What does justice look like for Guantanamo survivors?

We had a marvelous time together during the first Fast for Justice in DC since the pandemic. Be sure to read Sherrill's and Frida's incredible published articles about our work, linked below.

Returning home from Washington after marking 21 years of Guantanamo, we continue to reflect: What is justice? What would it look like?

Every year we entertain the hope that this will be the year the prison closes. The coming year takes on special urgency, as President Biden enters the second half of his first term. Indeed, why is Guantanamo still open, Mr. President?

And were Biden to close it in the coming year, would our work be finished? Beyond Guantanamo lies the work of accountability for its crimes, care for its survivors, and reparations for the suffering that the men and their families have endured.

Read on for suggested resources, actions, and activist reports. Something for everyone, we hope. We offer you our heartfelt thanks!

How can you help?

Read the stories of some of the men who are detained in Profiles: Faces of Guantánamo
Send this e-mail through Amnesty International to President Biden
Sign the National Religious Campaign Against Torture petition and access educational and prayer resources for your community
Share the letter to Biden from more than 150 organizations calling for Guantánamo’s closure
Watch the short film, “Still Here”, by the Center for Victims of Torture
Read the op-ed by Amnesty International’s Daphne Eviatar, Twenty-One Years On, US Detention at Guantánamo Bay Remains Unconscionable
Read the op-ed by Dr. Maha Hilal, Closing Guantánamo: Its victims deserve human dignity, not demonisation
Read the book by Muslim Counterpublics Lab's Dr. Maha Hilal, Innocent Until Proven Muslim: Islamophobia, the War on Terror, and the Muslim Experience Since 9/11
Learn about how you can support Guantánamo survivors
Donate for Ramadan gift packages to the men still imprisoned at Guantanamo

Published articles by our members

Sherrill Hogen / Greenfield Recorder (Massachusetts) / My Turn: Guantanamo must be dismantled and not forgotten

Frida Berrigan / Waging Nonviolence / 21 years later, Guantánamo is still open — and we are still protesting to shut it down

News reports of rallies around the country

WABI News Desk (Maine) / Mainers join Call to close Guantánamo rallies streetside in Augusta
Daily Hampshire Gazette (Massachusetts) / Northampton Rallygoers to Biden: It's Time to Close Guantanamo
NC Stop Torture Now / Raleigh says Close Guantanamo

WAT advocates visit Congress

Several of our members from Ohio visited Sen. Sherrod Brown's office and spoke with his aide Drew Martineau.

Mike Fiala reports on their visit:

Drew listens attentively, taking notes as Sr. Paulette speaks on behalf of the men in Guantanamo. Jean also adds more details. It’s at this point, that I start to feel a bit more comfortable and inspired by Sr. Paulette and Jean to speak up. “Drew, it seems closing Guantanamo, might be an opportunity for Senator Brown to take powerful moral leadership by speaking publicly about the necessity of closing it.” I elaborate further: this action seems to hold few negatives, as it is clear that many of the remaining men have not been charged, are cleared for release and that the grave failure of Guantanamo is known both internationally and in the US. “This is the human thing to do. And most citizens have respect for moral leaders to take an active stance for what is simply right.” Drew seems to agree and receive our message well. We all start to feel a bond with Drew and among ourselves as we continue along these lines. There is such power in listening, communicating, sharing. We trust the moment has power, has the power of transformation. That a great flash of light could drop the bonds that imprison the men in Guantanamo, so they could return to their families.

"Democracy Dies in Darkness":
WAT protesters head to the Washington Post

Photo: Phil Pasquini

Counter Currents reporter Phil Pasquini followed our members to the Washington Post and added the following account to his report on the rally,

"Afterward a small group dressed in orange jump suits and black hoods marched to the Washington Post headquarters building to deliver a message to the editor and to inquire why the publication hadn’t covered this unfortunate anniversary without end.

"On attempting to deliver their message the group was met by security who refused to accept the information they wanted to deliver and politely asked them to step back on the sidewalk and off their private property.

"Evidently, the publication’s masthead motto, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” has not been conveyed to the security detail guarding the building although several people exiting the building did take photographs of those assembled."

WAT Statement as Guantanamo Turns 21

Follow us on Facebook for more photos from last week's Fast for Justice in DC.

Donate to support our work

Please consider a donation to help fund WAT's expenses. We are completely volunteer-driven and run. We have no paid staff; all of the money you donate goes to funding the work we do together.
C lick here to donate to WAT.
WAT centers the men transferred out of Guantanamo through the Guantanamo Survivors Fund (GSF), also volunteer-run.
Click here to donate to Guantanamo Survivors Fund.

Who we are

Witness Against Torture was formed in 2005 when 25 Americans went to Guantánamo Bay and attempted to visit the detention facility. They began to organize more broadly to shut down Guantánamo, end indefinite detention and torture and call out Islamophobia. During our demonstrations, we lift up the words of the detainees themselves, bringing them to public spaces they are not permitted to access. Witness Against Torture will carry on in its activities until torture is decisively ended, its victims are fully acknowledged, Guantánamo and similar facilities are closed, and those who ordered and committed torture are held to account.
www.witnessagainsttorture.com