CloseGitmo.net invites you to three events in Washington, DC September 4-6, 2013
Scott Langley/WhiteHouse/6/26/13
What: CloseGitmo.net Social at Busboys & Poets
Where: 2021 14th ST NW (corner 14th& V Str, NW)
When: Wed. September 4, 2013 7-9PM
R.S.V.P. and info: http://bbp.splashthat.com/
What: Diane Wilson on Trial
Where: District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Ave NW
When: Thurs. September 5, 2013, 8:30AM
R.S.V.P. and info: http://dianewilsontrial.splashthat.com
What: Nasogastric Feeding at White House
Where: 1600 Penn Ave
When: Friday, September 6, 2013 12 noon
R.S.V.P. and info: http://septactions.splashthat.com
September 4 – CloseGitmo.net: Close Guantánamo & End U.S.-sponsored Torture came together as a group of organizations in solidarity with hunger strikers at the U.S. Navy Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp and those in prisons in California supporting the 5 Core Demands of prisoners at Pelican Bay. Key allies are Codepink, Witness Against Torture, Veterans for Peace, World Can’t Wait, Dorothy Day Catholic Workers, and Nonviolence International. Join us for a social event with speakers, music & poetry at Busboys & Poets at 14& V, NW in DC on Wednesday, September 47-9pm. We will distribute Orange Ribbons and encourage people to donate to the campaign to encourage 2.7 million people to wear them. More info at OrangeRibbons.net
September 5 – Diane Wilson, co-founder of CodePink and member of Veterans for Peace, fasted 57 days on water and then scaled the fence of the White House on June 26, 2013, International Day for Victims of Torture. Diane’s jury trial will take place Thursday & Friday, September 5-6, at 9:30AM at the DC District Court. Please come support Diane at her jury trial which may extend into the following week. Wear orange clothing or jumpsuits and bring signs. Your support for Diane and for CloseGitmo.net is much appreciated.
September 6– Come to the White House on Friday at noon where a weekly vigil has taken place for years for the closure of Guantánamo. On this Friday, speakers will discuss how U.S.-sponsored torture plays out in Guantanamo Bay and Pelican Bay. After fasting on water-only for 61 days in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners north and south, Andrés Thomas Conteris will be fed with nasogastric tubes to show how prisoners are force-fed twice daily in Guantánamo. On August 19, a judge in San Francisco issued an order clearing the way to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike in California. One hunger striking prisoner, Billy Sell, has already died. Forced-feeding has been classified as torture by human rights organizations and is denounced by the American Medical Association. It is also condemned by Senators John McCain and Diane Feinstein, among many others. This torture is perpetrated twice daily against Gitmo prisoners and is allowed to continue as long as it is kept in the shadows, hidden from public view. This feeding will not only be done to ensure Andrés can stay alive, but will reveal in the light of day how U.S. policy practices torture. In this wayCloseGitmo.net hopes to pressure to end to this inhumane treatment.
Live streaming at White House provided by Witness Against Torture:http://www.ustream.tv/user/witnesstorture
Live Tweets @witnesstorture
More information: [email protected]
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1409385822610547/
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: Guantánamo: Where Being Cleared for Release Means Nothing January 26, 2014
- Articles: Video: Washington D.C. Protest on the 12th Anniversary of the Opening of Guantánamo January 16, 2014
- Articles: Join Us in Washington D.C. on Jan. 11 to Tell President Obama, "Close Guantánamo Now!" January 6, 2014
