6th Anniversary of Guantanamo - Discussion and Film Screening

January 11, 2008: Sixth Anniversary of Guantánamo torture camp

Six years ago on January 11, 2002, the U.S. opened its torture chambers at Guantánamo. Amnesty International, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, World Can’t Wait, and others are calling for an International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantánamo for Friday, January 11, 2008. The ACLU has designated this as a nationwide day for people of conscience to wear orange (the ACLU is distributing orange armbands).

This will be a day when people wear orange, against the torturing Bush regime and to repudiate the whole Bush program. The world needs to see that the people of this country rise to say NO to torture. Torture is a crime against humanity. Torture is an impeachable offense, ordered by the White House and still being sanctioned by Congress.

On January 11 in Washington, D.C., people will march and take actions on the National Mall and in front of the Supreme Court. World Can't Wait is part of Shut Down Guantánamo, a protest at the White House led by Amnesty International and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, followed by a Guantánamo Prisoner Procession to the Supreme Court, and a funeral ceremony remembering the four men who died in custody at Guantánamo, and mourning the death of Habeas Corpus. For details: http://www.witnesstorture.org If you can get to Washington, D.C., contact us for more info.

Here in the Bay Area, the National Day of Action includes:

** Wear Orange everywhere! Ribbons, armbands, bandanas, and NO TORTURE stickers. Spread Orange at work, in your community, and on the Internet. Schools, churches, community centers and others are urged to hang banners and signs declaring "No Torture".

** High school youth: color Bay Area schools ORANGE! -- Special emphasis on mobilizing mass orange actions in area high schools, before students join the Market Street action at 4:00 PM and the World Can’t Wait evening meeting in San Francisco. (Call or email us to help organize in and at high schools.)

** Join World Can’t Wait as we walk with Act Against Torture in a candlelight procession of prisoners.

WHEN: Meet early at 3:30 to prepare for the procession to begin at 4:00 PM
WHERE: Steps of the Federal Courthouse
at 7th St & Mission in San Francisco (near Civic Center BART)

At 4:00, dressed in orange jumpsuits, we'll create a candlelit tableau of chained prisoners before marching slowly and silently in chains down Market Street, stopping at crowded plazas and corners (e.g., BART stations) to re-create our tableau. We'll end in Justin Hermann Plaza for a final tableau beside the ice skating rink.

If possible, please wear an orange jumpsuit OR wear orange OR black if you can't find orange clothing. World Can’t Wait will have some extra jumpsuits and hoods (call or email ahead so we save one for you). Bring a flashlight to help light our tableau. Also drums and candles if possible.

** Come to a World Can’t Wait chapter program/meeting for a discussion of what we all need to do next to stop the whole "torture state." WCW will present our 2008 plans to carry forward to a mass repudiation of the whole Bush program, including a national day of mass non-violent civil resistance on Thursday, January 31 (see announcement below).

WHEN: Friday, January 11, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
WHERE: San Francisco Film Arts Center
145 Ninth Street (betw. Mission & Howard Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94103

The Film Arts Center is a short walk (two blocks) from Civic Center BART. Street parking is easy and free starting right at 7:00 PM.