WASHINGTON - September 24 - Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) brings its national tour of a life-size Guantanamo prison cell replica to St. Louis, MO, beginning Friday, October 24 until Sunday, October 26.  Visitors are encouraged to experience the cell and continue to push the Bush administration to shut down the U.S.-controlled detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The cell is designed to provide all visitors with a tangible way to understand the life of a Guantanamo detainee. The replica includes a steel toilet, florescent lights and a sliding metal door. Many detainees are held in isolation in similar conditions for as long as 23 hours a day.

The cell replica will be on exhibit at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel's parking lot on Friday, October 24 (noon to 7:00 p.m.), Saturday, October 25 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 26 (9 a.m. to noon). Visitors may tour the cell and record a 30-second reaction video that will be posted on youtube.com and tearitdown.org, as well as sign the global petition to shut Guantanamo down.

In addition, AIUSA will hold its Midwest Regional Conference during the cell replica's exhibition.  Key speakers during the three-day event include Congressman William Clay (D-MO 1) and AIUSA executive director Larry Cox. There will also be performances by National Poetry Slam winner and HBO Def Poetry alum Big Poppa E.

EVENT:        

Guantanamo Cell Replica Exhibit in St. Louis

DATE/TIME:    

Friday, October 24 (noon to 7 p.m.), Saturday, October 25 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 26 (9:00 a.m. to noon)

LOCATION:               
Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel Parking Lot
10330 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63134