Category: Press Releases

1 acquitted, 3 found guilty by a jury, charges dropped against 9
Jury Continues to Deliberate on One Case; Sentencing Statements Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three members of Witness Against Torture were found guilty in a jury trial at D.C. Superior Court on January 5, 2012. The jury brought back guilty verdicts in the cases of defendants Brian Hynes of the Bronx, NY, Mike Levinson of New Rochelle, NY, and Carmen Trotta of New York City, NY. By the end of the day on Thursday, the jury remained “truly deadlocked” on the case of defendant Judith Kelly of Arlington, Virginia.
Continue reading Trial Ends for 14 Anti-Torture Activists

A jury trial for five anti-torture activists begins on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 in D.C. Superior Court before Judge Fisher on a charge of unlawful conduct.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — “Our strategy is to put Guantánamo on trial,” says Josie Setzler, a human rights advocate and grandmother from Ohio, “to demand action from our elected Representatives and our President, to see Guantánamo shut down and this travesty ended.”
Continue reading Occupy the Courtroom: Activists Put Guantánamo on Trial

Marking 10th anniversary of Guantánamo, events to include 10-day fast, courtroom support for activists who spoke out in congress, and a human chain from the White House to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — January 11 will mark the tenth anniversary of the first detainees’ arrival at the U.S.-controlled detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. To remember this travesty, Witness Against Torture is planning 10 days of activities in Washington, D.C. demanding an end to torture and indefinite detention at Guantánamo, Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and that the president reject the just-passed National Defense Authorization Act.
Continue reading Anti-Torture Activists to Occupy Washington, January 2nd-12th

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, June 23rd, 2011, members of Witness Against Torture, Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition International, Amnesty International and other groups will embark on a March of Shame, walking between the institutions of power in Washington, DC that continue to be responsible for policies of injustice, cruelty and illegality.
Continue reading Attention Obama, Congress and the Courts: Americans Still Believe that Torture, Abuse and Indefinite Detention Are Wrong

Activists Reach Hundreds of Employees with News of the Fast for Justice and Our invitation for Dialogue

WASHINGTON, DC — After a four hour presence at the Department of Justice this afternoon, Witness Against Torture finished its day of action by establishing an overnight vigil that will continue until 8am tomorrow morning, January 20, 2011.
Continue reading Anti-Torture Activists Shut Down Two Entrances to the Department of Justice

Day of Action Against Torture, Extra-Legal Detention at the White House and Department of Justice on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Barack Obama entered office promising to close Guantánamo and remove the taint of lawlessness it represents. Yet the prison remains open. While Congress blocks efforts to transfer prisoners to the U.S. for criminal trials, the White House draws up plans to hold some men indefinitely, without charge or trial.
Continue reading Close Guantánamo with Justice Now