Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Protests Mark Guantanamo Anniversary VOA News 11 January 2011 Protesters seeking closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility wear orange jumpsuits and black hoods as they demonstrate outside the White House, 11 Jan 2011 Photo: REUTERS Protesters seeking closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility wear orange jumpsuits and black hoods as they demonstrate outside the White House, 11 Jan 2011 Human rights groups have staged protests in Washington to demand the closure of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention center, which the U.S. military opened nine years ago to house terrorism suspects. Members of Amnesty International, Witness Against Torture and other groups wore hoods over their heads and orange prison-style jumpsuits Tuesday as they rallied outside the White House, later marching to the U.S. Justice Department. The U.S. opened the detention center on January 11, 2002, during the administration of then-president George W. Bush. His successor, current President Barack Obama, pledged after taking office in January 2009 to close the facility within a year. But that deadline passed without him setting a new one. President Obama's efforts to close Guantanamo have met with resistance across the United States and in Congress amid fears the U.S. prison system is not suited to secure the detainees and protect the American public.  Many lawmakers expressed concern that dangerous detainees could be brought to U.S. soil to stand trial and then be released on technicalities. In the years since Guantanamo opened, more than 600 of the prisoners there have been released, but the facility still holds 173 inmates. Many of the remaining detainees have been cleared for release. Rights groups have repeatedly pressed for their freedom. Campaigners in orange jumpsuits from the London Guantanamo Campaign hold a silent vigil as another campaigner poses with shackles in Trafalgar Square, London, 11 Jan 2011 AP Campaigners in orange jumpsuits from the London Guantanamo Campaign hold a silent vigil as another campaigner poses with shackles in Trafalgar Square, London, 11 Jan 2011 The London-based organization Cageprisoners says the Guantanamo prison has become a "symbol of unlawful detention," evoking images of torture and abuse. Last week, President Obama signed a sweeping defense bill that includes restrictions effectively blocking his bid to close the facility. The measure bans the use of Defense Department money to transfer terror suspects from Guantanamo to the U.S. for trial in civilian courts. Mr. Obama said he opposed the provision, and vowed to try to overturn it. Mr. Obama has said the prison is a recruitment tool used by jihadist organizations like al-Qaida.  Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP. .