Witness Against Torture Decries Obama’s Broken Promises, America’s Broken Laws, Lives Broken by Torture

WITNESS AGAINST TORTURE
Press Advisory: For Immediate Release

January 20, 2010

Contact:          Helen Schietinger, 202-344-5762, h.schietinger@verizon.net
Matt Daloisio, 201-264-4424, daloisio@earthlink.net

Witness Against Torture Decries Obama’s Broken Promises, America’s Broken Laws, Lives Broken by Torture

Day of Action to Close Guantanamo and Bagram and End Torture

Washington, DC: A year ago today, Barack Obama was inaugurated President, riding a waves of hope and excitement into the Oval Office. Two days later, he signed executive orders outlawing torture and committing his administration to closing Guantanamo within a year.

“We in the anti-torture movement were so hopeful,” comments Sherrill Hogan from Western Massachusetts. “We looked forward to seeing Guantanamo closed, to seeing the many innocent men there freed, and to seeing those against whom the U.S. had credible evidence at last charged and brought to trial. But now, we hear that the administration plans to keep Guantanamo open at least until 2011. Its promises are broken.”  

Under the banner “Broken Promises, Broken Laws, Broken Lives,” Witness Against Torture is mobilizing for a march and action on Thursday, January 21. The march of Guantanamo prisoners dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods begins at the Obama White House and travels a mile and a half in silent and solemn procession to the Supreme Court and by the Capitol, highlighting all of the institutions that have failed to execute their most basic function-- justice.

“We march to hold the Obama administration to its words and promises,” says Helen Schietinger of Washington, DC. “The United States continues to detain dozens of men at Guantanamo who have been cleared for release. In addition, the Obama administration is expanding the prison at Bagram, and proposing indefinite detention without charge or trial for many and an Illinois prison facility for others. We see President Obama trying to replace the lawlessness of Guantanamo with a “legal black hole” in the continental United States. The laws are broken.”

The day of action follows a twelve day fast and vigil for justice. More than 150 people from around the country joined the fast, 50 of them vigiling and meeting daily in Washington, DC. The fast ends on Friday, January 22-- the Obama administration's widely proclaimed and now-voided-- deadline for closing Guantanamo.

“We have been fasting to remember the men who continue to languish at Guantanamo. For many, seven or eight years have gone by,” says Matt Daloisio of New York City. “Children have grown up without seeing their fathers. Parents have died. Families, whole communities, have been torn apart. The lives of these men have been broken.”

Schedule of the Day
10:15 am Gather at the White House for a brief program

10:45 am Begin “prisoner” procession to Supreme Court (mile and a half walk). This will be a silent and solemn procession of people dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods

12:15 pm Arrive at the Supreme Court (across the street from the U.S. Capitol) for vigil with “Broken Promises, Broken Laws, Broken Lives” banners.

Witness Against Torture is a grassroots movement that came into being in December 2005 when 24 activists walked through Cuba to the Guantanamo base to condemn the prison camp and torture policies. Since then, it has engaged in public education, community outreach, and non-violent direct action.

To learn more visit www.witnesstorture.org