FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2014
Media Contact: Gabe Cahn, West End Strategy Team, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 202.776.7700, c: 202.412.1678
WASHINGTON—On Friday, May 23, one year after President Obama once again promised to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay in a speech at National Defense University, Amnesty International, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Witness Against Torture and several other groups joined together to stage a Global Day of Action to Close Guantánamo and End Indefinite Detention. Hundreds of activists demonstrated in 35 cities around the world, including Washington, D.C. in front of the White House, New York in Times Square, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Portland, London, Sydney, Munich, Toronto and Mexico City.
The groups called on President Obama to transfer the dozens of cleared detainees, including those from Yemen, and make good on his commitment to close the detention facility this year. The President’s pledge last May came amidst a mass hunger strike by men protesting their indefinite detention. Since then, only a handful of detainees have been transferred despite Congress’ decision to ease restrictions on such transfers. The groups also called on President Obama to release the full Senate report on CIA torture and ensure that the CIA does not have the final say about what information is made public. The May 23rd Day of Action was coordinated by a coalition of groups committed to ending human rights violations at Guantánamo including: Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, CodePink, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National, CAIR Maryland, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Interfaith Action for Human Rights, Franciscan Action Network, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Methodist Federation for Social Action, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Pax Christi USA, Reprieve, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, The Blue Lantern Project, Witness Against Torture and World Can’t Wait.
For the full list of May 23 events, please visit: http://witnesstorture.tumblr.com/post/82873599205/may-23-2014-global-call-to-action-to-close-guantanamo
Quotes from Participating Organizations:
Amnesty International USA: “One year after President Obama announced the revival of his efforts to close GTMO, far too little has changed. Unable to deliver justice, the detention facility at Guantánamo remains an ever-pungent odor reminding us of the costs of detaining individuals without charge for nearly 13 years. Hundreds of men remain held without charge, and even cleared detainees like Shaker Aamer remain stuck in limbo—enough is enough.”
- Savannah Fox, Field Organizer, Amnesty International USA
Center for Constitutional Rights: “We must judge President Obama by his actions not his words: seventy-seven cleared men still languish at Guantánamo and shamefully, after a year, the President still has nothing to show for lifting his self-imposed moratorium on transfers to Yemen. The President's stated goal of closing the prison will remain out of reach unless he immediately begins repatriating or resettling the Yemenis. After more than 12 years in Guantánamo, our clients don’t know when—if ever—they will be freed. With each passing day, Guantánamo exacts an unbearable human toll that only President Obama can remedy.”
- Aliya Hana Hussain, Legal Worker, Center for Constitutional Rights
Code Pink: “When I interrupted President Obama's May 23, 2013 speech to say that as Commander in Chief, he had the power to release all those Guantánamo prisoners who had already been cleared for release, the president said my voice was worth listening to. One year later, with cleared prisoners still languishing there, I wish the president would indeed listen and end the abominable nightmare these prisoners have endured for over a decade.”
- Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Code Pink
Council on American Islamic Relations: “One year has passed since the president again promised to close the U.S. run prison at Guantánamo which holds men without charge, trial, or hope. For six years, the president has continued in promising to close this prison, which has become a blemish on our nation's commitment to the rule of law, yet the situation has not improved. We are responsible for safeguarding the constitutional values that are meant to protect all Americans, persons who reside in the U.S., and those in our custody from the abuses of indefinite detention and lack of due process. We must shut down the prison at Guantánamo.”
- Nihad Awad, National Executive Director, Council of American-Islamic Relations
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns: “The closure of the prison camp at Guantánamo is long overdue, and for those men who remain in custody, they must be treated humanely. Maryknoll missioners have seen the devastating physical, psychological, emotional and societal effects of torture in too many corners of the world; we have accompanied torture survivors, some of them even members of our own community. The use of torture on Guantánamo detainees is morally unacceptable.”
- Gerry Lee, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
National Religious Campaign Against Torture: “It's been over twelve years since we shipped the first prisoner to Guantanamo. We tortured people there, held them without trial, and kept many of them there for years after they were cleared to leave. How much longer will it take us to do the right thing, the common sense thing, and close Guantanamo?"
– Rev. Ron Stief, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
No More Guantánamos: “President Obama’s speech last May proves that he has enough good reasons for closing ‘a facility that should have never been opened,’ and the Pentagon’s leadership has provided sufficient backing for closing the prison and for releasing inmates to silence criticism. On the anniversary of the President’s speech and beyond, No More Guantánamos members in several cities will be on the streets building support for the president to provide leadership, not more empty promises.”
- Nancy Talanian, Director, No More Guantánamos
Reprieve: “President Obama’s failure to close Guantánamo Bay – one year on from his recommitment, and more than five years since his first promise – is utterly shameful. Despite his claims to the contrary, the reality is that the President has the powers to release the majority of the prisoners, such as Shaker Aamer – a Londoner who, after 12 years of imprisonment and abuse, needs urgent medical treatment at home. Obama must close the facility and bring US detentions under the rule of law as soon as possible.”
- Cori Crider, Strategic Director of Reprieve's Abuses in Counter-Terrorism team
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: "Twelve years later and counting, Guantánamo has failed to deliver justice for the deaths of our family members. September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows believes that indefinite detention and the unfair Guantánamo Military Commissions must end. Each detainee should either be charged and fairly tried in U.S. federal court--in accordance with fair trial and treatment standards enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and international law--or be released to a country that will respect human rights."
- Colleen Kelly, co-founder, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International: "The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, founded by torture survivors from all over the world, calls on President Obama to fulfill his promise to close Guantánamo Bay by the end of 2014 and urges Congress to cease placing obstacles in his way.”
- Gizachew Emiru, executive director of TASSC International
The Blue Lantern Project: "In our fight for human dignity, The Blue Lantern family greets May 23rd as an opportunity to remember the president's broken promise by reaffirming our commitment to transform a culture that tolerates torture and mass incarceration. We will mark this day by reminding all who hear us that while so many are caged and tortured, none of us are free."
- Luke Nephew, The Blue Lantern Project
Witness Against Torture: "One year since Obama's new promise, Guantanamo is the same horror show it has always been: indefinite detention, desperate hunger strikes, forced-feeding. The moral stakes only deepen. The president needs to grasp the meaning of his own words and close the prison now."
- Jeremy Varon, Organizer with Witness Against Torture
May 23, 2014
Media Contact: Gabe Cahn, West End Strategy Team, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 202.776.7700, c: 202.412.1678
35 Human Rights Groups Hold ‘May 23 Global Day of Action To Close Guantánamo and End Indefinite Detention’
Exactly one year after President Obama recommitted to close down the detention facility, activists protest in 40+ cities in six countries against the lack of progress on detainee transfers
WASHINGTON—On Friday, May 23, one year after President Obama once again promised to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay in a speech at National Defense University, Amnesty International, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Witness Against Torture and several other groups joined together to stage a Global Day of Action to Close Guantánamo and End Indefinite Detention. Hundreds of activists demonstrated in 35 cities around the world, including Washington, D.C. in front of the White House, New York in Times Square, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Portland, London, Sydney, Munich, Toronto and Mexico City.
The groups called on President Obama to transfer the dozens of cleared detainees, including those from Yemen, and make good on his commitment to close the detention facility this year. The President’s pledge last May came amidst a mass hunger strike by men protesting their indefinite detention. Since then, only a handful of detainees have been transferred despite Congress’ decision to ease restrictions on such transfers. The groups also called on President Obama to release the full Senate report on CIA torture and ensure that the CIA does not have the final say about what information is made public. The May 23rd Day of Action was coordinated by a coalition of groups committed to ending human rights violations at Guantánamo including: Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, CodePink, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National, CAIR Maryland, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Interfaith Action for Human Rights, Franciscan Action Network, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Methodist Federation for Social Action, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Pax Christi USA, Reprieve, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, The Blue Lantern Project, Witness Against Torture and World Can’t Wait.
For the full list of May 23 events, please visit: http://witnesstorture.tumblr.com/post/82873599205/may-23-2014-global-call-to-action-to-close-guantanamo
Quotes from Participating Organizations:
Amnesty International USA: “One year after President Obama announced the revival of his efforts to close GTMO, far too little has changed. Unable to deliver justice, the detention facility at Guantánamo remains an ever-pungent odor reminding us of the costs of detaining individuals without charge for nearly 13 years. Hundreds of men remain held without charge, and even cleared detainees like Shaker Aamer remain stuck in limbo—enough is enough.”
- Savannah Fox, Field Organizer, Amnesty International USA
Center for Constitutional Rights: “We must judge President Obama by his actions not his words: seventy-seven cleared men still languish at Guantánamo and shamefully, after a year, the President still has nothing to show for lifting his self-imposed moratorium on transfers to Yemen. The President's stated goal of closing the prison will remain out of reach unless he immediately begins repatriating or resettling the Yemenis. After more than 12 years in Guantánamo, our clients don’t know when—if ever—they will be freed. With each passing day, Guantánamo exacts an unbearable human toll that only President Obama can remedy.”
- Aliya Hana Hussain, Legal Worker, Center for Constitutional Rights
Code Pink: “When I interrupted President Obama's May 23, 2013 speech to say that as Commander in Chief, he had the power to release all those Guantánamo prisoners who had already been cleared for release, the president said my voice was worth listening to. One year later, with cleared prisoners still languishing there, I wish the president would indeed listen and end the abominable nightmare these prisoners have endured for over a decade.”
- Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Code Pink
Council on American Islamic Relations: “One year has passed since the president again promised to close the U.S. run prison at Guantánamo which holds men without charge, trial, or hope. For six years, the president has continued in promising to close this prison, which has become a blemish on our nation's commitment to the rule of law, yet the situation has not improved. We are responsible for safeguarding the constitutional values that are meant to protect all Americans, persons who reside in the U.S., and those in our custody from the abuses of indefinite detention and lack of due process. We must shut down the prison at Guantánamo.”
- Nihad Awad, National Executive Director, Council of American-Islamic Relations
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns: “The closure of the prison camp at Guantánamo is long overdue, and for those men who remain in custody, they must be treated humanely. Maryknoll missioners have seen the devastating physical, psychological, emotional and societal effects of torture in too many corners of the world; we have accompanied torture survivors, some of them even members of our own community. The use of torture on Guantánamo detainees is morally unacceptable.”
- Gerry Lee, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
National Religious Campaign Against Torture: “It's been over twelve years since we shipped the first prisoner to Guantanamo. We tortured people there, held them without trial, and kept many of them there for years after they were cleared to leave. How much longer will it take us to do the right thing, the common sense thing, and close Guantanamo?"
– Rev. Ron Stief, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
No More Guantánamos: “President Obama’s speech last May proves that he has enough good reasons for closing ‘a facility that should have never been opened,’ and the Pentagon’s leadership has provided sufficient backing for closing the prison and for releasing inmates to silence criticism. On the anniversary of the President’s speech and beyond, No More Guantánamos members in several cities will be on the streets building support for the president to provide leadership, not more empty promises.”
- Nancy Talanian, Director, No More Guantánamos
Reprieve: “President Obama’s failure to close Guantánamo Bay – one year on from his recommitment, and more than five years since his first promise – is utterly shameful. Despite his claims to the contrary, the reality is that the President has the powers to release the majority of the prisoners, such as Shaker Aamer – a Londoner who, after 12 years of imprisonment and abuse, needs urgent medical treatment at home. Obama must close the facility and bring US detentions under the rule of law as soon as possible.”
- Cori Crider, Strategic Director of Reprieve's Abuses in Counter-Terrorism team
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: "Twelve years later and counting, Guantánamo has failed to deliver justice for the deaths of our family members. September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows believes that indefinite detention and the unfair Guantánamo Military Commissions must end. Each detainee should either be charged and fairly tried in U.S. federal court--in accordance with fair trial and treatment standards enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and international law--or be released to a country that will respect human rights."
- Colleen Kelly, co-founder, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International: "The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, founded by torture survivors from all over the world, calls on President Obama to fulfill his promise to close Guantánamo Bay by the end of 2014 and urges Congress to cease placing obstacles in his way.”
- Gizachew Emiru, executive director of TASSC International
The Blue Lantern Project: "In our fight for human dignity, The Blue Lantern family greets May 23rd as an opportunity to remember the president's broken promise by reaffirming our commitment to transform a culture that tolerates torture and mass incarceration. We will mark this day by reminding all who hear us that while so many are caged and tortured, none of us are free."
- Luke Nephew, The Blue Lantern Project
Witness Against Torture: "One year since Obama's new promise, Guantanamo is the same horror show it has always been: indefinite detention, desperate hunger strikes, forced-feeding. The moral stakes only deepen. The president needs to grasp the meaning of his own words and close the prison now."
- Jeremy Varon, Organizer with Witness Against Torture
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