Orange Jumpsuit Protest in Palo Alto Marks Opening of Guantánamo 11 Years Ago Today

Participants from many groups gathered in busy downtown Palo Alto today to gather signatures and draw attention to the human rights abuses that continue in Guantánamo. Amongst the demonstrators were members of high school chapters of Amnesty International at Lynbrook and Mountain View High Schools and members of the San Jose and Palo Alto Peace and Justice Centers.

Eight Raging Grannies armed with an amplifier emceed the event and led singing.

Amnesty International's very active Chapter 19 organized the protest, erecting a "cage" and supplying the orange jumpsuits to create a powerful visual for the demonstration.

Together the groups publicized their demands:

*all detained people must either be charged & fairly tried, or be released

*the cases of the publicly cleared detainees, including Shaker Aamer & Djamel Ameziane must be resolved

*End indefinite detention & remove detention provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act

*End unlawful killings with drones and other weapons

*Ensure accountability for torture, unlawful killings & other abuses