June, 20 2011, 10:08am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194
Witness Against Torture, Matt Daloisio, 201-264-4424, daloisio@earthlink.net
Amnesty International, Witness Against Torture to Lead Procession Denouncing Use of Torture
WASHINGTON
Amnesty International and Witness Against Torture will lead a solemn procession on Thursday, June 23 at 11:00 am beginning at the White House to mark Torture Awareness Month and urge the Obama administration to end the use of torture by the U.S. government. Speakers will address the crowd at vigil stops along the procession including the Department of Justice, Supreme Court of the United States and United States Capitol.
Attendees will carry signs and banners seeking accountability by the U.S. government for its use of torture in the "War on Terror", including an apology to torture survivor Maher Arar. Arar was sent by U.S. officials to Syria, a country known for its use of torture, and tortured for one year.
Details:
What: Procession against the use of torture by United States government
When: Thursday, June 23, 2011
Locations: White House, 11:00 am - 11:20 am
U.S. Department of Justice, 11:40 am - 12 pm
Supreme Court of the United States, 12:15 pm - 12:30 pm
U.S. Capitol, 12:30 pm - 12:45 pm
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
Witness Against Torture formed in 2005 when 25 Americans went to Guantanamo Bay and attempted to visit the detention facility. Once we returned from that journey, we began to organize more broadly to shut down Guantanamo, working with interfaith, human rights and activists' organizations. We have planned a series of nonviolent direct actions to expose and decry the administration's lawlessness, build awareness about torture and indefinite detention amongst Americans and forge human ties with the prisoners at Guantanamo and their families.
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