My first time in Miami: judge at the Elite Model Look competition, with after party in the Versace mansion.
My second time in Miami: campaigner with Amnesty International’s Guantánamo Cell Tour, no after party.
While a lot has changed for me in that time (before: private car, after: SuperShuttle), not much has changed for people illegally detained by the U.S. government in Guantánamo, Afghanistan and God-only-knows where else.
They are still held without charge. Still denied habeas and fair trials. Still at risk of torture. And we still wait for justice for the September 11th attacks. I’m a New Yorker, saw the towers with my own eyes, and I want to see those responsible punished. But abusing human rights is not the way to do it. Fighting terror with terror doesn’t work. Duh.
Anyway, Miami gave me hope that we can turn things around. All the people who stopped by the cell were great–or at least entertaining. I loved the homemade anti-Amnesty t-shirt one of our repeat visitors wore. I wanted to trade him my orange Counter Terror With Justice shirt, but I got shy. I was sad that the huge counter-protest he promised never materialized–we could have gotten even more press.
Luckily, fantastic visitors like Ron were constant–he took a bunch of our action postcards to a Critical Mass ride. (Thanks again Ron.) And I would have traded my four excellent #6 combos(but not the five pieces of baklava) at the Bayside Food Court’s amazing Mediterranean place for a handshake and a “I support what you all are doing” from a retired member of the Air Force, but luckily I didn’t have to. (Thanks again Sir.)
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights–and probably the kindest and most generous former president of all time, ever–joined us on Saturday. She spoke to the crowd, chatted with visitors and signed the tearitdown.org petition. Even more amazing, she didn’t sweat a single drop while wearing a classy suit in 90 degree heat. Incredible.
And I know this is a cliché, but meeting local AI volunteers like Mohammed and Trishul and Somy from nmtproject.org and a bunch of others, and seeing their intelligence, hard work and dedication really was inspiring.
My favorite photo from the Cell Tour stop in Miami is the one of Mohammed handing out flyers to a bunch of swimsuit-clad people on South Beach. To me, that’s what AI is all about: engaging people and inspiring them to take action for human rights–aka crashing the party in an orange jumpsuit. Thanks Miami.Lookout Philly. - ZJ
PS. We’re looking for song ideas for the Cell Tour mix–add yours in the comments. So far we’ve got Tear it Down by Def Leppard and The Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya (I’m not sure that’s really the title) by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
16 May 2008 at 11:52 am
Hey, really support your campaign. When can we see the videos from Miami?
Keep up the excellent work….
16 May 2008 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for your message, Dan. We will upload the videos very soon. Keep on checking this site, apologies for the delay.
17 May 2008 at 3:33 am
Fantastic Voyage, Coolio.
17 May 2008 at 3:35 am
How about that “Did You Ever Know that Your My Hero” song by Betty Middler?
11 June 2008 at 11:57 pm
Song Ideas for the Cell Tour Mix
– I want to break free –> Queen
– We’re not gonna take it –> Twisted Sister
13 June 2008 at 1:24 am
Oh, Anuj, I love these suggestions!! They’re definitely on the mix!!
13 June 2008 at 1:25 am
Oh, and I love GW and Snaggle’s too! I just couldn’t think straight with the image of Dee Snyder’s hair in my mind!