[torture] January 11: Shut Down Guantánamo

Wed Dec 20 17:28:44 EST 2006

JANUARY 11, 2007: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO SHUT DOWN GUANTÁNAMO

In the work to shut down Guantánamo, there is a part to be played by
lawyers and human rights advocates. What is the role of the citizen?
To stand up on behalf of the victims of the war on terrorism. On
January 11, many of us will do that through nonviolent direct action,
creatively challenging a system of laws that offer no justice.

CALL TO ACTION

We declare January 11, 2007, five years after the first prisoners
arrived at Guantanamo, an International Day of Action to Shut Down
Guantánamo. In Washington, DC we will hold a permitted march from the
Supreme Court to the U.S. Federal Court; some may risk arrest they
attempt to submit Habeas petitions on the behalf of the prisoners of
Guantánamo. There will also be solidarity demonstrations from
Amsterdam to Boise, Idaho and a National Call-In Day to Congress. We
invite you to come to Washington and participate, or else join or plan
an action in your own community.

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC

Thursday, January 11, 10:00am. Gather at Upper Senate Park
(intersection of Delaware & Constitution Avenues, NE)

The day involves several elements:

"PRISONERS OF GUANTÁNAMO MARCH." A provocative street theater
performance involving people wearing orange jump suits, black hoods
and chains, and bearing the name of a man imprisoned at Guantánamo. We
will march in an orderly silent procession hauntingly evoking the
moral disgrace that is Guantánamo. With your help, we will form a
prisoner contingent including as many protesters as there are
prisoners.

NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION. Following the march to the Federal Court, we
encourage members of the prisoner contingent to risk arrest attempting
to deliver motions on prisoners' behalf to the Court. To participate,
please consider attending an orientation meeting on Wednesday night at
St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church (1525 Newton Street, NW) or
come early to Upper Senate Park for an orientation and rehersal at
9:30am. Please let us know in advance if you are willing to
participate in either the Prisoners Contingent, Nonviolent Direct
Action, or both. Email jan11 at witnesstorture.org.

VIGIL & RALLY. Those not participating in nonviolent direct action
will vigil outside the Federal Court in a permitted rally involving
street theater, puppets and a litany...as more hooded and suited
prisoners wait for their day in court.

TEACH-IN. There will be a Teach-In on Guantánamo, Law and Justice at
Georgetown Law School starting at 6:30pm.

PRESS CONFERENCE. In addition to the above activities organized by
Witness Against Torture, the Center for Constitutional Rights and
Amnesty USA are organizing a press conference that will take place on
the steps of the Supreme Court at 10:30am.

CONGRESSIONAL CALL-IN DAY. Visit http://www.witnesstorture.org/callin
for details on how to contact your members of Congress on January 11th
to demand an end to torture and indefinite detention.

For up-to-date details visit http://www.witnesstorture.org.

D.C. LOGISTICS

* Housing for people attending the January 11 action will be available
at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church. People risking arrest who
have special needs and require a bed please let us know. Email
jan11 at witnesstorture.org.

* Food will be served on January 10 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's. A
light breakfast will be served on January 11 from 7:00-8:00 a.m.

* Directions to St. Stephen's Church and Upper Senate Park, as well as
info about rides to D.C., are available at
http://www.witnestorture.org/logistics .

* Legal support will also be available. See
http://www.witnestorture.org/legal .

* Consider bringing hoods & orange jumpsuits if you have them. Let us
know if you do. Email jan11 at witnesstorture.org.

* Donate online at http://www.witnestorture.org/donate or send a check
made out to "Witness Against Torture" to Mary House Catholic Worker,
55 E. Third Street, New York, NY 10003.

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 Amsterdam, Holland; Boise, Idaho; Chicago,
Illinois; Corvallis, Oregon; Dublin, Ireland; Duluth, Minnesota;
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Humboldt County, CA; London, UK; Managua,
Nicaragua; Miami, Florida; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA;
Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; Saratoga Springs, NY; Sydney,
Australia; and Syracuse, New York.

Visit http://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

One year 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 Guantánamo and their
families.

Some of the organizations endorsing the Jan 11 Day of Action include:

* Bill of Rights Defense Committee * Center for Constitutional Rights
* CodePink * DC Anti-War Network * Declaration of Peace * Global
Exchange * International Federation for Human Rights * National
Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance * Pax Christi USA * Peace Action *
Torture Abolition and Survivors Coalition * United for Peace and
Justice * War Resisters League

For more information go to http://www.WitnessTorture.org

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