WITNESS AGAINST TORTURE

News Advisory www.witnesstorture.org

December 3rd, 2007

Contact: Matthew Daloisio 201.264.4424cell daloisio@riseup.net
Frida Berrigan 347.683.4928 cell frida.berrigan@gmail.com

As Supreme Court Hears Guantanamo Cases
Concerned Citizens Fast and Vigil Outside, Appealing For Justice and Rights for Prisoners

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, December 5th, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments asserting the legal rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

In Boumediene v. Bush (06-1195) and Al Odah v. United States (06-1196) lawyers for the detainees will argue that their clients have a Constitutional right and a Common Law right to challenge their detention through habeas corpus claims in U.S. Federal Courts.

Outside the Supreme Court, from 9am to 4pm, people concerned with law and justice will vigil and engage in public education about what is taking place inside. Many of those witnessing outside will also be wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods. Many will be participating in a 24-hour fast for justice in Guantanamo.

The presence at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 5th is part of a series of activities to build opposition to torture and abuse at Guantanamo and is being organized by a grassroots movement called Witness Against Torture, which walked to Guantánamo to visit the prisoners in December 2005 and returned to launched the “Campaign to Shut Down Guantánamo,” which consists of public education and community outreach, networking and resource sharing, and acts of nonviolent civil resistance to draw attention to the plight of prisoners in Guantánamo, and victims of the war on terrorism everywhere. December 5th, 2007 marks the three year anniversary of Witness Against Torture’s pilgrimage to Guantanamo.

In addition to the presence in Washington DC, other vigils taking place on December 5th include:

New London, Connecticut - St. Francis House is asking people to gather at 30 Broad St at 11:15 A.M. for a walk to the local court house, then down to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument for a noontime vigil.
For more information, contact: Fr. Emmett Jarrett, TSSF, stfrancishouse@mindspring.com, 860-437-8890

Boston, Massachusetts: Action for the Rights of Detainees and Witness Against Torture's Boston Bureau are organizing a solidarity demonstration at the JFK Federal Building, Government Center, from 10 to 11 am. For more information, contact: Scott Langley, scott@langleycreations.com, 214-226-0503

On December 4th, students on campuses across the country are coming together to bring channel attention to this important case on December 5th. For more information on the student demonstrations, go to:
http://ccrjustice.org/get-involved/calendar/gtmo-student-action

On Friday, January 11, 2008, Witness Against Torture will return to Washington, DC to mark six years of illegal torture and confinement at Guantanamo. For more information, visit www.witnesstorture.org or contact Matt Daloisio (Daloisio@earthlink.net) or Frida Berrigan at (Frida.berrigan@gmail.com).
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