[pjw] EVENT REMINDER: "Guantanamo: 22 Years of Imprisonment without End... for 29 People" Fri 1/12/24, 4:30 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi again peaceful folks
I completely missed this part of the story when President Biden signed the 
$886B military budget two weeks ago:

Biden signs defense budget, but slams Guantanamo closure prevention
https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2023-12-23/biden-signs-defense-budget-but-slams-guantanamo-closure-prevention/

So at least he's making noises that he's not happy with it.

Anyway, it's just eight days until our special Friday Rally marking the 
anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay Prison. On Friday, 
January 12 we'll be at the SW corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square at 4:30 
PM, talk a little about Guantanamo's history and current status (plus 
news headlines) and then head on a short march around downtown.

Thanks again to Amnesty International Group 48 for cosponsoring 
this somber commemoration as they have so many times in the past.

The event announcement below can also be found at

  https://www.pjw.info/guantanamo22yl.html

The flyer for the event is posted at

  https://www.pjw.info/guantanamo22yl_flyer.pdf

Thanks
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

--------------------------

Peace and Justice Works
    Iraq Affinity Group
    PO Box 42456
    Portland, OR   97242
    (503) 236-3065  (Office)
    iraq at pjw.info
    http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

     "Guantanamo: 22 Years of Imprisonment without End... for 29 People"
                       Expanded Friday rally and march
                          Friday, January 12, 2024
                                4:30-6:00 PM
                         Pioneer Courthouse Square,
                           SW Yamhill and Broadway

     On Friday, January 12 at 4:30 PM Portlanders will gather for a rally
     and march calling once again to close down the prison camp in
     Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The US opened this "detention facility" on
     January 11, 2002, twenty-two years ago. Twenty-nine (29) people remain
     there. Most of the active military aspects of the "war on terror" have
     subsided and over 700 prisoners have been released. Many of those
     remaining have never been charged with a crime. Guantanamo is seen as a
     blemish on human rights, including its history of torture and endless
     incarceration. Brigadier General Jackie Thompson of the United States
     Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps recently said "Guantanamo is
     a symbol of what not to do" (Telesur, November 7, 2023). The event is
     titled "Guantanamo: 22 Years of Imprisonment without End... for 29
     People."

     Efforts to shut down Guantanamo have been hampered by Congressional
     bills prohibiting funds being used to do so. Instead, America spends
     hundreds of millions of dollars a year to maintain this site of
     injustice.

     The Friday Rally for Peace and Justice has been held weekly since
     November, 2001. For the first 18.5 years it was coordinated by Portland
     Peaceful Response Coalition, and since March, 2020 by Peace and Justice
     Works Iraq Affinity Group. Normally the rally begins at 5 PM; this
     event begins at 4:30 to underscore its importance. Due to the ongoing
     pandemic we ask that participants mask up and stay distanced.

     Event coordinated by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group,
     cosponsored by Amnesty International Group 48.

     For more info or to cosponsor the event contact Peace and Justice Works
     Iraq Affinity Group: (503) 236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info.