Guantanamo prison protested

National Catholic Reporter, May 4, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Fifteen activists chained themselves to the White House fence April 18 to protest the treatment and indefinite imprisonment of prisoners held at the American detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The protest was a follow-up to a Jan. 11 demonstration, in which 89 people were arrested inside the U.S. District Court and charged with disorderly conduct. Most of those taken into custody refused to provide identification giving instead the name of a Guantanamo detainee. All were given Jane or John Doe citations and an April 18 court date.

Courthouse officials reportedly were surprised when 50 of the 89 defendants, none of whom were on the day's docket, actually appeared in the courtroom of Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson. After a brief deliberation Robinson dismissed the Jan. 11 charges.

The 50 activists then donned orange jumpsuits and black hoods and processed to the White House. The 15 who chained themselves to the fence were arrested, charged with holding a "stationary demonstration in a restricted zone," and are scheduled to appear in court July 18.

Both demonstrations were organized by a Catholic Worker group, Witness Against Torture, which has called for closing the prison.