By Debra Sweet
Eight years ago today the Bush regime opened their detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. It went on to become a notorious symbol of the torture and racism that people the world over associated with the U.S. "war on terror."
As we mark this anniversary, many people hoped Barack Obama’s promise to close Guantánamo by Jan 22, 2010 would close that chapter. But there are 2 things in the way of that… (more on this and coverage on Guantánamo all week at debra.worldcantwait.net).
This week:
Protests of John Yoo on both ends of the country Tuesday, Jan. 12th! Fire, Disbar, and Prosecute War Criminal John Yoo!
John Yoo, principal author of the "torture memos" justifying the Bush torture enterprise, is on a book tour, appearing on John Stewart’s show (!) Monday night.
NYC: The Cornell Club, 6 E. 44 St., NYC, NY beginning at 5:45 pm on Jan. 12th. Come join our protest inside and/or outside this event. Yoo will discuss his new book, Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George W. Bush (Kaplan Publishing). There will be an extended time period in which Professor Yoo will respond to questions from the audience.
Berkeley: Undisclosed Location* (TBA) beginning at 6:00 pm on Jan. 12th. John Yoo’s first class for the spring semester is scheduled for Tuesday, although the Torture Professor himself is away on his book tour. Will his co-instructor, David Carrillo, carry on without him? The Bay Area anti-torture community will certainly be there to find out. Check back with us here for the exact meeting location.
More Guantánamo Actions:
Watch or listen to Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files: The Stories of the 759 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison on Democracy Now! 1/8/09 Guantánamo protests in D.C. on Monday (more)
Call to Action to Shut Down Guantánamo Jan 11-22nd from Witness Against Torture
Chicago: Friday Jan. 22nd at 4pm
Shut Down Guantánamo! No More Guantánamos Anywhere!
We will meet at the Tribune Tower, 435 N. Michigan Ave. for creative street theater.
chicagoworldcantwait.org San Francisco: January 11-22
Shut Down Guantánamo! No More Guantánamos Anywhere!
We will meet at the Tribune Tower, 435 N. Michigan Ave. for creative street theater.
chicagoworldcantwait.org San Francisco: January 11-22
Close Guantánamo, No More Guantánamos!
For 11 days in SF and the East Bay (daily, depending on volunteer response): rush-hour bannering by teams standing at high-visibility traffic spots. Take our message to thousands of late afternoon and/or early morning commuters. Volunteer sign up at sf@worldcantwait.org – tell us which side of the bay and what days and times you can join a team, and coordinators will hook you up.
Even More! Action Plan 2010
Don’t forget to take the survey! We want to hear from you.
Debra Sweet, Director, The World Can’t Wait
p.s. You can find this e-newsletter and all my previous ones linked from my blog, debra.worldcantwait.net. Spread it to friends, and find us on Facebook.