U.S. vigils are being held in Los Angeles, CA; Cobleskill, NY; New York City, NY; and Washington, D.C.
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/29/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today invited community members to join protest vigils in Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles CA; Cobleskill, NY; and New York City, NY calling for the release of the 17 men still being held at the prison at Guantánamo Bay (out of 31 in total) who have been approved for release, and for the closure of the prison.
CAIR will be joining campaigners from the organizations Amnesty International, UK Guantanamo Network, Close Guantánamo, Witness Against Torture, the World Can’t Wait, in addition to Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, I’m Guantánamo, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, NYC Veterans For Peace, and Schoharie Peacemakers.
For more information about the vigils and campaign to close the prison at Guantanamo, visit CloseGuantanamo.Org
The organization Close Guantanamo plans to host coordinated vigils on the first Wednesday of every month moving forward, as they hope to raise awareness of these 17 men being held in Guantanamo, who were cleared for release and never charged with a crime.
Although these men have been unanimously approved for release by high-level government review processes, they continue to be held because these processes were purely administrative and have no legal weight.
The times and locations of the vigils are below:
April 5th U.S. Close Gitmo Protest Vigils:
Washington, D.C., Noon-1 pm, ET: On the corner of Independence Avenue and New Jersey Avenue, SE. Witness Against Torture and Close Guantánamo campaigners have orange jumpsuits and hoods for supporters to wear. For further information, please contact Steve Lane, Close Guantánamo’s Washington, D.C. coordinator, on 571-221-4120 or via email.
Los Angeles, Noon-1 pm, PT: Downtown LA Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. For further information, please contact Jon Krampner on 323-661-7428 — or, on the day, 323-697-7769.
Cobleskill, New York State, 7-7:30 pm, ET: 514 W Main Street, Cobleskill, NY 12043. For further information, please contact Elliott Adams on 518-441-2697 or via email.
New York City, 5-6 pm, ET: On the steps of the New York Public Library, 5th Avenue & 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018. Organized by the World Can’t Wait, who have orange jumpsuits for supporters to wear. For further information, please contact Debra Sweet on 646-807-3259 or via email.
April 5th International Close Gitmo Protest Vigils
London, 1-3 pm GMT: In Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament, London SW1. U.K. Guantánamo Network campaigners have orange jumpsuits and hoods for supporters to wear. For further information, please contact Sara Birch, the convenor of the UK Guantánamo Network on 07710 789616, or email Andy Worthington.
Mexico City, 10-11 am, CST: Plancha del Zócalo (P.za de la Constitución), 06010 Ciudad de México (Mexico City). Amnesty International and Close Guantánamo campaigners have orange jumpsuits and hoods for supporters to wear. For further information, please contact Natalia at 55 3993 1730.
Future vigils will be taking place on Wednesday, May 3, and Wednesday, June 7.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected], CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]