Public photos (4)

Steve Lane, in Bethesda, Maryland, says, “Hello, President Obama, you might find that its beyond your ability to close the Guantánamo Bay concentration camp before your term is up. There is something that is well within your power, however, even though it falls short of your solemn promise. That is to release all its inmates that have been cleared for release, who are being held despite our having found them to be innocent. That is the least you could do to mitigate Gitmo's stain on America's honor.”

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida says, “I am proudly standing with the CLOSE GUANTANAMO campaign by holding a poster reminding President Obama that he has just 20 days left to stand by his word and use his presidential power to Close the unjust Guantánamo Bay Prison Camp permanently before the end of his term as president. There is no confusion that President Obama has in fact given his word of honor to CLOSE GUANTANAMO since the beginning of his presidency, and there is no confusion to the fact that Guantánamo Bay should be shut down permanently and in the name of justice immediately.”

Tim Marrinan, London.

Barbara Glassman, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA.

Ian Bell , Aberystwyth, U.K.

Anna Sadlo, London.

Aleksey Penskiy from Volgograd says, “I’m participating in the international campaign to close Guantánamo! Come join us!”

Ruth Gilburt, London.

Michele Mattingly’s son, California.

Michele Mattingly, California.

Steve Lane in Bethesda, Maryland says, “Show that compassion and love that Christ stood for by giving the prisoners at Guantánamo Bay the ultimate Christmas gift — the freedom you promised them.”

Natalia Rivera Scott, Mexico City.

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida says, “I am proudly supporting the CLOSE GUANTANAMO campaign by holding a poster reminding YOU President Obama that you now have only 25 days left to secure justice and Close Guantánamo Bay permanently as you have vowed since the beginning of your presidency. Guantánamo Bay is unconstitutional and should never have been opened in the first place. Torture doesn't stop injustice but only makes it more of a problem while spreading hate instead of peace. Let's see President Obama show his strength now and Close Guantánamo Bay permanently!”

Tim Marrinan, London.

Susie Sullivan, Dorset.

Bernard Sullivan, Dorset.

Barbara Glassman, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA.

Ruth Gilburt, London.

Tyler Worthington, beatbox poet, and part of Battersea Arts Centre’s Beatbox Academy, London.

Soph Myers-Kelley, senior student, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, USA.

Ciaron O’Reilly, peace activist, London.

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida, says, "I am proudly supporting the Close Guantánamo campaign by holding a poster reminding President Barack Hussein Obama that he has 30 days left to use his presidential authority to #CLOSE_GUANTANAMO permanently as he has vowed. This is in the name of justice to help make the world a better place. Torture does not stop injustice, it only makes it worse."

Brigid Mary Oates wrote, “Please take this as support from CAAB [the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases] and everyone at RAF Menwith Hill [in Yorkshire]. Every vehicle that left the NSA Base tonight was stopped and shown this ... The message was sent clearly to Obama ... He has 30 days left to fulfil his promise to shut down Guantánamo... With love and peace from all at CAAB Menwith Hill.”

Barbara Glassman, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA.

Ruth Gilburt, London.

Charlotte Casey, from the San Jose Peace & Justice Center, sent in this photo of herself, and the eight photos that follow. She wrote, “The attached photos were taken of activists in San Jose CA at the San Jose Peace & Justice Center. Hoping Obama sees the light!”

Susan.

Kenneth.

Wendy.

Jon.

Shawn.

Rob.

Michele.

Mike.

Charlotte Casey, from the San Jose Peace & Justice Center, also sent in this photo, of Julea, and the four photos that follow. She wrote, “These photos were taken at the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (San Jose chapter) annual solstice luncheon.”

Essie.

Teri.

Steve Lane in Bethesda, Maryland says, "President Obama, how would you feel if someone had promised to keep you safe from Donald Trump, and they had 30 days to do it? Nervous? Worried? Like you might be betrayed? Well, that's where you are with the Guantánamo Bay prisoners. They are counting on you."

Susie Sullivan, Dorset.

Bernard Sullivan, Dorset.

Tom Dickinson of Tackling Torture at the Top, a committee of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), a peace organization based in Minneapolis and St Paul, MN, says, "Thanks for being relentless. Now our work really begins."

Steve Lane, in Bethesda, Maryland, says to President Obama, "Thirty-five days is not long in the life of a man who has been at the Guantánamo Bay concentration camp for 12+ years, but those are important days, because now is the last chance for you to keep your word and close it."

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida says, "I proudly stand with the Close Guantánamo campaign by holding a poster reminding President Obama that he now has ONLY 35 DAYS LEFT TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO BAY permanently as he has vowed!!!!!!!!!! Guantánamo Bay Prison Camp is unconstitutional, unjust, and a disgrace to humanity. I am in support of President Obama being a man of his word by closing down Guantánamo Bay Prison Camp peacefully and in the name of justice before time runs out for him."

Guy Smallman, photographer, UK.

Tim Marrinan, London.

Ruth Gilburt, London.

Guillaume Rivier wrote, "Hi there. We’re a small group of human rights supporters in Tokyo. We are sending you our support picture for the countdown. The picture is weird because there's some geometric aberration from the camera lens, but we're ready and willing to gladly send our deformed faces to Mr. President if that can scare him and help him to keep his promise! Thanks for your great campaign, keep going!"

Federico Lafaire, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Olivia Ransom, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida writes, "I am showing my support for the Close Guantánamo campaign by holding a poster reminding President Obama that he has ONLY 40 days left to be a man of his word and Close Guantánamo Bay permanently before the end of his last term is over! President Obama, I support your decision to Close Guantánamo Bay permanently, now let’s see you stand by your word and #CLOSE_GUANTANAMO before it is too late."

Tim Marrinan, London.

Ruth Gilburt, London.

Shahela Begum, New York City.

Jakub Barat, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Tim Marrinan, London.

Julisa Wescott, in Sarasota, Florida, says, "I am proudly supporting the Close Guantánamo campaign by holding a poster reminding President Obama that he has less than 45 days to close the disgraceful Guantánamo Bay permanently. Don't abandon justice, but be a man of your word and #CLOSE_GUANTANAMO. We all have much patience, and we are also realistic to the window of time at hand. Thank you to all the supporters."

Ruth Gilburt, in London, says, "Guantánamo MUST close."

Russell Barford.

Soph Myers-Kelley wrote, "I should let you know my name is Soph Myers-Kelley, I'm a 21 year old senior student at Hamline University, St. Paul MN USA. This is very important to me. I will do my best to share this cause with my fellow students!"

Hodan Yusuf.

Louise Devlin, in the U.K., wrote, "Keep up the good work!"

Arlo Varon, New York City.

Natalia Rivera Scott, Mexico City.

Helen Schietinger, activist with Witness Against Torture, wrote, "Here’s my photo, wearing the WAT T-shirt designed by Shepard Fairey a few years ago. Seemed appropriate! In peace and solidarity, Helen."

Jessica Bradley.

Bob Palmer, from the Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantánamo, wrote, "Thanks so much for your work."

Autumn Setzler, Fremont, Ohio.

Josie Setzler, Fremont, Ohio.

Sandrine Ageorges-Skinner.

Diana Murtaugh Coleman, Memphis, Tennessee.

Tim Marrinan, London.

Sherrill Hogan, activist with Witness Against Torture, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Beth Adams, activist with Witness Against Torture, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Crystal Zevon.

Paki Wieland, activist with Witness Against Torture, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Bruce Miller, No More Guantánamos, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Nancy Talanian, No More Guantánamos, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Julisa Wescott, from Sarasota, Florida, says, "I am proudly supporting the Close Guantánamo Bay campaign, reminding President Obama that he has got now less than 50 DAYS left for him to stand by his word and do what he has intended from the start — to Close Guantánamo Bay permanently and in the name of justice."

Judith Kelly, activist with Witness Against Torture, photographed in the Mt. Lebanon Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mimi Darragh, Pittsburgh Pax Christi, photographed in the Mt. Lebanon Library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Olivia Ransom, who sent this photo and the one below, wrote, "My 14 years old Fausto and myself Olivia Ransom, we live in The Netherlands. Good luck with everything and thank you."

Hannah, London.

Ahlam, London.

Bernard and Susie Sullivan, from Dorset, who campaigned to secure the release from Guantánamo of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, say, "President Obama - Guantánamo Bay is an abominable experiment in indefinite detention, which poisons America's claim to be a nation that believes in justice. We fear very much that if you do not fulfil your promise, you will be allowing this huge injustice to continue for a very long time. There are 21 men already cleared for release, and others who have been extremely cruelly treated. Use your authority, Let Them Go."

Steve Lane, from Bethesda, Maryland, who has taken part in every stage of the Countdown to Close Guantánamo, says, "President Obama, Donald Trump will soon assume the highest office in the United States government. He has promised to bring back waterboarding and ‘much worse’. Do you not think that he will keep his word? You are the only person who can save the Guantánamo Bay detainees from him. Please close it now."

Michele Mattingly, California.

Jan Strain, Seattle.

Rael Nidess, M.D., Marshall, Texas.

Tim Lind, Three Rivers, Michigan.

Suzanne Lind, Three Rivers, Michigan.

Damian McNairney from Belfast says, “Hoping President Obama will close Guantánamo, as he promised when he took office eight years ago.”

This is Katurah, at the Cambridge Stop The War Art Night, "Art For Peace Sake!" This photo and the three below were sent by Zareen Taj, who wrote, “Here the the latest pics taken at We had anti-war poetry and songs and I did a performance in my orange jump suit to the song ‘Ghosts of Guantánamo’ by Zain Bhika and Dawud Wharnsbury Ali. I also sang the song by Dawud about the ‘Beautiful Story of Yusuf’ which is about the struggle of a prisoner. Good luck with everything!”

Sigi, at the Cambridge Stop The War Art Night, "Art For Peace Sake!"

Henry, at the Cambridge Stop The War Art Night, "Art For Peace Sake!"

Daniel, at the Cambridge Stop The War Art Night, "Art For Peace Sake!"

Lindis Percy, Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, in Harrogate, U.K., says, "Very little time Barack Obama to CLOSE GUANTANAMO HELL HOLE."

Julia Igaz, Sussex.

Natalia Rivera Scott, in Mexico City, sent a second photo.

Anonymous, in the U.S., wrote, "I have not forgotten."

Close Guantánamo co-founder Andy Worthington's band The Four Fathers support the Countdown to Close Guantánamo, with just 70 days remaining for President Obama to close the prison. The band's new song, "Close Guantánamo," is featured in our new campaign video, released on November 10, just after Donald Trump's election victory, and you can listen to it in its entirety, and buy it as a download, via Bandcamp.
From L to R: Brendan Horstead, Andrew Fifield, Andy Worthington, Richard Clare and Louis Sills-Clare.

Sam Raphael, torture researcher and senior lecturer at the University of Westminster, supports the Countdown to Close Guantánamo. Sam is the co-director of The Rendition Project, with Ruth Blakeley of the University of Kent, and this photograph was taken at an event Sam organized on Nov. 2, which also featured Close Guantánamo's Andy Worthington, Guantánamo attorney Alka Pradhan and Carla Ferstman, the director of anti-torture organization Redress. See Andy's report here.

Noel Hamel, longtime anti-Guantánamo campaigner with the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign and the London Guantánamo Campaign, supports the Countdown to Close Guantánamo. This photo was taken at an event about Guantánamo, torture and the military commissions at the University of Westminster on Nov. 2 -- see the report here.

This photo, and the four below, are of students at an event about Guantánamo, torture and the military commissions at the University of Westminster on Nov. 2 -- see the report here.