Our first day in Santa Monica and it certainly wasn’t boring! The cell arrived on schedule at 6am, but much to our chagrin the necessary fork lift to maneuver the giant 1 ton cell onto the promenade was stuck in traffic on the 405. Minutes, then hours ticked away and only added to our stress as media outlets and celebrity speakers began to arrive. 15 minutes before the press conference, the fork lift finally arrived, off loaded from its ride, and began the precarious process of taking the cell from its own flat bed perch to the promenade. Suddenly, the cell pitched to one end and crashed corner first onto the street, thankfully the fork lift operator thought fast and managed to avert a real disaster and the cell managed to heavily right itself in the street. I think my heart stopped beating for a minute while we made sure no one was hurt. Woooo that was a little bit scary!
The cell made a dramatic entry to our spot on the promenade, a few minutes late for its own press conference! It was a great show - Martin Sheen, Mark Ruffalo and Paul Haggis headlined for Larry Cox, the ACLU, an attorney who represents a guantanamo detainee and the Muslim Public Affairs Committee. I can’t wait to see the pics of them in the cell!
All in all, a bustling day in la.
-MAC
Tags: 3rd street, california, celebrities, disaster averted, Mark Ruffalo, Martin Sheen, orange jumpsuits, Paul Haggis, promenade, Santa Monica
dc admin
| 1 Comment »
The other interns and I just finished a 3 hour sign making session for the Cell Tour photo event on Wednesday. We thought we were done about ½ an hour ago, but then saw that the signs spelled out “SOP TORTURE,” so had to add another “T.” We’re a little lightheaded from the Sharpie fumes, but apparently the letters look good, so it’s definitely worth it. Can’t wait to have people holding them up on Wednesday!
I was worried about the “O”s, but one of the new interns described them as having that “homemade look,” making them even better. As opposed to perfect, Helvetica-fonted letters, they’re imperfect, non-uniform, and unique. And you know what? He’s so right. The letters are like the people that made them. The people that will lift them up in front of the Cell so the public can see their message. People that are unique and imperfect, but bold enough to take a stance and make their voices heard. Those eleven letters reminded all of us that we are part of a grassroots movement to close Guantanamo and stop torture, and that’s a really powerful feeling. We are in this together, and we can make an impact. I’m convinced of that.
Hope to see you all on Wednesday @ the National Mall! You’ll get to see the other interns, the staff, and me in orange jumpsuits, which is super exciting in itself.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Meade, American anthropologist (1901-1978)
Amy Tan
CTWJ Intern
Tags: cell tour, homemade, interns, margaret meade, national mall, orange jumpsuits, signs
caitlin.hamilton
| 1 Comment »
