S. Brian Willson, a former commander of a US Air Force security unit in Viet Nam, became a trained lawyer and criminologist. He has been a long-time anti-war activist studying patterns of US lawlessness in its domestic criminal injustice system, and in its lawless foreign policy. In 1981, he was tasked by a Massachusetts State Senator to investigate a variety of prison brutality complaints, and co-wrote the study, “Walpole State Prison: An Exercise in Torture”. He has participated in a number of water only fasts, including the 47-day Veterans Fast For Life in 1986 in Washington with three other combat veterans protesting President Reagan’s terrorist wars in Central America. In 1987, he was nearly killed while participating in a well-publicized nonviolent blockade with two other veterans of a Navy munitions train carrying munitions headed for El Salvador. Instead of stopping awaiting arrests which was routine protocol, the train crew was ordered not to stop. The train was accelerating to more than three times its 5 mph speed limit, when it struck Brian, severing his legs below the knee and causing a severe skull fracture and brain injury. It was soon learned that Brian and the other members of the Veterans Fast For Life had been investigated by the FBI as domestic terrorist suspects. A career FBI agent was fired for his refusal to investigate them as “terrorists”, losing his pension as a result.
An avid handcyclist, he has cycled over 60,000 miles in the past 15 years using his arms. He delves in permaculture in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of a psychohistorical memoir, Blood On The Tracks: The Life and Times of S. Brian Willson (PM Press, 2011). His web essays and blog can be found at brianwillson.com and bloodonthetracks.info. He has been granted honorary doctorates in law and humanities, and was awarded Nicaragua’s highest honor, the Order of Augusto Cesar Sandino.
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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
