[PAA-Discuss] Fast for Justice, Final Report
Juli3 at aol.com
Juli3 at aol.com
Tue Jan 26 07:34:24 EST 2010
_View as a web-page_
(http://witnesstorture.org/sites/witnesstorture.org/files/email/blast-012510.html)
(http://www.witnesstorture.org/)
January 21, 2010
FAST & VIGIL FOR JUSTICE - FINAL REPORT
(http://www.witnesstorture.org/) >From January 11 - January 22, over one
hundred and fifty people spent the last 12 days fasting, vigiling, lobbying
and then, finally, engaging in civil disobedience to call for a closure of
Guantanamo and an end to all torture. Below is a short summary of our
daily activities and links to some reflections. Be sure to visit
_www.witnesstorture.org_ (http://www.witnesstorture.org/) for a bounty of videos,
photos, press clippings and more.
At the close the "Fast for Justice," the news here in Washington for the
men in Guantanamo is not good. Not only has the deadline for Guantanamo's
closure been missed, but the Obama administration has announced an indefinite
detention scheme, currently focused on 50 men being held in Guantanamo.
Instead of celebrating a year marked by progress made towards the closure of
Guantanamo, we find ourselves saddened by broken promises, broken laws and
broken lives.
As we gathered for a closing circle in Washington, DC, one in the group
shared "the witness is over, but the work continues." That is precisely
correct. We will be organizing around the trial for those arrested on January
21st, and will continue to gather, reflect, plan and act on behalf of those
in Guantanamo, Bagram, and other US prisons. Please join us by sharing your
talents, ideas, resources, and time as we continue to gather in community
to answer the question, "what can we do together that we cannot do alone?"
REFLECTIONS & VIDEOS
Every day over the course of the Fast people gathered together for
reflections; some these reflections became written pieces that we posted to our
website. In addition, Witness Against Torture member Mike Benedetti produced
a daily video report on each day of the Fast. Here are a few suggested
links.
* _Video, Fast Day 5_
(http://www.youtube.com/user/witnesstorture#p/c/8C979557EE74DE94/10/YvrVEe7esNk) : John Yoo protest
* _Video, Fast Day 11_
(http://www.youtube.com/user/witnesstorture#p/c/8C979557EE74DE94/1/wZHltKetChE) : Two Guantanamo protests at US Capitol;
42 arrested
* _A Reflection on Salah, Mani and Yasser_
(http://witnesstorture.org/reflections-on-horton-story) , by Witness Against Torture
* _Courage, Muslim Brother, You Do Not Walk Alone_
(http://witnesstorture.org/courage-muslim-brother) , by Judith Kelly and Sherrill Hogen
* _Tough Minds, Tender Hearts_
(http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-6#kelly) , by Kathy Kelly
DAILY REPORTS
_Day 1_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-1)
On the 8-year anniversary of Guantanamo, over 75 gathered at the White
House, many wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods, for street theater and
speakers followed by a solemn procession to the National Press Club for a
briefing.
_Day 2_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-2)
While some fasters lobbied at Congressional offices, two dozen
participated in a somber "prisoner walk" through the halls of the Senate Hart
Building.
_Day 3_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-3)
The day was filled with lobby visits, a procession around the Supreme
Court and Capital Hill, and another "prisoner walk" through the Senate Hart
Building.
_Day 4_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-4)
The day was spent on organizing, preparation and a vigil at sundown at the
White House.
_Day 5_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-5)
We protested former Justice Department attorney and torture memo author
John Yoo at an event where he spoke about his new book.
_Day 6_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-6)
Witness Against Torture joined the "Peace of the Action" rally focused on
the CIA's use of drones at the CIA headquarters.
_Day 7_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-7)
(http://witnesstorture.org/daily-reports) We spent the day in retreat,
reflection, and planning for our second week of the "Fast for Justice."
_Day 8_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-8)
We gathered together for a conference call with the Afghan Youth Peace
Volunteers, attended a civil rights event at the Museum of American History,
and later participated in a discussion with survivors of torture from TASSC
International at St. Stephen's.
_Day 9_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-9)
In the early morning we held a vigil at the Pentagon with our 40-foot
"Close Guantanamo" banner; in the evening we returned to the White House.
_Day 10_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-10)
After a processing to the White House for a press conference with
CodePINK, we made our way to the Senate Hart building for another "ghost" presence.
_Day 11_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-11)
Forty-two people were arrested after simultaneous actions inside and
outside the U.S. Capitol building.
_Day 12_ (http://witnesstorture.org/fast-day-12)
All the arrestees were arraigned, released and charged with unlawful
assembly and disorderly conduct. Later we gathered at Stephen's to break our
12-day fast together.
WHO WE ARE
In December 2005, Witness Against Torture drew international attention
after it walked to Guantanamo to visit the prisoners. Since 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. Last January Witness Against
Torture organized the highly visible _100 Days Campaign_
(http://www.100dayscampaign.org/) in Washington, D.C.
The Fast and Vigil to Close Guantanamo was organized by Witness Against
Torture with the support of _Center for Constitutional Rights_
(http://www.ccrjustice.org/) , _No More Guantanamos_ (http://www.nogitmos.org/) , _Pax
Christi USA_ (http://www.paxchristiusa.org/) , _School of the Americas Watch_
(http://www.soaw.org/) , _September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows_
(http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/) , _Torture Abolition and Survivors
Support Coalition International_ (http://www.tassc.org/) , _United for Peace and
Justice,_ (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/) the _War Resisters League_
(http://www.warrestisters.org/) , _World Can't Wait_ (http://worldcantwait.org/)
and _many others_ (http://www.witnesstorture.org/2010) .
SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN _
* Buy_ (http://www.caebuttons.com/WAT_catalogue.html) a Witness
Against Torture T-Shirt.
* _Donate online_ (http://www.witnesstorture.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.
* _Post_ (http://www.witnesstorture.org/events) your local
community's anti-torture event to our calendar.
* Spread the word! Forward this e-mail, _learn more_
(http://www.witnesstorture.org/about) , or _put a button_
(http://www.witnesstorture.org/web_buttons) on your website.
* FACEBOOK: Join our _cause_ (http://apps.facebook.com/causes/159846)
and _group_ (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31012747524) .
_www.witnesstorture.org _ (http://www.witnesstorture.org/)
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