On January 11, 2002, the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was first used as an illegal prison in the War on Terror.
On January 22, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order closing the base within a year.
Almost a year later, there are 198 men in the prison, scores of whom have been cleared for release by the U.S. government. And it doesn’t look like the prison is closing any time soon.
So Witness Against Torture and other groups have organized a special effort this January 11-22 to close the Guantanamo prison. They are calling for immediate release for those cleared and swift trials for those still suspected of crimes.
I will be joining a few dozen people in Washington, DC for 11 days of prayer, liquid-only fasting, and action. (I was part of a similar 100-day effort last year.) It’s good to be in DC working on national issues; we’ll be able to talk with people face-to-face, rather than just writing letters and making phone calls. I can’t say for certain that something like this is more effective than angry blog posts and letters-to-the-editor, but it sure feels it.
Other than praying with you, anything we can do to help?
If there are other things, I’ll make sure you know, and post them here. I’m thinking there may be some phone calling, for example.