23 September 2008

celebs, activists Issue joint call for human rights...

hooray for hollywood...

just last week director paul haggis and actor mark ruffalo joined with amnesty international to urge the closing of guantanamo bay...this was the press advisory issued for last saturday's event...
Los Angeles–Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) will bring its national tour of a life-size Guantanamo prison cell replica to Santa Monica, California, starting Thursday, Sept. 18, and running through Saturday, Sept. 20. Academy Award-winning director Paul Haggis, actor Mark Ruffalo and others will join AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox and lawyers challenging the unlawful detentions at Guantanamo for a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica calling on the Bush administration to shut down Guantanamo.

Following the press conference, members of the public may tour the cell and record a 30-second reaction video that will be posted on AIUSA’s tearitdown.org Web site. On the outside of the cell is a large LCD screen showing a timeline of illegal U.S. detentions and torture, as well as related facts and quotes. After the visiting the cell, visitors are encouraged to sign the global tearitdown petition.

The cell is a replica of a Camp 5 cell. It brings to life the harsh realities of illegal detention to concerned citizens and highlights the human rights violations that Guantanamo symbolizes. The cell includes a steel toilet, florescent lights and a sliding metal door. Detainees reported being held in isolation in similar cells for as long as 23 hours daily.

Previous stops along AIUSA’s national cell replica tour include Miami; Philadelphia; Portland, ME; Washington, DC; and the Democratic and Republican conventions.

EVENT: Press Conference with Guantanamo Prison Cell Replica
AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox, director Paul Haggis, actor Mark Ruffalo,
Marisol Orihuela, ACLU attorney who works on detention issues, and
Michael Rapkin, attorney representing one of the men detained at Guantanamo
Salam Al-Maarayati, executive director, Muslim Public Affairs Council

DATE: Thursday, September 18, at 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Third Street Promenade (at the dinosaur topiary)
(1300 block, between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Blvd), Santa Monica

The cell will be open to the public Thursday, Sept. 18, through Saturday, September 20th. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, including photographs and videos from recent cell replica tour stops, please visit http://www.amnestyusa.org or contact the AIUSA media office at 202-544-0200 x302.

make a difference!
u.s. deports syrian, now at grave risk of being tortured
ensure transitional justice measures in afghanistan
protect human rights in colombia

peace out <3

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