Watch the videos recorded inside our replica of a cell at Guantánamo touring the US. See how people inside the cell react at the experience. Then record your own message and add your voice to the thousands protesting illegal US detentions.
The New York Times today released a story explaining the results of a Senate Arms Services Committee hearing on interrogation tactics used at Guantanamo Bay. The hearing revealed the sad irony that interrogation tactics used by the CIA against detainees at Guantanamo Bay were ripped straight out of a playbook used by Communist captors against American soldiers in the Korean War. Back then, the United States denounced these tactics as torture.
How is it that the tools used by a state notorious for its human rights violations, and denounced by the United States are now being employed by the United States itself?
What’s worse, an American sociologist during the Korean War helped to create a training regimen to expose American soldiers to Communist techniques, to inoculate American soldiers against these techniques. Why? To counter military fears after reports revealed many American captives had been brainwashed and forced to falsely confess to crimes.
It is bad enough our government is using its old enemies’ tools against its new enemies. It is even worse that they justify using these techniques by saying it yields valuable information they need to protect our country, when they know full well that the information extracted from such methods is most likely false.
This confirms what Amnesty International USA has been saying all along: torture and harsh interrogations do not yield reliable information, violate human rights, and only damage our reputation throughout the world.
The United States was founded on the principle of justice for all. It is time to live up to that principle. Give the detainees fair trials – if they are found innocent, set them free, and if they are found guilty, punish them according to the law.
Why should we expect others to live up to standards we can’t meet ourselves?
Christopher Hitchens, writing for Vanity Fair, voluntarily underwent waterboarding to determine for himself, from an outsiders point of view, if it is indeed a reasonable addition to the interrogation process. After entering the debate, calling the practice “extreme interrogation”, Hitchens decided to settle the matter the best possible way; trying it himself. Would firsthand experience induce a change of heart?
Well, from the title of Hitchens’s article, “Believe Me, It’s Torture”, we have our answer. The current administration is rationalizing to deem it acceptable interrogation. Borne of the rampant fear-mongering that lingers to this day from after the September 11th attacks, America is heading down a path of becoming as immoral as the values it is fighting against. Though my opinion is not an uncommon one (luckily), I’ll state it anyways: America, lead by example. I know its clichéd advice, but clichés become clichés for good reason; they are the plain and simple truth.
There are those who need to be detained and interrogated, and I am not implying that interrogation need be of optimum comfort. Still, human rights cannot be thrown aside because we are at war. The real moral litmus test of a country is not at a time of peace, I can tell you that much.
We must demand that our government live up the standard it demands of others; take and treat non-combatants and prisoners of war according to the guidelines set out in the Geneva Conventions and do not use torture in interrogation techniques. Hint: if soldiers are being trained to resist a certain torture technique, that means it classifies as torture, even when it is called interrogation to the public here.
The cell is currently sitting on a part of the National Mall that is directly across the street from the Washington Monument. The monument was built in honor of George Washington, one of our country’s leaders in our fight for independence and democracy - and our first President. Being here makes me wonder what George Washington would have thought of Guantanamo.
Today is the International Day In Support of Victims of Torture - a day to reflect on the injustices and abuses symbolized by Guantanamo and, in my opinion, DO SOMETHING about it. Almost no one I spoke with today knew that June 26th marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. But we’re working to change that - over 360 individuals visited the cell, taking a moment to think about the issues surrounding Guantanamo and take action.
No one deserves to be tortured, denied access to a fair trial, and held without charge. I think George Washington would be with us on this one…
My first view of Portland Maine came from the air–courtesy of a laaate flight from NYC–and the “maine” (sorry) thing I saw was lots of green. Orange should really stand out here. Right now we’re picking up the rental car and even though I’ve been in Maine about 15 minutes, I’m already plotting a move up here –people are so gosh darn nice. That plus the promise of great fish & chips plus a public library on the main square (our cell location) plus the already amazing work of local activists like Leo equals me being really excited about my new future hometown. Anyone have a room for rent? -ZJ
As Amnesty International members, we were elated at the opportunity to bring a replica of a Guantánamo cell and our call to action to Philadelphia. We have confidence in the power of our message of reliable evidence and a call for justice in the U.S. “war on terror.” Well, we’ve spent 3 days in Philadelphia and were overwhelmed by how welcoming the city has been.
Philadelphia has welcomed our message of justice with open arms and the experience of speaking with city residents who were concerned about human rights violations in the “War on Terror” sparked new excitement among our volunteers and staff. As expected, we also had the opportunity to talk with a number of people who had never heard of the detention center at Guantánamo.
It is a great responsibility to be the person bringing this knowledge to others and our teams of AIUSA volunteers and staff took this responsibility very seriously as they provided facts, figures, and a call to action. My faith in the power of justice was not misplaced as passerby after passerby walked straight to the action table after hearing about the human rights violations carried out by the U.S. government at Guantánamo.
Despite unexpected closures due to harsh weather conditions, over 700 people had the opportunity to view the inside of the cell in the city of brotherly love. For those who weren’t able to make it to Dilworth Plaza to see the cell in person, our street teams took the message to the people by handing out flyers and gathering petition signatures throughout the city. And, we welcomed a variety of local and national media outlets in Philadelphia which will help us extend the reach of the cell tour even farther.
With a successful weekend in Philly behind us, the cell has been packed up to hit the road for Portland, Maine. We’ll see you there!
The City of Brotherly Love got its first exposure to the Guantánamo cell replica today – the cell traveled all around Philadelphia today with canvassers covering over 8 miles of Center City Philly, with stops at Dilworth Plaza - the main event site, LOVE park, the Ben Franklin Parkway, Independence Mall, Old City, South Street, and Rittenhouse Square, passing out almost 3,000 flyers about the event.
News of the event is spreading – even without flyering throughout the city, posters, radio promotion, and word of mouth have already started to spark interest – canvassers had many great conversations. Stay tuned for the weekend – Philly promises to be an exciting stop on the national tour.
Amnesty International launched the ‘Unsubscribe’ campaign in November 2007 with this truly powerful film entitled Waiting for the Guards. This film shows a performance artist undergoing, for real, interrogation techniques permitted in the CIA handbook.
The cell is currently sitting on a part of the National Mall that is directly across the street from the Washington Monument. The monument was built in honor of George Washington, one of our country’s leaders in our fight for independence and democracy - and our first President. Being here makes me wonder what George Washington would have thought of Guantanamo.
