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May 20, 2013

Protests Mark 100th Day of Guantánamo Hunger Strike 
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Protests were held on Friday to mark the Guantánamo hunger strike's
100th day. Outside the White House, demonstrators wearing orange jump
suits and carrying signs were arrested after refusing to leave the
sidewalk. In New York City, dozens of people gathered for a rally in
Times Square.

Ben Case: "As far as I can tell, President Obama wants to say that
Congress is holding him up or these laws or it's complicated. As far as
I can tell it's not complicated. It's a military prison down there and
President Obama is the Commander-in-Chief of the military. As far as I
can tell he has to pick up his phone and call someone and say: 'close
the prison.'"

Julie Pycior: "Having them in Guantánamo is violating the Constitution
and therefore threatening, therefore hurting the rights of Americans in
general. If our government is violating our Constitution and our Bill of
Rights, that hurts us all."

At least 30 of the more than 100 hunger strikers are being force-fed
through nasal tubes pushed into their stomachs, a practice critics say
amounts to torture.

 

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