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.
As fate would have it, the Cell arrived in St Louis yesterday on the back of a tricked out bright orange big rig. Larry custom fit his rig with a full size bed, satellite TV and all the trimmings. I was hoping he would take me and M.E. for a ride to the Arch, but he had other plans. Darn. The trucking company we hire to move the cell around the U.S. contracts local drivers and it was just random that Larry’s truck was orange, but it really warmed my heart. It’s chilly here. If you’re in the neighborhood of the St Louis Airport Hilton between now and Sunday, please stop by.
Sorry for the delay in posting. It’s been a whirl-wind of activity since we wrapped up the Cell Tour Stop in Los Angeles.
A number of developments to report:
- We have an urgent action on behalf of 17 Uighurs detained at Guantanamo. Please take a couple minutes to send an email, fax or letter–it’s quick and can be done online, here.
- The Guantanamo Cell Tour continues with a stop in St Louis, October 23 - 26, to coincide with Amnesty International USA’s Midwest Regional Conference. Go here for more info.
- Amnesty International USA’s new Counter Terror With Justice campaign website is live, the url is www.amnestyusa.org/ctwj — please take a moment to check it out, and be sure to tag it on your Facebook profile.
It’s Friday. The Santa Monica Promenade is packed with people and I feel like P.T. Barnum trying to get them to check out the cell. Now I’m in traffic on the way back to the hotel and finally getting a chance to reflect on the day. I’m thinking about Adam’s struggle to drink water, the Chihuahua puppy (even though I’m not usually a fan of sub-beagle size dogs), and the two Navy recruiters in full dress uniform who told me that they and lots of other military people feel the same way we do. I even got to swim this morning. It was a good day.
Picture this if you will. Pickets, marches, tents everywhere, thousands of people with their cause milling about, and…. the cell. Placed strategically between the dunk tank/sporadic jam session and a group of people selling human rights tee-shirts, the cell felt at home. It wasn’t alone in a huge park in front of the nation’s capital or next to a city building. It was alongside energetic people of all ages taking time out of their Sunday to voice their concerns.
And there were people. On a day that was considered “slow,” over 700 people walked through the cell and exchanged fliers for tearitdown petition signatures.
This is not the side of the convention that will be displayed on national television, the convention with men and women dressed in fancy suits and making eloquent speeches. To us, and to many within the free speech zone, it is a time to make our voice heard and rally around causes which we so strongly believe in.
I found such strength and inspiration simply by being surrounded by others who were so passionate about human rights. Though exhausted (I don’t even know if I’m making sense at this moment!) I know tomorrow will be another successful day, and I hope to learn from those around me as much as I am trying to educate others. Welcome to Denver.
We just came across this cartoon by Pulitzer winning cartoonist Tom Toles of the Washington Post and thought it was great.
See you in Denver–next Cell Tour stop is the Democratic National Convention August 25 - 28. And the Republic National Convention after that: Minneapolis - Saint Paul, September 1 - 4.
ZJ
PS If you’re attending either convention, please wear orange—we can’t let them forget torture and illegal detention!
As fate would have it, the Cell arrived in St Louis yesterday on the back of a tricked out bright orange big rig. Larry custom fit his rig with a full size bed, satellite TV and all the trimmings. I was hoping he would take me and M.E. for a ride to the Arch, but he had other plans. Darn. The trucking company we hire to move the cell around the U.S. contracts local drivers and it was just random that Larry’s truck was orange, but it really warmed my heart. It’s chilly here. If you’re in the neighborhood of the St Louis Airport Hilton between now and Sunday, please stop by.
t’s Friday. The Santa Monica Promenade is packed with people and I feel like P.T. Barnum trying to get them to check out the cell. Now I’m in traffic on the way back to the hotel and finally getting a chance to reflect on the day. I’m thinking about Adam’s struggle to drink water, the Chihuahua puppy (even though I’m not usually a fan of sub-beagle size dogs), and the two Navy recruiters in full dress uniform who told me that they and lots of other military people feel the same way we do. I even got to swim this morning. It was a good day.
Picture this if you will. Pickets, marches, tents everywhere, thousands of people with their cause milling about, and…. the cell. Placed strategically between the dunk tank/sporadic jam session and a group of people selling human rights tee-shirts, the cell felt at home. It wasn’t alone in a huge park in front of the nation’s capital or next to a city building. It was alongside energetic people of all ages taking time out of their Sunday to voice their concerns.
