1/11/07, from WitnessAgainstTorture.org: Hundreds
marched through the streets of D.C. today, winding a path from the
Capitol to the Supreme Court and ending at the U.S. Federal District
Court House. Throughout the morning other activists entered the court
house to file Habeas Corpus petitions and await the presentation of the
prisoners.
[ WAT photo gallery | Reuters photo gallery ]
After filing a motion with the Chief Judge of the Federal Court,
activists gathered inside the atrium of the court house and began
reading the litany of prisoners. Many dropped banners reading “Shut
Down Guantanamo” from the balconies overlooking the atrium. The
activists were then ordered to leave and arrested.
The action inside of the court house was complimented by a multi stage
march of 200 men and women in hoods and orange jumpsuits, representing
the prisoners of Guantanamo. They were joined by 300 supporters as they
marched solemnly to the Supreme Court, where a prisoner account was
read, and then to the U.S. Federal District Court, where 40 people
representing detainees tried to enter the court house for their day in
court. The 40 detainees were denied access and proceeded to block the
entrance to the building, which they held for several hours. The rally
that unfolded in support of them included a reading of the litany of
Guantanamo prisoners, a puppet show and a demonstration of water
boarding.
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Protests to Shut Down Guantanmo were held in at least 76 cities around the world.
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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.