Home » News

Close Guantanamo Vigil and Rally – January 11, 2025

 

Human rights activists from across Maine braved the snow and cold to stand in solidarity with the men who remain imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. military base in Cuba. January 11th marks the 23rd year since the prison was opened.

The vigil and rally to Close Guantanamo, which was held in front of the Maine National Guard Armory in Augusta, was sponsored by Pax Christi Maine and co-sponsored by several groups including Witness Against Torture, Peace Action Maine, Maine Veterans for Peace, Smilin’ Trees Disarmament Farm, Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine and others.

Frank Panopoulos, a human right attorney shared the story of his client who was released just weeks ago after being imprisoned for 18 years, held without charge, subject to torture and inhumane conditions. We call upon President Biden to close the prison and put an end to this shameful chapter in our U.S. history!

Here is a video of the entire program (speakers, songs and closing prayer).

News media coverage at these links:

Fox News Bangor – https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=T6e7zwkDPTk

WABI – https://www.wabi.tv/video/2025/01/11/activists-call-close-guantnamo-bay-23-years-after-its-opening/

Here is what you can do to get involved and inform yourself: 

Organizations to contact: 

• Close Guantánamo: https://www.andyworthington.co.uk

• No More Guantánamos: https://www.nogitmos.org/ 

• September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: www.peacefultomorrows.org

• Amnesty International: www.amnestyusa.org

Films to watch: 

• The Mauritanian

• Guantánamo Diary Revisited (sequel to The Mauritanian)

• Taxi to the Dark Side

• Guantánamo’s Child: Omar Khadr

Books to read: 

• Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian (Back Bay Books 2020 (restored ed.)

• Mansoor Aydefi, Don’t Forget Us Here (Hachette Books 2021)

• Jérôme Tubiana, Guantánamo Kid (SelfMadeHero 2019 (illustrated)

• Jane Mayer, The Dark Side (Anchor Books 2009)

• Nazia Kazi, Islamophobia, Race, and Global Politics (Rowman & Littlefield 2021 (updated ed.))

Get Involved: 

Write or Call the White House: Tell President Biden that all the men cleared for release from the Guantánamo  Bay prison should be transferred immediately to countries where their human rights will be respected. Call or  email today: www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call

Support the Guantanamo Survivors Fund: Over 750 men have been transferred out of Guantánamo. Many still  face significant hurdles to resuming a normal life, including mental and medical problems caused during their  detention, lack of access to decent health care, inability to work because of ill health, and the social stigma of  having been in Guantánamo. The Guantanamo Survivors Fund provides immediate short-term support for their  most urgent needs. Learn more and donate to the Guantanamo Survivors Fund www.nogitmos.org 

Write to the men who are still in Guantánamo: See more information at www.witnessagainsttorture.com (flyer – 1//3/2025)