New York Federal Court House/Witness Against Torture/April 22 2013
Compiled by Palina Prasasouk with Witness Against Torture
From Mexico, to Spain to Australia, over 20 cities spanning over four continents held actions calling for the closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, marking the 100th day of the hunger strike. Actions began on Friday May 17th in Melbourne, Australia.
Melbourne, Australia, outside US consulate with good support from the local cops.
“The Sydney action was lovely- many people came up to talk to us and ask questions as we read letters and poems. The most common response was ‘but didn’t Obama close it?’ So explaining the situation was the main part of the afternoon. There was a great deal of outrage from people when they realised that there were still people who were over there without charge or trial. The ambassador refused to come down and speak to us-which was unsurprising. We had a surprise visit from the head of the Australian Foundation for Human Rights who gave a fantastic statement about peace and social justice.”
- Aloysia
Screen shot taken from video of the demo.
The London Guantánamo Campaign
Let’s go over to the US now where protests and vigils spanned from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic.
Taken during the lunch hour in downtown Los Angeles near Union Square.
Washington DC
In DC 360,000+ signed petitions were delivered to The White House, 166 flowers were laid to represent the remaining 166 detaines in Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, and 14 activists were arrested in front of the White House where it is legal to protest, but kneeling and standing are not permitted.
Col. Morris Davis, former chief prosecutor.
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/05/201351719348602566.html
Chicago
In Indiana an anonymous activist who calls himself “Inmate 1776” joined Chicago in a procession to Federal Plaza on his sixth day of a hunger strike until ten of the major news outlets in Indiana broadcasts headlining stories.
Timothy Murphy of Claremont, CA is on a similar journey. Timothy is a Ph.D. student and an ordained minister who felt spiritually compelled to the hunger strike since May 12th, drinking only water.
More photos from Amnesty International Mid-west.
http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2013/05/23/chicago-activists-call-for-the-end-of-guantanamo-bay/
Amherst, MA
Three women and a dog pass out leaflets and stand out on a street corner in in Amherst, MA on the 100th Day of the Gitmo Hunger Strike, embodying their vision:”Close Guantanamo with Justice!”
L-R: Paki Wieland, Beth Adams (under the hood) Dusty Miller and Mason the dog.
“Where is the world to save us from torture?
Where is the world to save us from the fire and the darkness?
Where is the world to save the hunger strikers?”
Excerpted from “Hunger Strike Poem” by Adnan Latif, 37, found dead/murdered? in Guantanamo, Sept. 12, 2012.
Woodstock, New York
In Woodstock, New York , an artists colony and most known for lending its name to the music festival Woodstock, with a population of less than 6,000. More than a dozen citizens stood on the streets acting their voice against Guantanamo Detention Center.
Boston, MA
Boston held two vigils. One at Arlington Street Station and here at Boston Street Station where they were joined by activists from the earlier vigil.
Video of the action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJdH7sBbA-w&feature=youtu.be
More photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/protestphotos1/sets/72157633527509412/detail/
New York City
“Only in Times Square,” you say? Witness Against Tortured, joined by The World Can’t Wait andAmnesty International, gathered outside in Times Square marching to the tune of Peace Poet,Luke Nephew:
Our brothers on a hunger, hunger strike
Can’t let them, let them, let them die
If we do then we lose our dignity
America, stand up and sing with me.
Don’t be a hesitant,
Go tell the President
Close Guantanamo Now…
Video of the action here.
Andy Worthington’s thoughts on the 100 Days of Guantanamo Hunger Strike
Steps Obama and the Public Can Take
Jason Leopold’s latest article: Physicians Dismisses Force Feeding Concerns
A look inside Camp 5, morning prayers.
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: 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
- Articles: Guantánamo: Where Being Cleared for Release Means Nothing January 26, 2014
