By: NAFEESA SYEED
Associated Press
01/11/10 2:10 PM EST
Members of Witness Against Torture, which is calling on President Barack Obama to follow through with his pledge to close the U.S. prison in Cuba, then marched to downtown Washington. The group also opposes holding prisoners without charge or trial within the United States.
Half of the 40 demonstrators wore orange jumpsuits with black hoods over their heads as they marched with their hands behind their backs from the White House to downtown Washington.
They announced plans for a 12-day fast that will end on Jan. 22 — the original closing date for the prison ordered by Obama. But the government is still working to refurbish a prison in Illinois to hold some prisoners, put others on trial and send some abroad.
Art Laffin, 55, who lives in Washington, said he plans to fast the next 12 days, taking only liquids, to highlight how serious the situation is.
"It's a very small act to take," he said. "The situation there is very serious."
He said it's important that detainees in Guantanamo and the U.S. prison in Bagram, Afghanistan "know they are not forgotten and there are people in this country who deeply care about their plight."
The group says Obama's administration has upheld former President George W. Bush's anti-terrorism policies.
Republicans and some Democrats have strongly opposed moving terror suspects to U.S. soil, citing security fears. A Pentagon report said one in five terror suspects released from Guantanamo has returned to the fight.
Under Obama, some detainees have been transferred to other countries, but he has suspended the transfer of detainees to Yemen.
About 200 detainees remain at the prison. Obama last week reiterated his vow to eventually close it.
Pardiss Kebiraie, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents many detainees, said she has to go to Guantanamo next month to visit a client. She said she doesn't know what to tell him about why he's still in prison.
Kebiraie said there was "a lot of hope" among detainees when Obama was elected, but they remain in custody. She also said the vast majority who are released do not join terror groups, as some claim, and instead are seeking to rebuild their lives.
"We're here in anger and in sadness," said rally organizer Frida Berrigan. "We're here to hold up a mirror to the Obama administration."
"We should be here in celebration" of the prison's closure, Berrigan said.
Source: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/activis...