On or by May 28, the Obama administration is being forced to release 2000 photos of detainee abuse in US facilities from 2001-2006. The Abu Ghraib photos, released in 2004 only because a solider was horrified over the torture, brought an international storm of protest against the US torture state. The new photos, including many from Bagram, where the detention facilities have just been doubled to hold 60,000 Afganis, will show that US torture was widespread, sustained, and systemic, not an “aberration,” but an integral part of the “global war on terror.”
Weeks after 4 more torture memos revealed the detail with which George Bush’s lawyers managed the torture of individual detainees, calls to prosecute those responsible – from the White House principals, to the legal torture team, to the CIA agents who tortured – have met objections from Washington. Cheney and the open advocates of torture scream that they must be able to use “harsh methods” to win the global war on terror. The Obama administration, after deciding to continue indefinite detention, CIA rendition, and Bush’s executive powers, says prosecution would stop them from “moving forward.” Democratic party leader Nancy Pelosi knew about the torture and waterboarding since 2002, saying and doing nothing to stop it..
It’s up to the people to act! World Can’t Wait and other groups are planning non-violent civil resistance protests, programs digging into the substance of the charges, waterboarding and rendition re-enactments, and film showings in communities around the country to demand prosecution of the Bush era war criminals. More information, listings, posters, flyers & background on the war criminals at warcriminalswatch.org.
Wherever the Bush era war criminals are appearing this month, raise the cry “Torture is a War Crime! Prosecute!”
Tuesday May 12 NO ALOHA for War Criminals! IMPEACH and PROSECUTE JAY BYBEE! Jay Bybee is a federal judge and will be hearing cases. 8:30-11:00am 132 Bishop Street, Honolulu worldcantwaithawaii@yahoo.com 808-534-2255
Saturday May 16Greet patrons at the opening, where the Abu Ghraib series of stunning paintings depicting the US torture by Fernando Botero. 9:00am on at the Millennium Park entrance to the Art Institute Modern Art Wing on Monroe Street, Chicago. Chicago@worldcantwait.org ~ 773-227-2453
Saturday May 16 Protest demonstration denouncing the continuing presence of former Bush administration lawyer John Yoo on UC’s tenured faculty. 8:00 am UC Berkeley Boalt Hall Law School Graduation, UC Berkeley Greek Theater (commencement) and Great Hall and Clark Kerr Courtyard (gala reception) sf@worldcantwait.org 415-864-5153
Sunday, May 24 Resistance Cinema presents “Taxi to the Dark Side,” a film on the widespread use of torture by US forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo. 1:15 pm The Community Church of New York (40 East 35th St. (between Park & Madison).
Tuesday May 26 Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Avenue, NYC. 6:30 pm Karl Rove appearance will be protested. Warcriminalswatch.org 866 973 4463
Thursday May 28 John Negroponte, Bush intelligence czar, presents an award to General Petraeus, architect of the Iraq surge. Union League Club, 38 E 37th Streeet (between Park & Madison). Orange jumpsuit gathering at Grand Central Station 5:00 pm; march to Union League Club. Warcriminalswatch.org 866 973 4463
Thursday May 28 Harvard Square, Cambridge MA 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Douglas Feith, a visiting scholar at Harvard, admits he played a “major role” in Bush’s decision to suspend Geneva Convention rights for detainees at Guantanamo. Warcriminalswatch.org 866 973 4463
Thursday May 28 Karl Rove at the Chicago Theater, 175 N. State Street, Chicago. 6:00 pm Chicago@worldcantwait.org 773-227-2453
Check this calendar to find events in your locality and/or contact warcriminalswatch.org with your plans for the day.