by Sue Frankel-Streit

January 11, 2009, about two hundred people processed through the streets of DC, most of them wearing orange jumpsuits and black hood - the trade mark of Guantanamo prisoners. These particular "prisoners", led by camo-clad "guards" and uncle (and aunt) Sam on stilts, were part of a demonstration initiating the Witness Against Torture 100 Days Campaign to Close Guantanamo. Many of them were on the first day of a 10-day fast in solidarity with the real Guantanamo prisoners, some of whom are also fasting. Many of the mock prisoners had done prison time themselves, some for years, some many times, for acts of resistance to state-sanctioned violence.

Sherrill Hogen

I guess I’d do about anything to stop torture. That’s why I fasted for nine days this month, in Washington, D.C. with a group called Witness Against Torture. Last year we got arrested together at the U.S. Supreme Court, but in honor of receiving a new President, we did not try to disrupt business as usual this year. We put on the prison garb of the detainees held without due process at the isolated prison called Guantanamo – an orange jumpsuit and black hood-- and walked silently through the streets of the city and stood in somber vigil. We stood at Dupont Circle, at the White House, in the huge Mall during the inauguration, outside the Senate during the hearings on Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, at Obama’s hotel, at his Transition Team headquarters, and at the Key Bridge as rush hour traffic streamed from Virginia into D.C..

by Bill Offenloch

I went to DC for the last few days of the 9 day fast by Witness Against Torture which marked the anniversary of the opening of the prison at Guantanamo on Jan. 11 up until the inauguration of President Obama on Jan 20. It was also the beginning of the 100 Days Campaign which intends to maintain a presence in DC for the first 100 days of his presidency with daily vigils at the White House and other events to press for a closure of the prison and an end to torture as soon as possible. The core group is from the Catholic Worker. About 20 people were staying and fasting together in DC and another 80 or so around the country. Most were on a liquid fast drinking a variety of juices (sometimes excessive amounts in my view), broths and coffee and even a beer or two – not a very doctrinaire, ascetic group. But a few people drank only water. I only fasted on water for the last 3 days.

by Bud Courtney

odd sight to see us exiting the Temple this morning in the dark in jump suits. visions of leaving base camp when i used to climb Mount Everest back in my younger days (read : another lifetime!). equally odd to see the buses filling up so quickly as well. there is an energy in this city. i feel a part of it. i feel we are instilling some of it.

breaking of the fast was sad. but the focus now is poignant. alive. no more counting days or calories. we continue forward with the task at hand.

we walked seemingly miles this morning processing in suits and hoods, signs and placards. thousands of l00 Days Campaign leaflets had to have been handed out gently and kindly. Matt Vogel's "have a nice day" reverberated over and over as my awe for the core group down here who have given up their new york lives and much more for this campaign simply grows in leaps and bounds and my heart screams aloud in gratitude for their graceful presence.

Courtesy Bill Wylie-Kellermann

Today we broke the fast at dawn in McPherson Square. Scarcely had this happened than, of course, a motorcade drove by--this one apparently Biden's.

We had a solemn procession to the Mall, and vigiled successfully for several hours, taking a break to watch the Inauguration on one of the video screens there.

More: "Inauguration Notes" by Patrick O'Neill

by Matt Daloisio
January 20, 2009
Washington, DC

As we continue to try and make visible the men who are in Guantanamo, over 110 people from around the country will end the nine-day Fast for Justice, and Witness Against Torture will begin the 100 Days Campaign. Those who have come to DC to participate in the fast will gather in McPherson Square at 7am today, share a simple meal, and then head into the inauguration crowds with our jumpsuits, hoods, leaflets and signs.

On Sunday, eight of us in DC joined the throngs of people going to the Inaugural concert on the Mall. Rather than sporting Obama tee shirts, flags and posters, seven of us wore orange jumpsuits and black hoods and one wore a "Shut Guantanamo" tee shirt. The reception from the celebratory crowd was quite positive.

I am doing limited fasting this week and using other means of self-denial as a way of expressing my deep sorrow for my government's criminal abuse of real or alleged political prisoners.

The warm and generous hospitality I have received in Muslim communities in the Middle East makes me want even more to return this small effort of love, and to recognize that our human kinship obliges us to behave honorably toward one another.

the circle slowly melts as folks have had to leave the Temple for other parts. a sadness that reminds me of the responsibilities back home but also of the rending of families by the very existence of hellholes such as guantanamo. the hours of the fast dwindle down and i recall Dr. King's final speech "difficult days ahead" and i know that as the fast ends the 100 days campaign truly begins and we must continue. here and at home. we keep hearing "keep the pressure on" and i hope we do.