Guantanamo 10th Anniversary Protests: Demonstrators March From White House To Supreme Court (PHOTOS)

WASHINGTON -- Under dreary, rainy skies, thousands of protesters gathered in the nation's capital on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the first arrival of terrorism detainees at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The protest, organized by Amnesty International, the Center for Constitutional Rights, National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Witness Against Torture, started at Lafayette Park across from the White House and ended on Capitol Hill at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Protesters were lead by 171 people dressed in orange jumpsuits and black hoods, representing the remaining detainees at Guantanamo.

As AFP reports:

Outside the White House, demonstrators in military fatigues re-enacted the alleged poor treatment suffered by some Guantanamo inmates. Others wore on their backs photographs of detainees who died at the facility.

"We are here with our rage and energy, even with our hope, to ask Obama and the Supreme Court to close Guantanamo," [protest leader Frida] Berrigan said.

As The Huffington Post's Michael McAuliff reports:

President Barack Obama failed two years ago to close the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison, and with Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of its creation, debate is raging over whether a law he signed will ensure it will stay open for decades to come, jailing even United States citizens.

Click through our slideshow of Wednesday's solemn march.

Comments

[AbusedAwan]

12:52 PM on 01/12/2012

Monday was at Washington and video taped and took pictures of the guy in the cage. This was the first I had heard about the story, because I am so focused on being able to see my children after 3 years. I was on Washington for the Mothers of Lost Children's march. You see, family court is taking our children away and illegally placing them into the foster care system or giving them to abusive fathers. Last weekend I was in a conference of 200 women acrossed the US and there are more, fighitng the illegal system just to see their children.I do not think people understand, America is not going to help you! Our House of Representatives are not going to help you! Our Governors and Attorney Generals are not going to help you! If they can not help protect innocent children or help them, they will not help you! Please understand America is a failure!!!!! YOU WILL NOT BE HELPED IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OR NOT!.......Non custodial mothers visit www.abusedswan.com.

[Marv Evre]

11:24 PM on 01/11/2012

Congress has blocked Obama from closing Gitmo, period. And for the edification of you all there are more people convicted and being held on charges of "international terrorism" in domestic prisons than in Gitmo. Gitmo detainees are not wizards, no matter where the cell is they'll stay put--but in a domestic prison they're would be a lot less publicity that only benefits Al Qaeda. Fact: No one has ever broken out of a supermax prison, not gonna happen.

[Moti]

11:58 PM on 01/11/2012

Clint Eastwood escaped from Alcatraz.

[Marv Evre]

12:00 AM on 01/13/2012

And 50 years later he was gunned down by Korean gang members.

[BraveAlive]

11:07 PM on 01/11/2012

Thank you for demonstrating ... peacefully
thank you for bringing this BLIGHT into focus
thank you for showing the Mistake America is doing with itself
contadicting what it stands for .... justice for all and due process
--
Nazi officers who killed millions got an open trial
--
what is this farce of indefinate bull
there's no such a thing as indefinate first of all .... people die... so that's that
and then what .... meaning left to die without a day in court
--
This is exactly the stone age justice
Shame on the usurpers of truth and equality, justice and principals of a nation

[Moti]

12:00 AM on 01/12/2012

The Nazi's were signatory to the Geneva Convention, these losers aren't.

[BraveAlive]

09:49 AM on 01/12/2012

And you are LOST
undeserving of freedom nor security
---
When you create a fachist system .... don't cry for what happens to you
when it does bite you in the ars

[CologneCitizen]

12:38 AM on 01/12/2012

With abandoning habeas corpus, torture, prisoners held with no trial, and drones that kill civilians in countries the USA has no jurisdiction in, America has turned into a rogue nation, no more no less. The claim of not knowing where to send the Guantanamo prisoners shows the helplessness and the dilemma the USA is in. Obviously the majority of Americans has no problem with Guantanamo. America used to see herself as a role model of modern democracy, without returning though to a nation of law it is just pathetic. How can you pretend to be nation building abroad, when your own house isn't in order ?

[Moti]

10:40 PM on 01/11/2012

I think it's nice that they let them out like that, you know, to visit landmarks and museums and such. I'm going to write to the WH and suggest they expose them to some culture, take them to see Les Mis, or Cats, yes, that would be nice.

[Patty Ann]

10:52 PM on 01/11/2012

Good idea maybe they could plan their next bombing killing Americans...so they can get to heaven with their 12 virgins or whatever they call it !!!

[Moti]

11:55 PM on 01/11/2012

You're right, maybe something Off Broadway, then.

[jamsb3]

10:40 PM on 01/11/2012

Maybe if Darryl Hannah or George Clooney or Jennifer Lopez could've led the way we might've seen the way. Or maybe you could be a rugged American; and read, all by yourself, the truth about America and imperialism, Cuban style. Pass the tanning butter and fry the next foreigner.

[1776 or 1984]

10:39 PM on 01/11/2012

I guess the story about this site's comments being monitored by DHS keeps the comment count on this story very low LOL.

[Patty Ann]

10:54 PM on 01/11/2012

hahahahaha yes 1776 I am sure they are...

[Cratewasher]

10:29 PM on 01/11/2012

Mitt Romney has said he would like to "double Guantanamo".
Maybe more US citizens are next...

[Patty Ann]

10:45 PM on 01/11/2012

I don't think Mitt would put US citizens in unless they engage in terrorists behavior but OB might if you don't like him or say anything he doesn't like hmmmm

[sameasoldboss]

12:33 AM on 01/12/2012

OB? You spelled George W Bush wrong.

[elsquibbs]

11:52 PM on 01/11/2012

The NDAA should help him reach that goal.

[escholar]

10:08 PM on 01/11/2012

Lawlessness -
Detaining and torturing foreigners or Americans indefinitely, without charge, evidence or trial is illegal and morally wrong, both under American law and international law.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bTpA59np30

[Patty Ann]

10:48 PM on 01/11/2012

It was a act of War...our court system does not cover people, who make plans to come here and murder 1000's of people...

[escholar]

11:48 PM on 01/11/2012

I totally agree with you, that it was an act of war, but by whom? Who really murdered the thousands on 9-11? Our government and the corporate media, have alleged that Al Qaeda did it, but they have never provide credible evidence, that supports their claim? Should we just take them at their word?

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh-sm4ICE3g&feature=fvst

- http://www.infowars.com/the-last-word-on-terrorism/

[sameasoldboss]

12:34 AM on 01/12/2012

Really? Then why were some people already tried in civilian courts? Including the original WTC attack planners.

[thomas James fuller]

09:58 PM on 01/11/2012

I thought obama closed that......didn't he say he was going to in the first year? Wait....maybe he hasn't been president for a year yet.....let me look at my calendar....something is wrong.

[lj85760813]

10:26 PM on 01/11/2012

no it was another LIE

[Marv Evre]

11:20 PM on 01/11/2012

Actually he couldn't get the congressional authority needed to close it, mainly because of the obstruction of conservatives.

[Marv Evre]

11:20 PM on 01/11/2012

He can't close it without congressional authority and he didn't get it. The president isn't a dictator.

[Kevin Rayburn]

12:29 AM on 01/12/2012

wasn't congress controlled by democrats his first year in office? there were sure enough of them to pass that health care thing without a republican vote.

[shankapotomus]

09:36 PM on 01/11/2012

Maybe they should be put away for liking people that hate America.

[Rootytootytoot]

09:36 PM on 01/11/2012

I'm proud of each of those protestors. Very proud. Thank you all!

[VikingQuest]

09:40 PM on 01/11/2012

Since their parents aren't, at least you are.

[Rootytootytoot]

09:42 PM on 01/11/2012

Inane, vapid statement. Typical.

[AdamWest1313]

10:28 PM on 01/11/2012

Do you have anything other than ad hominem?

[reagansthemanofalltime]

09:50 PM on 01/11/2012

You stand alone.

What a stupid story for Hotaire Post to even cover.

I laugh up my sleeve. You guys thought the naive candidate, B Hussein Obama, was going to close Gitmo. Hahahahahhahahahah.....

[AdamWest1313]

10:30 PM on 01/11/2012

Yes, laugh about us abandoning the principles that we pride ourselves on.

[Kevin Rayburn]

09:29 PM on 01/11/2012

why protest? obama promised to close gitmo down and we all know how obama keeps his promises. HAHAHAHA

[VikingQuest]

09:23 PM on 01/11/2012

"Protesters wearing orange prison jump suits and black hoods march during a protest against holding detainees at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay"

I suggest each protester gets to adopt a Gitmo detainee since I'm sure they are all innocent and nice folks.

[1776 or 1984]

09:27 PM on 01/11/2012

Don't tick me off buddy or else I just might "inform" on you. Maybe plant something in your garage to give you a trip to Gitmo.

[VikingQuest]

09:29 PM on 01/11/2012

Good luck with that buddy.

How many Gitmo detainees come from US soil?

[Kevin Rayburn]

09:30 PM on 01/11/2012

i hope none of those folks in the orange suits decide to hitchike home.

[Galong]

09:20 PM on 01/11/2012

Gitmo, just one of dozens of reasons why so many intelligent people both in the US and outside find the US in an extremely ugly light. Gitmo does not make the US safer. It just make it more unethical... a standard which has been set very high.

[1776 or 1984]

09:18 PM on 01/11/2012

In the near future I just might "inform" on my neighbor who is a real pain in my neck.

Hopefully the government will take care of my problem after I give them lots of juice - I prefer Gitmo, but any secret site in Europe would do. I just can't stand the guy.