'We Have Not Forgotten Your Suffering': (Gitmo Prisoners Hunger Strike)
'We Have Not Forgotten Your Suffering': Group Calls for Nationwide Fast in Solidarity Gitmo Prison Protesters.Attorney on prison strikers: 'We're running out of time'
- Lauren McCauley, staff writer
Activists across the country began a week-long fast on Sunday in solidarity with the hunger striking detainees at Guantanamo Bay prison in a mass action meant to remind the prisoners and their families that "we have not forgotten their suffering."
Organized by the Guantanamo prisoner rights group Witness Against Torture (WAT), the protest is scheduled to last through Saturday, March 30. Throughout the week, vigils and rallies are scheduled in cities nationwide including New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Des Moise, Los Angeles, and Northampton, Mass.
"We will gather [...] to denounce the barbaric practice of torture and indefinite detention and to demand justice for the men at Guantanamo," the group writes in a call to action. "We will continue to organize, agitate and witness in defense of human rights and the U.S. Constitution."
According to the group, some demonstrators will continue to fast every Friday "until President Barack Obama’s promise to close Guantanamo is fulfilled."
Many hunger strikers at the prison have not eaten since February. Attorneys for the detainees estimate that over 100 prisoners are taking part in the protest—though prison officials have only acknowledged about twenty of the men. Representatives and supporters of the detainees at Guantanamo have become increasingly concerned over the health of the strikers and worsening conditions for those being held at the prison.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/25-0
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totally comdemned, at least by the left in this country?
There really are no words to describe what has been done to these people, most of whom we know now, were never guilty of anything. They were kidnapped and used as fodder, human beings, who have families, people who love them, and completely cut off from all human contact, tortured, never charged, never tried, forbidden to even consult with lawyers.
That this hell hole still exists in this country says so much about who we are. And that the plight of these human beings results in so little reaction, even here, says way too much about the side I thought we were on.
Koko, thanks for remembering them. I am waiting for the 'Christians' to speak out against the grotesque, medieval treatment of these human beings, but so far, 12 years later, the silence has been deafening.
and I also.
Passover and Easter Week seem to do nothing to jar the memories of our Worlds Religions-Christians, Jews, Islam that they allow this to go on. When these people have been CLEARED of TERRORIST ACTIVITIES but are STILL PRISONERS...and the WORLDS Two Most Populist Religions turn their head aside so as not to see this. It's shocking and reprehensible!
Let me ask WHERE are the BUDDISTS, the ISLAMISTS, Muslims the HIDU and OTHERS who Could Join in HUMAN OUTCRY...
What about HUMANITY? If you don't follow ANY RELIGION?
Because Obama will not Release Them!
They have to STARVE THEMSELVES...
I cannot imagine the despair these people are feeling. So few care, yet we hear so much about 'rights' even here on DU.
Maybe if someone had used an 'offensive' word it might get some attention.
And people wonder why people like me are not impressed by the 'outrage' over the use of a word.
THIS is outrageous from my pov.
I imagine these abused human beings would trade being called a few offensive words any day in exchange for an end to this egregious, criminal abuse they have suffered for so long.
I'm glad that at least someone here cared enough to at least report these crimes.
Thank you!
