Ten years of shame

From Witness Against Torture:

This January 11, the prison at Guantanamo will enter its 10th year of operation. The prison is both a site and symbol of a legacy that includes rendition, extralegal detention, and torture. This legacy endures, despite the promise of President Obama to close Guantanamo and break with Bush-era policies. With President Obama's continued betrayal of his promise and with the Republican gains in Congress, the nightmare draws closer: that the prison at Guantanamo will become permanent. We can't let this happen! We demand that Guantanamo be closed immediately and that those who designed and carried out torture policies be held to account.

On January 11, 2011 we will gather at the White House for an 11am press conference with a coalition of human rights and grassroots groups and then proceed in a "prisoner procession" to the Department of Justice, where we will engage in nonviolent direct action. There are 174 men still imprisoned at Guantanamo, and we hope to have at least that many people as part of our procession (sign up here). From January 11-22, we will remain in DC and fast, (sign up here) holding daily vigils and demonstrations throughout Washington, haunting the sites of power with the specter of Guantanamo and the stories of the men who remain there.

We invite you to come to Washington and participate, or else join or plan an event in your own community.