In Focus

January 2024: Speak Out to Close Guantanamo

Marking 22 Years of Guantanamo

Solidarity with the men, community with each other
January 8 – 12, 2024

Every January, we center the Muslim men who have been tortured by the U.S. in Guantanamo.  Our community will once again observe January 11, the day the notorious prison was opened 22 years ago.We aren’t gathering in DC, but we’ll be together virtually and vigiling in our own communities.  Below you’ll find the schedule of activities for this year’s Witness Against Torture from January 8 – 12, which includes local vigils, 2 powerful webinars and 3 WAT community Zoom circles. As always, some of us will fast beginning January 8, and break our fast the evening of January 11. 

Note: please email WAT to join Community Zoom circles.

Monday January 8, 7pm ET: WAT Community Zoom circle led by Frida Berrigan.  We begin fasting today, but please join the circle whether you’re fasting or not!

Tuesday Jan 9, 3pm ET: WAT Community Zoom circle with Mansoor Adayfi (that’s 9 pm Mansoor’s time…).

Wednesday Jan 10, 1-2:30 ET: From Guantánamo to Gaza: Resisting State Violence and Occupation. Speakers include Katherine Gallagher, CCR, Mansoor Adayfi, writer, activist, and Guantánamo survivor and Sahar Francis, Director, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Register now. 

Thursday Jan 11:

• Vigils/rallies in our respective towns and cities (most on J11 but some on J10, 12, and 13). See below for the complete list.
  
  
• Wednesday Jan 11, 1-2pm ET: Guantánamo at Twenty-Two: What is the Future of the Prison Camp? 
  Online panel discussion hosted by New America, featuring former Guantánamo prisoner and best-selling author Mohamedou Ould Slahi, Fionnuala Ni Aolain, former UN Special Rapporteur for Counterterrorism and Human Rights, and Guantánamo expert Andy Worthington. Register now. 
  
  
• WAT Community Zoom circle, 7pm ET (Please email WAT for link)

Friday Jan 12, 5-6:30 ET: Guantanamo, Where do we go from here? Presenters include Fionnuala Ni Aolain, former UN Special Rapporteur for Counterterrorism and Human Rights, and Mansoor Adayfi, writer, activist and Guantanamo survivor. Register now.

Vigils and Rallies across the U.S. 

Umbrella sponsors: Amnesty International US, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Victims of Torture, CloseGuantanamo.org, CODEPINK, Defending Rights & Dissent, Muslim Counterpublics Lab, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, No More Guantanamos, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition, Witness Against Torture, World Can’t Wait

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10

Fremont, Ohio, Vigil to Shut Down Guantanamo
[CANCELLED due to weather–see other Ohio vigils below.]  
Wednesday, January 10th, 4 to 5pm ET
Corner of Front and W State St
Sponsor: People for Peace & Justice Sandusky County
Contact: Josie Setzler, josiesetzler@gmail.com

Toledo, Ohio, Wed., Jan 10, 5:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Community Viewing:
From Guantánamo to Gaza: Resisting State Violence and Occupation. Speakers include Katherine Gallagher, CCR, Mansoor Adayfi, writer, activist, and Guantánamo survivor and Sahar Francis, Director, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. 
Mott Branch Library, 1085 Dorr St., Toledo, OH 43607
Sponsors: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, American Muslims for Palestine – Toledo Chapter, Veterans For Peace
Contact: smkuehn@earthlink.net

THURSDAY JANUARY 11

Buffalo, NY, Noon to 1:00 pm ET
Federal Building, Delaware Ave at City Hall Circle 
Sponsors: Pax Christi NY, WNY Peace Center, VFP Chapter 128
Contact: Tom Casey, caseytpc@aol.com, 716-491-9172

Cleveland, Ohio, From Guantanamo to Gaza: War is Terror
11:30am to 1:30am ET
Celebrezze Federal Building at East 9th and Lakeside
Sponsor: Cleveland Catholic Worker
Contact: Brian, brian@irtfcleveland.org or Mike Fiala, micfiala@sbcglobal.net

Cobleskill, NY, Global Close Gitmo Vigil, 4 to 5pm ET
Veterans Park, Grand and Main Streets
Sponsor: Peacemakers of Schoharie County
Contact: Sue Spivak, sspivack70@gmail.com, or Elliott Adams, Elliottdsadams@gmail.com

Detroit, Global Close Guantánamo Vigil, 4 to 4:30pm
Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Sponsor: Detroit Amnesty
Contact: Ken and Geraldine Grunow

Greenfield, MA, Vigil and March, 10 to 11am ET
Greenfield Town Common, Main Street
Sponsors: No More Guantanamos, CODEPINK, World Can’t Wait
Contact: Nancy Talanian, ntalanian@nogitmos.org

Los Angeles, CA, Rally to Close Guantanamo Now, 12 to 1:30pm PT
Downtown Los Angeles Federal Bldg (300 N. Los Angeles St. 90012).
Sponsor: Shane Que Hee. Endorsers: ACLU of S California, Addicted to War, Courage to Resist, John Kiriaku, Out Against War, Clive Stafford Smith
Contact: Jon Krampner, bluewombat134@startmail.com, 323 661-7428 (landline)

New York City, Rally to Close Guantanamo Now
4 to 5:30 pm, NY Public Library steps (5th Avenue @41st Street)
Sponsors:  World Can’t Wait, Brooklyn for Peace, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, NY War Resisters League
Contact: DebraSweet@worldcantwait.net, 718 809 3803

Northampton, MA Vigil and March, 12 to 1pm ET
Main Street, in front of Hampshire County Courthouse
Sponsors: No More Guantanamos, CodePink,
Contact: Nancy Talanian, ntalanian@nogitmos.org

Raleigh, NC, Anniversary vigil to mourn the opening of Guantanamo prison, 12pm ET, 300 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC
Sponsor: North Carolina Stop Torture Now
Contact: Joan Walsh, 919-384-2290, walshj@email.unc.edu

Toledo, Ohio, Vigil/Protest March: From Guantanamo to
Palestine – Shutdown Unjust Imprisonment!
12 Noon – 2:00 pm, Lucas County Courthouse
Sponsor: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, American Muslims for Palestine – Toledo Chapter, Veterans For Peace
Contact: smkuehn@earthlink.net

Washington, DC, Vigil to Close Guantanamo, 12 to 1 pm ET
Pennsylvania Ave, north side of White House
Local Sponsor: Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Baltimore Phil Berrigan Memorial VFP, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore
Contact: Steve Lane, steve_lane@amron.com, or T.C. Morrow, tmorrow@nrcat.org

FRIDAY JANUARY 12

Tiffin, Ohio, Friday, January 12th, 4pm ET
Seneca County Courthouse
Sponsor: Tiffin Area Pax Christi, Project Peace
Contact: Sr. Paulette Schroeder, paulet1905@outlook.com

SUNDAY JANUARY 14

Augusta, Maine, Sunday January 14th, 1pm ET
The Armory at 177 Western Ave
Sponsors: Pax Christi-Maine, Peace Action-Maine, and the Maine Veterans For Peace
Contact:  Mary Kate Small, marykatespeace@yahoo.com, (207) 236-2794 home

Take Action

• Email President Biden (whitehouse.gov) to free 16 men cleared for release and 3 men still not charged after 20 years of incarceration
  
  
• Donate to the Guantanamo Survivors Fund to support the many transferred men living in dire circumstances (www.nogitmos.org/guantanamo-survivors-fund)
  
  
• Mail a post card to Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying immediately resettle or find a lawful solution for all the detainees still held at Guantánamo (Secretary Antony Blinken, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520)
  
  
• Join the GTMO Clock: Take your photo with the poster to tell Biden that 8,036 days is too long for Guantanamo to be open
  
  
• Come to a rally near you to Close Guantanamo!