New Column

Hey everyone, its Jose, just letting you guys know that I will be starting a new Weekly Post which I like to call Digital Activism. I will be discussing anything that goes against the norm, like protests, digital petitions, etc.

The story I want to talk about is the Witness Against Torture gathering in Washington DC on Jan. 11.

Friday, January 11, 2008: The 6 year anniversary of the first prisoners being brought to Guantánamo.

Last year on January 11th, after 500 people processed from the Supreme Court to the Federal court, 150 people risked arrest on behalf of the men in Guantanamo, with 88 being arrested inside the Federal Court in DC. Many of those arrested withheld their identification and took the names of men at Guantanamo. It was a very powerful day, made possible by the contributions of many in the extended Catholic Worker family.

This year, we again are working with many groups on a demonstration in Washington, D.C. The day will begin with a rally at the National Mall co-sponsored with Amnesty International and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture followed by a “prisoner procession” to the Supreme Court. Endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, CodePink, International Federation for Human Rights, Network of Spiritual Progressives, Peace Action, School of the Americas Watch, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International, United for Peace and Justice, War Resisters League, and 100 other groups.

I really respect what the WAT is trying to do and I hope you guys get involved too. The only thing that you have to do is wear something orange on Jan 11th. The color orange represents the orange jumpsuits that prisoners at Guantanamo have to wear. If anybody participates please feel free to send pics so we can put them up on the blog.

Please send all of your pics to koffeestain@gmail.com