Plight Of Guantanamo Prisoners To Federal Court

Activists Bring The Plight Of Guantanamo Prisoners To Federal Court

Washington, DC. Activists marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of Guantánamo Bay by forcing the names of the prisoners into the Federal court system. Eighty-nine Witness Against Torture (WAT) activists entered the Federal Court and filed Habeas Corpus petitions on behalf of the men held at Guantánamo Bay. Most dressed in tee-shirts saying "Shut Down Guantánamo"and "Stop Torture" and assumed the identity of a man still held in Guantánamo. The action occurred five years to the day after the first prisoners were transferred to Guantánamo. "In five long years these men have never been given the right to a day in court, the only way to get their names and stories into the court was to bring them there ourselves" says WAT activist Frida Berrigan, one of today's arrestees. Many of those arrested will continue their resistance by being processed in the name of Guantánamo prisoners.

All 89 were arrested by US Marshals around 1:30pm today. Activists had entered the building throughout the morning to submit their petitions and stayed to read the names of all Guantanamo prisoners and accounts of their torture and illegal imprisonment. Also while inside, they managed to drop banners reading "Shut Down Guantánamo" from balconies in the court atrium.

Meanwhile over 500 people processed from the Supreme Court to the Federal Court, 200 of them in orange jumpsuits and hoods. At the Federal Court, forty 'Guantanamo prisoners' in hoods and jumpsuits attempted to enter the building for their day in court but were denied entry by the police. The prisoners then sat down in front of the Federal Court as hundreds more chanted "let them in!".

The protest was organized by Witness Against Torture, a group of Christians that marched to Guantanamo and held a vigil in December 2005. There were over 100 protests held throughout the world to mark today, the 5th anniversary of the first arrival of prisoners to Guantanamo. Thousands participated in the coordinated actions around the world today as part of the International Day to Shut Down Guantánamo.

Professional, high resolution photos of the protest are available at www.resistancemedia.org, or by calling 202-270-6665.

For more information see:www.witnesstorture.org

ENDS

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