NEWS ITEM

For immediate release         January 11, 2017

Portlanders are once again planning to mark the sordid anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay prison with a visibility action at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge (SE Hawthorne & Grand) on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. The message of the organizers is "15 Years of Human Rights Abuses at Guantanamo-- Shut It Down!" The event will include the 12- foot-tall "Tower of Peace" strung with banners reading "CLOSE GITMO NOW-Stop Inspiring Terror."

This will be both a last-ditch effort to ask President Obama to fulfill his promise to close the prison camp-- it's down to just 60 prisoners now-- and a plea to incoming President Trump and congress as well. Amnesty International is currently working on a campaign to get President Obama to close the prison before he leaves office: < http://www.amnestyusa.org/CloseGuantanamo>

A flyer for the event is available at http://www.pjw.info/gitmo15yl_flyer.pdf

The event is being cosponsored by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, Amnesty International Group 48 and the Portland Close Guantanamo Coalition, along with Jewish Voice for Peace-PDX, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 Portland, Occupy Portland Elder Caucus and others. Groups who would like to join as a cosponsor (at no cost, though donations are gladly accepted!), or for more information, contact Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or iraq@pjw.info.

Photos courtesy Amnesty Chapter 48-- a successful action in the snow!