Close Guantanamo With Justice Now

President Obama
entered office promising to close Guantanamo 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.

That's not acceptable, says Witness Against Torture, which will
begin two weeks of protest in Washington, D.C. on January 11. On the 11^th, a coalition of human
rights groups will hold a rally in
front of the White House at 11 am, followed by a "prisoner procession" to the
Department of Justice. There, one group of participants will demand a meeting
with DoJ officials, while others will engage in non-violent civil disobedience.By blocking the lawsuits of former
detainees, appealing the decisions of federal judges ordering the release of
prisoners, and refusing to prosecute Bush administration officials for torture,
the Justice Department has failed to fulfill President Obama's promise of
accountability and respect for the rule of law.

"Congress and the White House are
rapidly moving toward a policy of permanent detention without trial for many of
the prisoners at Guantanamo," says Bob Cooke of Witness Against Torture.
"Bagram and other detention centers remain beyond the reach of the law.
This violates the U.S. Constitution, as well as international law. When our
government's policies violate the law and our nation's ideals, it's up to the
people to challenge the government directly."

The protest on the 11^th
will be followed by 10 days of fasting, lobbying, and demonstrating in
Washington, D.C.

Witness Against Torture demands include:

• Close
  the prison at Guantanamo Bay;
• Free
  all prisoners who have been cleared for release, ensuring their safe
  resettlement and providing asylum in the U.S. for those unable to go
  elsewhere;
• Produce
  charges against all other prisoners and prosecute them in U.S. courts;
• Open
  all detention centers to outside scrutiny. That includes accepting the
  oversight of the International Committee of the Red Cross of all
  facilities; and
• Conduct
  a comprehensive criminal inquiry against all those who designed and
  carried out torture policies under the Bush administration.

Who: Witness Against Torture and co-sponsors

Event: Rally,
"prisoner procession" to Department of Justice, and non-violent direct action

Date and Time:
Tues, Jan. 11, beginning at 11am

Location: The White
House, Washington, D.C.

Who We
Are: In December 2005, Witness
Against Torture drew international attention when its members
walked to Guantanamo Bay to protest at the prison. Since its return, the group
has organized vigils, marches, nonviolent direct actions, and educational
events opposing torture and calling for the closure of Guantanamo.