12 Arrested at Anti-Guantánamo Protest in New York

In New York City, 12 people were arrested Monday at a die-in on the steps of the federal courthouse in response to the more than two-month-long hunger strike by prisoners at Guantánamo. The military has admitted more than half of Guantánamo’s 166 prisoners are on hunger strike, with 16 being force-fed, a tactic widely viewed as torture. Defense lawyers say nearly all prisoners are on hunger strike. On Monday, protesters with the group Witness Against Torture wore orange jumpsuits and lay on the steps of the courthouse holding signs with the names of Guantánamo prisoners who have died waiting for release. Democracy Now! spoke to Jeremy Varon and Bill Ofenloch.

Jeremy Varon: "We’re here today at the federal courthouse in New York City in response to the hunger strike that’s currently taking place at Guantánamo. More than half the prisoners at the camp are on hunger strike, some since February 6, protesting their indefinite detention without charge or trial."

Bill Ofenloch: We’re trying to get Guantánamo closed and the prisoners who are free to be released to actually be released. The majority of them are there without any charges, and they’re cleared for release."