fast
Fast and Vigil for Justice - Final Report
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 poke around witnesstorture.org for a bounty of videos, photos, press clippings and more. more...
At 78 years, lifelong protester racks up convictions, marches on [Washington Post]
It's a familiar scene for Eve Tetaz. She sits in the cold, damp holding cell, crammed together with other women. Some, like her, were arrested for protesting. Others are locked up for drugs, assault or prostitution. more...
Day 12: Fast and Vigil for Justice
All of our friends who spent last night and the better part of today in jail, have now been released. After 30 hours locked up, the system slowly grinded on, and people have a first court date of March 18. We'll keep you in the loop as details around a possible trial come together. From those who were arrested, there were stories of joy as well as frustration… more...
Day 11: Fast and Vigil for Justice
Today was a busy one. As I sit to write this brief update, forty-two friends are in DC jail after simultaneous actions inside and outside the US Capitol. Rather than re-count the actions here, we encourage you too look through our site for photos, videos and other reports. Please forward links around, post them on facebook, e-mail them to friends and family, not to highlight what we have done, but to draw attention to the continuing crime of Guantanamo. more...
Day 10: Fast and Vigil for Justice
We started off Day 10 of the fast with a procession to the White House for a press conference with CodePINK. Next, we made our way to the Senate Hart building, where, after lots of meetings and planning, we had the opportunity to put our ideas into action. All of those meetings paid off - the action came together beautifully! more...
Jan 21: Witness Against Torture Decries Obama's Broken Promises, America's Broken Laws, Lives Broken By 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. more...
Day 9: Fast and Vigil for Justice
We began Day 9 before the sun came up, getting everyone together, into orange jumpsuits, and out the door of St. Stephen's by 6:20am. Off we went to the Pentagon, to participate in a weekly vigil that the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker has been holding consistently for over 25 years. more...
Day 8: Fast and Vigil for Justice
This morning, on Day Eight of our fast, we gathered together for a conference call with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, a group of young people working for peace and justice in Afghanistan (http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog/). They have been fasting for two days in solidarity with all of us. It is difficult to try to encapsulate the richness of the dialogue we exchanged with this group of young people so dedicated to the struggle for peace and justice, and so entrenched in the sorrow and pain of war. more...
Witness Against Torture: Trying for 'Tough Minds and Tender Hearts'
Today is our fifth day of fasting and we have, potentially, a stressful day ahead. As you are all well aware, we will be at John Yoo's book signing. Mr. Yoo is former lawyer of the United States Department of Justice and now professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-authored legal memos for the Bush administration pertaining to the men detained at Guantánamo that rejected the Geneva Convention, denied Habeas corpus and legalized torture. more...
Day 7: Fast and Vigil for Justice
We are halfway through the "Fast for Justice," and as we get closer to the end, our minds are heavy with the thought of the prisoners for whom no end is in sight. We think of them and we also keep in mind all of you who are here with us in spirit. more...