By Debra Sweet

Yesterday in Washington, we massed in front of all 3 branches of the government reported to represent "freedom and democracy for all."  About 800 of us marched from the White House, past the Department of Justice, and stood in front of the Supreme Court, opposite the Capitol. Amnesty International brought a lot of students.

I was thinking most of the prisoners still in Guantánamo, where no one has been released for more than a year (except in coffins). They began a political protest and some went on hunger strike for 3 days, beginning Tuesday, in solidarity with our actions. Their lawyers brought us the message that they take heart from what we do. Imagine, if you can, what it must be like to have been held for up to 10 years - perhaps being told you can be released - but still sitting there year after year.  See Andy Worthington's article, below.

I was moved by the massing of their attorneys, many holding the names of their clients, at the protest (photo, right). Some of them know each other from the "secure facility" near Washington in which they are forced to do work on the Guantánamo cases. Attorneys Mari Newman, Darold Killmer, and Tom Kilner joined Andy Worthington in speaking to almost 100 people on Tuesday evening after a showing of Andy's film Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo.

In front of the Supreme Court, I spoke, as did Andy, Leili Kashani & Vince Warren from the Center for Constitutional Rights, attorneys Tom Kilner & Steve Oleskey, and a remarkable former Guantánamo guard, now conscientious objector named Daniel J. Lakemacher, whose site is warisimmoral.com. See an OccupyDC livestream of the rally here, where you'll catch my speech.

Brandon Neely, another Guantánamo guard who later protested the prison, was profiled by Jason Leopold on Truthout.org: "It Was a Sunny Day".

Ten years on and calls continue for “Gitmo” to close

From Euronews | Original Article

Human Rights protesters dressed in orange prison-style jumpsuits to demand the closure of Guantanamo Bay on the 10th anniversary of the US military detention camp.

“Today as a mother who lost her son (in 9/11) on that disastrous day I demand, I request that this Guantanamo Bay and this injustice be shut down,” said one protester.

Another added: “We want to send a very strong message to the White House, to the Supreme Court, to the Capitol, that in fact Guantanamo breaks international law. This prison is illegal and action should be taken to close it.”

The US set up the camp as part of the so-called ‘War on Terror’ to imprison suspects with alleged al-Qaeda or Taliban links. However, critics oppose the holding of inmates indefinitely and without charge.

President Obama vowed to shut the base down after his 2008 election but has failed to do so.

Click here for the video.

Here's further coverage:

►Democracy Now: Guantánamo Exclusive: Former Chief Prosecutor, Ex-Prisoner Call on Obama to Close Prison

► Washington Post photos and report

► Miami Herald photos and report