’ work, while strengthening our collective bond!
Like all collaborations, CloseGitmo.net depends for its success on the passion and dedication of its contributors. Like all websites, it needs to be used and shared widely to make a difference.
Together we can make it a vital tool in the struggle for justice.
In Solidarity,
- The London Guantánamo Campaign
- Meta Peace Team: “Pursuing peace through active nonviolence”
- The Metta Center for Nonviolence
- National Religious Campaign Against Torture
by 
Hunger Striker's Blog
U.S. Faster in Solidarity w/Gitmo & Pelican Bay Prisoners
Foreground: EMT prepares the tool for the nasal intubation. Background: U.S. Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina Middleground:...agony awaits.
The feeding demo is extremely painful, yet it is done with consent. The long-term solidarity fast continues with nasogastric nourishment in front of U.S. governmental symbols of power. The twice-daily force-feeding of Gitmo hunger strikers is nonconsensual and therefore real torture by the standards sponsored by U.S. taxpayers and authorized by members of Congress who just raised the debt ceiling to nearly $17 trillion. President Obama's actions continue to belie his empty words "Close Guantánamo." As Commander-in-Chief, he could easily order an end to what the Pentagon refuses to call "forced-feeding." The force-feeding is premeditated relentless forced penetration of plastic into their innermost sacred cavities !
Andrés Thomas Conteris - fasted on water and coconut water with vitamin and electrolyte supplements. Solidarity fast began July 8, 2013 with 30,000 hunger striking California prisoners urging fulfillment of 5 Core Demands of the Pelican Bay supermax prisoners. Force-feeding protests began Sept. 6 & Sept. 25 in front of the White House & later in front of the Oakland Office of CA Dept of Corrections and Rehab (CDCR) to depict how prisoners in Guantánamo are tortured with force-feeding twice-daily and how CA prisoners as future hunger strikers have been threatened with a court order authorizing force-feeding. On Oct 4 and Oct 8 he was tube-fed in front of the U.S. Embassies in Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Oct 15 a similar protest took place in Santiago, Chile. On Friday, Oct 18 the feeding protest returns to Washington, DC outside a Federal Court hearing on the lawsuit challenging force-feeding in Guantánamo. He is now on a maintenance fast losing about 1 pound per week, unlike the 5 pounds/week the first 11 weeks. In January 2014 with the anniversary of Guantánamo on Jan. 11, the force feeding protests will recommence. Please spread the word.
U.S. Hunger Strikers who have suspended their fast
Diane Wilson - Water only 58 days (lost 48 lbs). Diane, co-founder of CodePink and member of Veterans for Peace, suspended her hunger strike on June 27, 2013 after detention following her arrest for scaling the White House fence the day before. She faced a jury trial in DC District Court on Sept. 5th, 2013.
S. Brian Willson - Suspended Hunger Strike on June 10, 2013 after 31 days on 300cal/day, when a car accidentally hit him. Supporters continue a vigil with a rolling fast, in Portland, OR.
Elliott Adams - Went 80 days on 300 cal/day from May 18, to August 4, 2013 losing 45 lbs. He is past President of Veterans for Peace.
Tarak Kauff - Ended fast on August 4, 2013 after 58 days on 300 cal/day since June 7. He lost 29 lbs. On Board of Directors for Veterans for Peace.
Cynthia Papermaster - After 84 days on 300 cal/day, Cynthia suspended her hunger strike on Sep. 6 which began June 15, 2013. Code Pink member, lost 35 lbs. The transfer of two Algerian prisoners on Aug. 29, 2013, inspired her to suspend her fast.
Collaborative of CloseGitmo.net Organizations
- Campaign for Alternatives to
- Meta Peace Team: "Pursuing peace
- Metta Center for Nonviolence
- NRCAT
Daily Updates
- Articles: Major Obama Supporters Call for Action to Close Guantánamo as Promised February 13, 2014
- Articles: Torture Began at Guantánamo with Bush's Presidential Memo 12 Years Ago February 7, 2014
- Articles: GTMO Clock Marks 250 Days Since President Obama's Promise to Resume Releasing Prisoners from Guantánamo; 77 Cleared Men Still Held January 30, 2014
