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“We Will Not Stand Idly By:” Vigil Marks Guantanamo Day of Awareness and Action
by Evan Casper-Futterman
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at 1:11 AM
evan.casperfutterman@gmail.com (email address validated)
Protesters gathered for a vigil today in front of the Federal Building in conjunction with actions around the United States and around the globe to demand that the Guantánamo detention facility be closed.
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New Orleans, January 11, 2008—
As federal employees emptied out of the Hale Boggs Federal Building on Poydras street this afternoon, they were met with an unusual and uncomfortable sight. Outside of the front entrance of the federal building were eight Guantánamo “detainees,” clad in orange jumpsuits and black head coverings to simulate the first pictures of the prisoners being held there in 2002.
Though the protest group in New Orleans was small—eight detainees and another half dozen supporters—their actions occurred today in conjunction with dozens of other similar actions and consciousness-raising events around the United States and around the world. Hundreds of pedestrians and motorists slowed down as they passed by to examine the brightly dressed group.
Beginning with a song of prayer, the assembled “detainees” stood in silent vigil while the names of current and former prisoners of the Guantánamo detention facility were read. The name reading lasted arount forty-five minutes, as each dressed detainee removed his or her head covering to read from the list of names.
Today’s day of action, which was sponsored in the United States by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), marks the six-year anniversary of the detention facility, which has become iconic of the worst aspects of the “war on terrorism” and the new homeland security paradigm of the United States government: greater military involvement in civil and diplomatic affairs, decreased transparency, greater impunity for criminal acts committed by government officials, and a disregard for domestic and international laws and treaties. This is in addition to the growing body of evidence that points to the fact, beyond the moral depravity of torture, that it does not even accomplish the ends for which it is implemented.
The theme of the vigil today, “We Will Not Stand Idly By” was chosen by the local organizers to represent the need to act when one has witnessed such unconscionable acts and deeds committed supposedly on one’s behalf. The event was locally organized by New Orleans Christian Radicals and Peacemakers (NOCRAP).
For more information, see http://www.witnesstorture.org
outside the federal building
by Evan Casper-Futterman
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at 1:11 AM
evan.casperfutterman@gmail.com
library_-_2377.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x400
reading the names
by Evan Casper-Futterman
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at 1:11 AM
evan.casperfutterman@gmail.com
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