Gitmo Clock 2024 Photos (2)

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay, former prisoner Mansoor Adayfi posted this photo, and the following message:
The US war of terror:
#Guantanamo
#GazaGenocide
#Lebanon
#Yemen
#CloseGuantanamoNow!

Our co-founder Andy Worthington says, "As we mark 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence today, it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the indifference of the Biden administration towards the 30 men — including 16 long approved for release — who are still held in this defining example of the US’s post-9/11 hubris, brutality and fundamental lawlessness. Most of these 16 men were approved for release under Biden himself, between two and three and a half years ago, and yet they are still held because those decisions were purely administrative, meaning that no legal mechanism exists to compel him to actually free them, if — as has become increasing apparent over the last year and a half, since the last prisoner was released — he and his senior officials have no interest in doing so. This is a shame matched only by his refusal to recognize that the few men charged with crimes cannot be successfully prosecuted, because of the justice-eroding taint of the torture to which they were subjected in CIA 'black sites,' and yet, just recently, Biden’s defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, disgracefully ruled out plea deals for these men, negotiated over several years by prosecutors at Guantánamo, because of an unwillingness to recognize the abject failure of a system of fake justice based on torture and indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial. To salvage his legacy on Guantánamo, Biden must, at the very least, free the men long approved for release before his presidency comes to an end in January, and he should also reinstate the plea deals."

On October 2, 2024, the day after Guantánamo’s 8,300th day of existence, campaigners in Washington, D.C. took photos with the poster during their monthly vigil for the closure of the prison outside the White House, part of a number of coordinated monthly global vigils across the U.S. and around the world that have been taking place on the first Wednesday of the month since February last year. As Helen Schietinger of Witness Against Torture, seen in this photo, explained, "This was as close to the White House as we can get now. They’ve barricaded half the park and all of Pennsylvania Avenue to build the viewing stands and security apparatus for the January inauguration."

Frank Panopoulos, a peace and social justice activist, and an attorney who has represented men held at Guantánamo, outside the White House on October 2, 2024.

Peace activist Judith Kelly outside the White House on October 2, 2024.

Peace activist Susan Kerin outside the White House on October 2, 2024.

On October 2, 2024, the day after Guantánamo’s 8,300th day of existence, campaigners in New York City took photos with the poster during their monthly vigil for the closure of the prison on the steps of the Public Library on 5th Avenue, part of a number of coordinated monthly global vigils across the U.S. and around the world that have been taking place on the first Wednesday of the month since February last year. The nine photos here were taken by Felton Davis, and the first photo features Debra Sweet, the national director of the World Can’t Wait.

Another photo from the New York City vigil.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Close Guantánamo supporter Natalia Rivera Scott in Mexico City calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Malcolm Chaddock in Portland, Oregon calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, peace activist Brian Terrell calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

Kathy Woodward Niece in Nebraska wrote, "Today, the prison at Guantánamo Bay has been open for 8,300 days and, as an opponent of its ongoing existence, I am joining folks around the world in marking the occasion via Close Guantánamo’s ongoing photo campaign."

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Close Guantánamo coordinator Steve Lane in Bethesda, Maryland says to President Biden, "You're a lame-duck president, not running for office. That means you would suffer no political repercussions if you were to free the 16 innocent men, held for an average of over 5 years without charge or trial, at our prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Nothing stands in the way of your doing the right thing by them. Please act now, and end this heinous stain on our country's honor."

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, William V. Hudon, professor of history, emeritus, at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (USA) calls on President Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to do the right things: first, complete the plea bargains and stipulations of fact to help bring closure to 9/11 victim family members. And second, end the human rights abuses at Guantánamo outlined by the UN Special Rapporteur. It is time for moral courage. SHUT DOWN GUANTÁNAMO.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Khandan Lolaki-Noble of the U.K. Guantánamo Network calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Hugh Sandeman, an Amnesty International member and the co-convenor of the U.K. Guantánamo Network, sent this photo of himself and his wife Julie.

Julie.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Alan Farnham in San Francisco calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Gavrilah Wells in San Francisco calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay. Gavrilah, who co-organizes the monthly vigils for Guantánamo’s closure, as part of the coordinated global vigils initiated by our-co-founder Andy Worthington last year, also sent the 32 photos below, which she took at various locations around the city. As Andy told her in an email, "You have single-handedly breathed new life into this project, with your wonderful portraits, which capture a largely hidden truth about the U.S. — that people everywhere oppose the continued existence of Guantanamo, but nobody normally asks them what they think. I wish some local media would pick up on what you're doing!"

Bennett and Migo.

Carole.

Catherine.

D'Arian.

David.

Dawn.

Faisal.

Fran.

Hannah.

Hollie.

Jeff.

Jonathan.

Kathy and Tom.

Kathy, David and Zori.

Leila and Bugsy.

Maribel.

Martha.

Maya.

Michelle.

Mike.

Naheed.

Nancy.

Paolo, Francesca and Marcello.

Patrick.

Sasha.

Sol.

Susan.

Stafford.

Tanya.

Wences.

William.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Bernard Sullivan and his wife Susie, in Dorset, call on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

Susie Sullivan.

On October 1, 2024, marking 8,300 days of Guantánamo’s existence, Ed Charles, the editor of the World Can't Wait's Spanish website, in Oakland, California, calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay.

Jon Krampner in Los Angeles.

On October 2, 2024, the day after Guantánamo’s 8,300th day of existence, Amnesty International campaigners in Detroit took photos with the poster during their monthly vigil for the closure of the prison outside the Federal Building, part of a number of coordinated monthly global vigils across the U.S. and around the world that have been taking place on the first Wednesday of the month since February last year.

On October 2, 2024, the day after Guantánamo’s 8,300th day of existence, campaigners in Brussels took photos with the posters during their monthly vigil for the closure of the prison outside the White House, part of a number of coordinated monthly global vigils across the U.S. and around the world that have been taking place on the first Wednesday of the month since February last year. The photos were sent by Luk Vervaet, a longtime campaigning colleague of our co-founder Andy Worthington, who is in the background in the first photo.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, former prisoner Mansoor Adayfi, in Belgrade, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Close Guantánamo co-founder Andy Worthington has a message for President Biden: "What a huge disappointment you have become when it comes to Guantánamo. After releasing ten men in your first two years and three months in office, you have done nothing for the last 14 months. 16 men are still held, despite having been unanimously approved for release by high-level U.S. review processes, and, since our last photo campaign 100 days ago, we have now learned that you prevented eleven of these men from being resettled in Oman back in October, because you were fearful about the 'political optics' following the attacks by Hamas and other militants on October 7 — 'political optics' that are, to be blunt, Islamaphobic. You are running out of time to do the right thing. Free these men as soon as possible, and find the courage to undertake definitive steps towards the closure of the prison before the Presidential Election in November. You may not get another chance."

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, beatboxer and graphic designer Tyler Worthington calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Diana Murtaugh Coleman, Associate Teaching Professor in the Comparative Study of Religions/Humanities at Northern Arizona University, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay from Mexico City.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Khandan Lolaki-Noble, a campaigner in the U.K., calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Rick Halperin, the Director of the Southern Methodist University Human Rights Education Program in Dallas, Texas calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Laura Seipp, in Dallas, Texas calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Natalia Rivera Scott, a longtime supporter of the Close Guantánamo campaign in Mexico City, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay. Natalia is a regular participant in the coordinated monthly global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that Andy initiated last year.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Pauline Le Pallec calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Helen Ball in the U.K. calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Jon Krampner, in Los Angeles, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay. Jon regularly holds solo vigils in L.A. as part of the coordinated monthly global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that Andy initiated last year.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Julie Alley, in California, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, William Hudon, professor (emeritus) of history at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, urges President Biden to immediately repatriate those prisoners already cleared for release, to complete the plea negotiations for the others, and to close Guantánamo once and for all.

Marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay on June 23, 2024, Steve Lane, a longtime Close Guantánamo supporter in Bethesda, Maryland says, "You promised to close our prison at Guantánamo Bay, President Biden. Please keep your word, not just to show the world that our country means what we say, but to finally bring some justice to those wrongfully incarcerated men." Steve is a regular participant in the coordinated monthly global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that Andy initiated last year, holding vigils outside the White House with other campaigners.

For June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Geraldine Grunow, in Dearborn, sent these photos of herself, her husband, and two friends, all members of Detroit Amnesty Group 78, who take part in the coordinated monthly global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that Andy initiated last year. Geraldine wrote, "Thanks for all the creative things you do and invite us to do to bring about the closure of Guantánamo."

Ken Grunow.

Deb McEvoy.

Michael Lauchlan.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Dorrine Marshall, in Irvine, CA calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Albert Valancia, in Irvine, CA calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, Gavrilah Wells, in San Francisco, calls on President Biden to close it without further delay. Gavrilah also sent the 19 photos below from her travels around the city, a wonderful series of portraits of San Franciscans on the right side of history.

Anne and Willa.

Anton and Romeo.

Bernard and Paula.

Brent.

Gary.

Jacqueline and Johnny.

Joao.

Joe.

Justice.

Micaela.

Mike.

Morgan.

Nelson.

Pali.

Richard.

Stefanie.

Tony.

Turtle Woman.

Yoel.

On June 23, 2024, marking 8,200 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantanamo Bay, Sue Spivack, in Cobleskill, NY calls on President Biden to close it without further delay. Sue also spent the six photos below, of the Peacemakers of Schoharie County, who also take part in the coordinated monthly global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that Andy initiated last year.

David, a draft resister during the Vietnam War.

Ann.

Ron.

Mary.

Katherine.

Peter.

An earlier photo taken in Cobleskill during rainy weather in March.

Felton Davis sent this photo, and the eight below, which were taken at an antiwar vigil in Union Square in New York City.

On March 15, 2024, marking 8,100 days of the existence of the "war on terror" prison at Guantánamo Bay, our co-founder Andy Worthington says to President Biden, "When you took office, those of us who oppose the continued existence of Guantánamo had some hope that you would decisively address this enduring stain on the U.S.’s claims to be a country that respects the rule of law. However, despite some significant activity in your first two years — releasing ten men, and overseeing a review process that finally approved for release all but three other men held indefinitely without charge or trial as 'forever prisoners' — there has been no progress at all in the last eleven months. The 16 men approved for release (out of the 30 still held) still have no idea when, if ever, they will be freed, making a mockery of your entire review process, and giving every indication that neither you, nor Secretary Blinken, has any interest in actually restoring their freedom. This is a disgrace, and you should do all that you can to ensure that these men are released without further delay."

Mary, Natalia and Nacho, in Mexico City, mark 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, and urge President Biden to close it without further delay. This, and the two photos below, were taken by Alli McCracken at what Natalia calls "a very special place in the city, the Arab kiosk in a neighborhood called Santa María la Ribera" on March 12, at a vigil for the closure of Guantánamo that was part of the monthly coordinated global vigils for the prison's closure that have been taking place across the U.S. and around the world since February last year. The Spanish poster, available here, was created by Ed Charles, the editor of the World Can't Wait's Spanish website.

Mary.

Nacho.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Sue Spivack in Cobleskill, NY calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, William V, Hudon, professor (emeritus) of history at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania joins those urging President Biden to shut down Guantánamo once and for all, with no further delay. As he says, "End the torture, end the indefinite imprisonment."

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Steve Lane in Bethesda, Maryland says, "President Biden, our prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba has been a stain on our country for 8,100 days. Men are held there without trial, or even charge. Sixteen have been cleared for release, but are still imprisoned. Both are in violation of our Bill of Rights, but we don't extend those rights to non-citizens. If the rule of law is morally right for us, why is it not morally right for them? Please release those prisoners already cleared, bring the rest to trial, and then close down this travesty altogether."

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Jon Krampner in Los Angeles calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Dorrine Marshall in Irvine, California calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Albert Valencia in Irvine, California calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Ed Charles, the editor of the World Can't Wait's Spanish website, in Oakland, California calls on President Biden to close it without further delay.

Gavrilah Wells in San Francisco sent this photo, and the 12 below, of campaigners marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, and calling on President Biden to close it without further delay. This first photo is of Adrienne.

Curt Wechsler.

Diana.

Faisal.

Gavrilah.

Gilbert.

Hazar.

Martha.

Mike.

Nancy.

Rahsaan and Maryam.

Ron.

A hooded campaigner with Hazar.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Andreas, a campaigner in London with the U.K. Guantánamo Network, calls on President Biden to close the prison without further delay. This photo — and the eight below — were taken by Close Guantánamo’s co-founder Andy Worthington at last week’s vigil for the closure of Guantánamo that was part of the monthly coordinated global vigils for the prison's closure that have been taking place across the U.S. and around the world since February last year.

David Burke.

Lise Rossi.

Pat Sheerin.

Paul.

Rosemary Holleran.

Sara Birch.

Shaun Brown.

A hooded campaigner.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Debra Sweet, the national director of the World Can't Wait calls on President Biden to close it without further delay. This photo, and the 12 below, were taken by John Breitbart of Movement Sound Plus at last week's rainy vigil for the closure of Guantánamo outside the New York Public Library in Manhattan, part of the monthly coordinated global vigils for the prison's closure that have been taking place across the U.S. and around the world since February last year.

Stephanie Rugoff of the World Can't Wait.

Richie Marini of the World Can't Wait.

Marking 8,100 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay on March 15, 2024, Robert Kolkebeck in Park Forest, Illinois says, "Every day President Biden and the U.S. Congress are hard at work proving all who hold this system as illegitimate are absolutely correct. Whether it’s imprisoning detainees from the endless wars to create enemies for makers of weapons, locking up whistleblowers at home and abroad, or funding genocide, the officeholders in the U.S. Congress and White House show the world their political parties and leadership facilitate injustice, slaughter, and ecological catastrophe."

On March 21 2024, marking 8,106 days of the existence of the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Felton Davis took this photo, and the 13 below, outside Maryhouse, the Catholic Worker house in New York City, of members of the community and passers-by.