61 Americans, dressed in the orange jumpsuits and black hoods that have become the symbol of Guantanamo detainees, were arrested in front of the White House in a nonviolent demonstration this afternoon.

The demonstrators each had the name of a detainee stenciled on the back of the jumpsuit. 55 of the detainees represented were cleared for release by the Bush administration but not released; an additional 5 died at the prison.

Today is Obama's 99th or 100th day in office, depending on how you count.

We had our final ordinary White House vigil of the campaign today. In the evening, we attended a worship service with Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, and watched as some of our friends committed civil disobedience at the White House.

from Amanda Daloisio

For years the debate has waxed and waned over what constitutes torture and whether or not it is a crime. We have been coaxed into thinking that these are the essential questions, lulled into complacency by the semantic games of powerful people. We have discussed the details of waterboarding and stress positions until they have lost all power to horrify us. We have been lied to by those in power and have not been offended. We have been shown pictures of humiliation and torture and were only momentarily repulsed. Judges have ruled and Congress has balked. All the while, men have sat in prison cells without charge or real hope of trial.

Witness Against Torture’s 100 Days Campaign to Close Guantanamo and End Torture began in the heady days following President Obama’s Executive Orders, signed on day one, promising the closure of the detention camp at Guantanamo within a year and ending the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” program.

Years of protest — including a 2005 demonstration at the detention camp itself, arrest actions in Washington, D.C., and a resulting trial in which we condemned Guantanamo in the name of the detainees — had paid off. The nightmare appeared close to over.

As we vigiled at the White House every day since inauguration to support Obama in his plans, countless people we met celebrated President Obama’s promises and questioned our being there. “Guantanamo is shut down,” we heard again and again. Yet the accumulated outrages of the last seven years and the tenacious defense of torture policies by some sectors of government and the media, cautioned against a premature sense of victory.

Center for Consitutional Rights assesses the first "100 days" of Obama's presidency.

Today's temperature in Washington, DC, reportedly climbed above 90, the first truly hot day of the vigil.

Also today, more than 100 people, many in wheelchairs, risked arrest by handcuffing themselves to the White House fence. They are agitating for the Community Choice Act, "A Community-Based Alternative To Nursing Homes And Institutions For People With Disabilities." More reports.

Update: 91 arrested.

A talk by Matt Meyer, Joanne Sheehan, and Frida Berrigan of the War Resisters League. April 20, 2009, Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, DC.

Click to listen to the discussion (mp3)

Today I took a step back and watched the people watching the vigil.

Today: Hail.

McClatchy Newspapers: Report: Abusive tactics used to seek Iraq-al Qaida link

Washington Post: Intelligence Chief Says Methods Hurt U.S.:

New York Times:

These memos make it clear that [federal appeals court Judge Jay] Bybee is unfit for a job that requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress should impeach him.

Center for Constitutional Rights: "Coalition Requests Impeachment of Jay Bybee"

More: ImpeachBybee.org