January 11, 2013

On Friday, Jan. 11, MPAC will join Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) and other interfaith allies for a Close Guantanamo Now! Vigil and Press Conference at LA's Federal Building (Temple and Los Angeles Streets).

Marking the 11th anniversary of the opening of Guantánamo Bay prison and the human rights violations it represents, including torture, detention without charge, unfair trials, Islamophobia, and impunity for crimes by US government officials, the vigil and press conference will bring together many interfaith leaders, human rights activists, religious leaders and distinguished local attorneys representing clients who still languish there. 

In 2007, MPAC's President Salam Al-Marayati was the first American Muslim to observe conditions at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. At that time, MPAC commended and supported Defense Secretary Robert Gates' public call for the closing of the prison. This stance has been supported by human rights groups which have investigated and condemned U.S. interrogation and incarceration practices at Guantanamo.

In 2009,  MPAC expressed its support for President Barack Obama's initiative to immediately shut down the controversial detention center and suspend the military commissions system for trying detainees. 

There are still more than 160 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay detention center, and thousands still languish in solitary confinement/administrative detention in Canada and U.S. prisons! Our quest is to shut down these affronts to American traditions, international law and simple human decency.

Endorsers: Addicted to War * American Civil Liberties Union–So CA * American Friends Service Committee–LA * Amnesty International USA * Anti-Racist Action-LA * Bill of Rights Defense Committee * Café Intifada * Center for Constitutional Rights * CODEPINK LA * Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) * Freedom Socialist Party * Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick LLP * ImaginAction * LA Laborfest * LA-Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee * LA Region Religious Campaign Against Torture (LARRCAT) * LA vs. NDAA Coalition * Law Offices of Michael S. Rapkin * MLK , Jr. Coalition for Jobs, Justice, & Peace * Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) * National Lawyers Guild – LA * National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) * No More Victims * Occupy The Ballot * Occupy the Hood * Office of the Americas * Out Against War * Pax Christi–LA & So CA * The Peace Center of United University Church * Program for Torture Victims–LA * Progressive Christians United * Radical Women * Revolution Books * Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris Hoffman & Harrison LLP * Shura Council of So CA * School of the Americas Watch–LA * Spiritual Youth for Justice and Peace * St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care * Topanga Peace Alliance * Unifying Peace With Actions Respect & Dignity (UPWARD) * The WE Project * World Can’t Wait -LA

To endorse the event or for information, go to www.icujp.org, call 213-748-1643 or email icujp@pacbell.net

Wheelchair accessible & disability affirmative. For accommodations, call 72 hours in advance