January 11, 2007 -- International Day to Shut Down Guantánamo
Five years ago, the first detainees were shackled, hooded and flown to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. None has received a fair trial. Three have committed suicide in desperation; many others have tried to kill themselves. Congress passed the Military Commissions Act in September, barring any detainees from ever having the right to challenge their detention in court, which defies the ancient human right of habeas corpus.
On January 11, groups from around the world will mark this date of infamy, calling upon our elected officials to end the abuse and torture, restore habeas corpus, and provide a just means for detainees to either receive a fair trial or be set free.
Submit your event to Witness Against Torture so others can see what you're planning!
See press coverage of the January 11, 2007 Guantánamo protests
Actions
- Join a national march and demonstration in Washington, D.C.
- Organize a local event (large or small) from this list of ideas.
- January 11 Action Guide is available from Amnesty International.
-
Model your public event after a street theatre video, organized
by a Fort Collins, Colorado group, Strength
Through Peace.
You can use the Fort Collins script to create your own street theatre:
Script in PDF
Script in Word - Organize a reading of the play, Guantánamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom. The script, tools, and tips are available by clicking on the play's title above.
- Choose excerpts from the script, Guantánamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom and read them at your public square, local federal building, or other gathering place.
Tools and Resources
- Download an event flyer
- Fact Sheet on Military Commissions
- Habeas Corpus / Military Commission Act flyer
- Local Letters to the Editor:
Guantánamo: How Will We Respond? by Joy Parsons, from Wichita Falls, TX
Close Guantánamo Now! by Francis Quinn, from Bandon, OR
Guantánamo Must Be Closed by Emily Box from Salt Lake City, UT
Time to Close Down Guantánamo Facility Louie Carey, Milford, NH
For more resources, visit our Guantanamo Action Center.
Video Resources
- Conversation with Moazzam Begg via satellite from Britain, November 12, 2006 at Mt. Holyoke College
- Unclassified Guantánamo, a film by William Teesdale, from the Federal Public Defender's office in Portland, OR about Adel Hamad, a Guantánamo detainee, husband, father, aid worker and teacher held at Guantánamo since 2003.
- Road to Guantánamo
- Road to Guantánamo Action Guide