Guantanamo Bay Cell Tour – Philadelphia Stop
Posted April 16th, 2008 by April | Mid-Atlantic Region
Experience Guantánamo in Philadelphia
Dilworth Plaza, 1400 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia PA
May 30, 1:00 – 7:00 pm
May 31, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
June 1, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Visit Amnesty International’s replica of a Guantánamo cell and join us in calling on the U.S. government to charge detainees and give them fair trials, or release them. Indefinite detention without charge or fair trial is illegal and violates American principles of justice.
There will also be a special event on Saturday, May 31st from noon to 2pm. Details are forthcoming. Free admission to the exhibit and the special event.
Guantanamo Bay Cell Tour – Save the Date!
Posted April 16th, 2008 by April | Amnesty News
Volunteer to help with the Philadelphia Cell Tour Event
The lack of human rights and the assaults on human dignity present in Guantanamo Bay must end. This year Amnesty International’s Denounce Torture Campaign will be traveling the United States with a life size replica of a Guantanamo Bay prison cell to raise awareness about the torture and abuse that takes place and to demand an end to Guantanamo Bay. The event will give participants the opportunity to enter the cells experience the conditions of isolation and then comment on your experience.
The Philadelphia stop will be between May 27- June 2. Volunteers are needed to help plan smaller events leading up to the cell tour stop in Philadelphia to help educate the community about this issue and to help with the actual cell tour stop in Philadelphia (final location details coming soon).
If you’re interested in volunteering either to help plan a pre-tour event or during the cell tour stop, please e-mail Jen Horwitz at jhorwitz@aiusa.org
Guantánamo editorial published in The Morning Call
Posted January 16th, 2008 by April | Allentown, Amnesty News
Allentown group coordinator Dan Laxar’s editorial regarding Guantánamo Bay’s sixth anniversary was published in The Morning Call newspaper. Read it online here:
Guantánamo milestone is not a proud moment
Thanks Dan!
January 11 vigil
Posted January 16th, 2008 by Dan | Allentown
On January 11, nine hardy souls braved a chilly, rainy morning to vigil in downtown Allentown with the aim of shutting down the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. Our signs attracted the attention, and often the support, of passersby and drivers. We provided pedestrians with Guantanamo fact sheets which, for the most part, were accepted with interest. Local television was there to film the event, though I don’t think we actually made the evening news. But, despite the weather, we had a good time enjoying the solidarity of our group, and were simply happy to being doing “the right thing.” Dan Laxar
Serious health concerns for Guantánamo detainee Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Take Action
Both Amnesty International and members of the Chester County Religious Campaign Against Torture (CCRAT) are extremely concerned for the health and life of Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi.
From the Urgent Action report:
“After visiting Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi in May 2007, his lawyer described the condition of his health as ‘…alarming. His face was drawn and his skin looked both ashen and jaundiced. He had a difficult time focusing on anything…He was in constant visible pain…He was very weak and tired…[he] told me he could not walk more that a few feet before being overcome with fatigue.’ His lawyer most recently visited him in September 2007 and she has stated that he could barely walk and during the meeting was doubled over with pain. She has expressed fears for his life.”
Please write appeals for Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi using the Urgent Action report (PDF). Send appeals by December 5, 2007.
You can also find out more by visiting The Guantánamo Blog by H. Candace Gorman, who represents Mr. al-Ghizzawi and another detainee pro bono.
November 1 “Fresh Air” on Guantánamo
Posted November 1st, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
I’ve just found out that tomorrow’s “Fresh Air” NPR radio program will focus on Guantánamo. Tune in tomorrow from 3:00 to 4:00 pm on WHYY 90.9, Philadelphia. I will add more information when it’s available.
UPDATE: The guest on Fresh Air will be Clive Stafford Smith, a human rights lawyer who is one of the few to have had independent access to Guantánamo.
Clive Stafford Smith was also a speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference when it was held in Philadelphia in 2005. The information he shared at the time, about the incarceration of juveniles at Guantánamo for instance, was truly shocking. Please tune into Fresh Air at 3:00 pm today.
A two-year anniversary for Guantánamo prisoner Adel Hamad
Posted October 31st, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
Our Philadelphia area Denounce Torture specialist, Barbara, directs our attention to the case of Adel Hamad (Detainee ISN 940), who has been imprisoned at Guantánamo for over five years.
Amnesty International case sheet for Adel Hassan Hamad
Sudanese national Adel Hamad is a hospital worker, teacher, and refugee aid worker. He was taken from his home in Pakistan at gunpoint in July 2002. He was transferred from a Pakistani prison to Bagram and then to Guantánamo, enduring very poor conditions along the way. Project Hamad, an advocacy organization formed on his behalf, says that “no allegations have been made against Adel Hamad that he engaged in terrorism, acts supporting terrorists, violence against the United States or any belligerent act.”
Amnesty International calls for Adel Hamad to be released from Guantánamo unless he is charged and tried in accordance with international standards.
The latest news from Project Hamad is that “Hamad’s lawyers have just now learned, from their recent trip to Sudan, that he was cleared for transfer in November of 2005, TWO YEARS AGO. The U.S. government never shared this information with his own defense team and obviously do not seem to feel any obligation to expedite the release of a man that they have charged with no crime.”
“Guantánamo Unclassified” (YouTube link) is a video about Adel Hamad’s case. In it, investigator and attorney William Teesdale interviews people who know Adel Hamad personally. This video is highly recommended as a touching portrait of one of Guantánamo’s prisoners.
Please also visit the website of Project Hamad for further information, as well as how to write a letter to Adel Hamad.
86 Days to Shut Down Guantanamo Kickoff
Posted October 9th, 2007 by April | Mid-Atlantic Region
86 days separate two infamous dates: October 17th marks the first year anniversary of the Military Commissions Act and January 11th marks the anniversary of the first detainee held at Guantánamo Bay. Join Amnesty International USA in planning events for October 17 to kick off this campaign.
For ideas and information, download the 86 Days October 17 Action Guide.
Action of the Month – 86 Days to Shut Down Guantanamo Kickoff
Posted October 9th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
October 17th is the launch of AIUSA’s 86 Days to Shut Down Guantanamo. Last week we sent you info on how your group can download the action guide and plan a kickoff event in your area. This week we’d like to encourage any group hosting an event to post the event details the the regional events page on the amnestyusa.org website. There are lots of groups out there looking to attend other groups’ events so please spread the word and encourage your fellow activists connect with an event in their area! Post an event to the regional events page here.
Action of the Month- 86 Days to Shut Down Guantánamo Kick-Off Event
Posted October 3rd, 2007 by April | Mid-Atlantic Region
Help kick off Amnesty USA’s 86 Days to Shut Down Guantánamo campaign by planning or participating in a kick-off event.
What is the 86 Days campaign?
86 days separate two infamous dates: October 17th marks the first year anniversary of the Military Commissions Act and January 11th marks the anniversary of the first detainee held at Guantánamo Bay. We will protest and organize during these 86 days and need you to join us!
What can I do?
Download the action guide and plan an event for OCTOBER 17th. Join the hundreds of other events happening nationally that will be protesting. During the 86 Days, there will be activities you can get involved in every month, along with actions that you can take online. We will kick off our campaign on October 17 with public demonstrations, but will follow that with new actions each month:
- October – the 10/17 events on the Military Commissions Act.
- November – House Parties showing the “Ghost of Abu Ghraib.”
- December – Letter writing to families of Guantánamo Detainees.
- January – the 1/11 protest in front of the White House on the anniversary of Guantánamo.