It is a clear blue sky; no overcastting clouds, reggae and flamenco intertwine in the air. The streets cafes are jammed pack and all you can see are the bright orange jumpsuits and the bright orange box.
Yep, you read it right, orange colored jumpsuits filled the South Miami Beach streets spreading the word about the National Launch of the Counter Terror with Justice: Guantanamo Cell Replica Tour.
Saturday and Sunday, a buzz team comprised of local activists hit the streets and passed out over 5,000 handbills announcing the arrival of our special guest, the Guantanamo Cell Replica.
During our time on the streets, many onlookers caught a glimpse of the Guantanamo Cell as it made a continuous loop up and down Ocean Ave-the main drag of South Beach. The cell also did drive bys on Lincoln Rd, Collins Ave, and Washington Blvd.
The responses were great! Many cheered our cause and applauded our efforts. Others were baffled by the information we shared with them concerning the harsh realities of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
In a city, many people of immigrants from around the world and faced many injustices, I heard repeatedly, “Why would the US torture people. . .I can not believe that WE are allowing this to happen?” Our response was easy, “The America I believe does not torture. Come down to Bayfront Park on May 8th- May 11th and let your voice be HEARD!” A quick soundbyte that carries a lot of weight, but conveys a message that we will change this tide of injustice! One block at a time, one handbill at a time, one street corner, one individual, one community, one NATION at a time!
At the end of day, we each received a wonderful bright orange tan and weary feet, but we stand in solidarity shouting, “TEAR IT DOWN!”
Until Next time. . . One~ Everette
12 May 2008 at 10:57 pm
Will you be coming to Columbus, Ohio? If so, when? If not, how can we coax you to come to our fair city? (I am local AI member.)
2 June 2008 at 12:18 pm
This looks amazing. I strongly recommend anyone who is close to one of the cell tour events try and make it out.
4 June 2008 at 6:05 pm
From a U.S. Soldier who has worked down at Guantanamo Bay…I would just like to say that I am very grateful you people are not running things. I don’t know what you would do with alleged terrorists and those who want to kill us, but I thank God you are not incharge. You are not painting a true picture of what goes on down at GTMO, ignoring the differences between a “criminal” and an “enemy combatant” and certainly are not considering what is in the best interests of World, the U.S., or Peace. Regardless, I do wish you continued peace and blessings.
4 June 2008 at 7:11 pm
As you travel around the country in your orange jumpsuits and cute little protests…making people believe the conditions at GTMO are deplorable and detainees are mistreated/abused… EDUCATE yourself as to what really goes on down there. For example, read the attached published in the Wall Street Journal….
That model cell you are traveling with is reserved for detainees that throw feces at guards and threaten female guards with rape and assault. Continued peace and blessings to you.
Guantanamo Is a Model Prison (Really)
By MARK H. BUZBY
June 4, 2008
There is much talk in the media, in our capital and elsewhere about the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have paid close attention to this dialogue, and after a year in command, it is clear that there are two Guantanamos: the one that exists in popular culture, and the one most discover when they actually see conditions there.
We house enemy combatants in one of several facilities according to their compliance with camp rules. Highly compliant detainees, approximately 20% of the population, live in Camp 4. Here they enjoy a communal, barracks-style environment, with movie nights, classes in Pashtu, Arabic and English, shared meals and prayers, and up to 12 hours of recreation per day.
Many of the enemy combatants, however, fail to comply with established rules. Offenses often include head-butting, kicking, biting and splashing young soldiers and sailors with feces and urine “cocktails.”
These detainees are housed in Camps 5 and 6 – modern, climate-controlled facilities modeled after existing U.S. prison facilities in the Midwest. They get a minimum of two, soon to be three, hours of outdoor recreation per day adjacent to three to five other detainees. And they are held in a block of single-occupancy cells where they communicate with other detainees, guards, medical staff, library assistants and mail delivery personnel. Prayers are led five times a day by a detainee-appointed Imam. Each cell contains an arrow that points to Mecca.
All detainees receive three-meals per day, a 4,000-calorie diet selected from six different menus that meet the halal cultural dietary requirements, and which provide for special needs such as low sodium, vegetarian or diabetic. We provide comfort items including sheets and bedding, uniforms, shoes, prayer beads, prayer rugs, toiletries and bottled water. Each detainee is issued a Quran in Arabic and one in his native language. An ever-expanding, 5,000 volume library is available for a weekly choice of reading material.
Detainees sent and received more than 27,000 pieces of mail last year. In addition to humanitarian phone calls, which have long been permitted, we allow annual phone calls to family members. Last year, more than 1,200 attorney visits were conducted. Suggestions that detainees are being held “incommunicado” are simply not true.
Medical-care standards afforded to detainees are the same that my troopers receive. Access to treatment is 24/7, with a detainee-to-medical-staff ratio of three-to-one that far exceeds Federal Bureau of Prison standards, and is frankly better than what most Americans enjoy.
Joint Task Force doctors have performed more than 370 surgeries, including restorative eye procedures, and a recent back surgery that restored movement and avoided possible paralysis for a detainee. Shortly after, that detainee sent me a note saying “Thank you, I have been wrong about Americans.”
Our mental health facility, staffed by a variety of mental health-care professionals, includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Approximately 15% of our detainees are seen for such issues on a regular basis, about half the average experienced in the U.S. prison population.
We enjoy a very positive relationship with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its professionals have access to all detainees and facilities, and they provide us with useful and supportive confidential comments and suggestions – which have helped in furthering the development of our detention programs.
An important part of the Guantanamo story routinely underreported by many in the media – but readily apparent to most who visit – is the dedication and professionalism exhibited every single day by the more than 2,200 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians who provide for the safe and humane care and custody of very dangerous men.
Regardless of what international opinion says, my troopers perform their mission honorably, professionally and to a level that would make any American proud. I had the very great privilege of leading these sons and daughters of America; that is the Guantanamo I know.
Rear Adm. Buzby was commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo from May 2007 until last week.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121253762342343273.html
4 June 2008 at 7:16 pm
I don’t expect that you will actually post my comments… Organizations like yours tell the half of the story (fictional or not) that fits your agenda and ignores the rest.
13 June 2008 at 1:31 am
Dear Brian,
I sincerely thank you for your service and for taking the time to post a comment. I want to share with you what another member of the military has said about GTMO:
”I’d like to see it shut down…I believe that from the standpoint of how it reflects on us that it’s been pretty damaging.”
-Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
http://www.miamiherald.com/guantanamo/story/378038.html
We’re seeing a growing number of military folks speaking out against GTMO, the military commissions and torture–including people involved in the military commissions system and in intelligence work.
Best,
ZJ
20 June 2008 at 3:22 pm
ZJ-
Shutdown GTMO and then what? Can we release the detainees to your town? If that is the case, you better convert and tell your women to coverup (especially the ones posing in your Miami photos). The people you are advocating for are the very ones that would chop your head off in an instant. Close down GTMO…I agree IF there is another place to lock up those who are the most radical and violent. If people really knew how the detainees were treated and cared for your soapbox would vanish. And…I would just say be careful what you wish for sir… I would hate to see 250plus detainees return to the JIHAD and for it to take another 9-11 for people to realize what we are dealing with.
Though we can not be further on this issue…thank you for acknowledging my post and I appreciate you thanking me for my service.
Continued peace and blessing to you,
Brian
20 June 2008 at 3:47 pm
Interesting how you choose to take a few key words from that article. The Admiral is concerned about negative publicity, image… Also, he is quoted in the article stressing that questions such as where to MOVE the detainees to?…not RELEASE. No where does he advocate anything resembling your cause. Nice try… and very typical… Did you study Journalism in college by any chance?
1 July 2008 at 7:55 pm
Sir, how long do my comments “await moderation”…?