Crafting Gentleness

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Shut Down Guantanamo: January 11, 2008

Shut Down Guantanamo: January 11, 2008

"Immediately close the detention center atGuantanamo Bay, Cuba, and either release itsinmates or bring them before an impartial tribunal."- United Nations Human Rights Commission

CALL TO ACTION

We declare January 11, 2008, six years after the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo, an International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantanamo. In Washington, DC we will hold a permitted demonstration at the National Mall followed by an orange jumpsuit procession to the Supreme Court. There will also be solidaritydemonstrations in Chicago, Miami, London and Paris, with more being added every day. We invite you to come to Washington and participate, or else join or plan an action in your own community. We also encourage people around the world to wear orange t-shirts, armbands or other orange clothing on January 11th to mark the date.

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC

Friday, January 11, 11:00am. (National Mall).

Map of the location:http://tinyurl. com/ynn3te

The day involves several elements: Demonstration at the National Mall. Witness Against Torture has teamed up with Amnesty International andthe National Religious Campaign Against Torture to hold a permitted demonstration on the National Mall at 11:00am. (Gather at 12th street NW between Madison Dr NW & Jefferson Drive SW - near the Smithsonian Metro Stop.)

"Prisoners of Guantanamo March."

A provocative street theater performance involving people wearing orange jump suits and black hoods. We will march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court in an orderly silent procession hauntingly evoking the moral disgrace that is Guantanamo. With your help, we will form a prisoner contingent including as many protesters as there are prisoners.

Funeral Ceremony at the Supreme Court.

Following the procession to the Supreme Court, we will hold a Funeral Ceremony to remember the four men who died in custody at Guantanamo and to mourn the death of Habeas Corpus. Like last year, some may choose to risk arrest.

To participate, please consider attending an orientation meeting on Thursday, 4pm, at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church (1525 Newton Street, NW) or come early to the National Mall for an orientation and rehearsal at 10:00am.

Please let us know in advance if you are willing toparticipate in either the Prisoners Contingent, Nonviolent Direct Action, or both.

Email jan11@witnesstortur e.org or call Matt Daloisio at 201-264-4424.

For up-to-date details as well as information abouthousing, food, rides and directions, legal support and much more, please visit our web site at www.WitnessTorture. org .

WEAR ORANGE ON JANUARY 11TH!

Wherever you are on January 11th, we encourage you to wear orange to raise public awareness and strengthen the movement to demand an end to torture and indefinite detention. Consider wearing one of Witness Against Torture's Orange "Shut Down Guantanamo" T-shirts, <http://www.caebutto ns.com/guantanam o.php> an ACLU arm band, <http://tinyurl. com/2c4mnu> or even an orange jumpsuit. <http://www.witnesst orture.org/ jumpsuit>

JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF LOCAL VIGILS -ATTEND OR ORGANIZE AN ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY

If you can't join us in Washington D.C., please consider attending or organizing a vigil, march or a public forum in your community. Actions are currently planned in London, England; Paris, France; Miami, FL; Boise, Idaho; Philadelphia, PA; Saratoga Springs, NY; San Francisco, CA; Ft. Huachuca, AZ; and New York City, NY. Visit www.WitnessTorture. org for up-to-date details about solidarity events, as well as to find ideas for actions, to post to our calendar, or to download flyers and other resources.

WHO WE ARE

Two years ago Witness Against Torture drew

international attention after it walked to Guantanamo to visit the prisoners. Upon its return, the group has organized vigils, marches, nonviolent direct actions and educational events to expose and decry the administration' s lawlessness, build awareness about torture and indefinite detention, and forge human ties with the prisoners at Guantanamo and their families.

Some of the organizations endorsing the Jan 11 Day of Action include:
Act Against Torture Bill of Rights Defense Committee
The Catholic Worker
Center for Constitutional Rights
Code Pink
Declaration of Peace
International Federation of Human Rights
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Network of Spiritual Progressives
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
School of the Americas Watch
Torture Abolition and Survivors Coalition
United for Peace and Justice
Voices For Creative Nonviolence
War Resisters LeagueWorld Can't Wait...and more.

See a full list of endorsers.<http://www.witnesst orture.org/ jan11_endorsers>

DONATE

Please make a contribution to help cover the costs of the January 11th event. You can donate online<http://www.witnesst orture.org/ donate> or send a check made out to "Witness Against Torture"to Mary House Catholic Worker, 55 E. Third Street, NewYork, NY 10003.

www.WitnessTorture. org--

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