Amnesty Protest in Nottingham City Centre - Close Guantanamo Bay [Please]
Tash [alan lodge] | 11.03.2007 14:35 | Guantánamo | Anti-militarism | Repression | Terror War
Amnesty Protest in Nottingham City Centre - Close Guantanamo Bay [Please]
The University of Nottingham's Amnesty International Society's held a protest against the continuing human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay.
The University of Nottingham's Amnesty International Society's held a protest against the continuing human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay.
On Saturday the 10th of March folks protested against the continuing human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay. It is now over five years since the first detainees were transferred to the detention camp and despite widespread international condemnation, hundreds of people from more than 30 nationalities remain there: without charge and with little hope of obtaining a fair trial.
Enough is enough! Guantánamo Bay is a symbol of injustice and abuse. It must be closed down.
Following the spectacular success of the earlier AIUK silent protest in Central London outside the US embassy, The University of Nottingham’s Amnesty International Society thus staged a similar silent protest in Long Row East in Nottingham city centre [next to the City Hall], where each participant was decked out with a Guantanamo Bay style orange jump suit.
Concurrent with this demo, a contingent of the orange ones, went to the local Starbucks Coffee House, in Clumber Street.Starbucks has an outlet in Guantanamo Bay. They proudly support the US military.
A company spokesman has said: “We refrain from taking a position on the legality of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay”. The company also states: “Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve stateside and overseas. We sincerely appreciate that they are willing to risk their lives to protect Americans and our values of freedom and democracy.” So, there you have it.
Anyway, the organisers had asked, and gained permission from the authorities, a month ago. However, I saw the first two policemen, come round the corner on patrol, and their faces were a picture of suprise. So, nobody had told them ........ As usual, the Community Protection officers and the Police Community Support Officers [half-constables] just had to get involved also. Clearly, since those protesting needed support and protection.
I understand many signatores where collected for the petition, and a large number of leaflets handed out, explaining what it's all about.
Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, joined in the protest about half way through. Very much in support of those there, he wished all well. Further, he was kind enough to do a short interview for Indymedia.
Well done to those involved!!
For further info and to get involved contact-
suamnestysoc@nottingham.ac.uk
Amnesty International Society - University of Nottingham
http://su.nottingham.ac.uk/~amnesty
Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org.uk
The National Guantanamo Coalition http://www.guantanamo.org.uk
Tackle the Shackles, Close Guantanamo http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/359937.html
Sheffield G8 Events: Guantanamo Bay orange jump suits http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/06/314498.html
Amnesty protest over Guantanamo Bay in Nottingham :: report with audio
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/03/364789.html
London's Guantanamo Demos : Contains Radio piece for Resonance show - Monday 12th March, 10.30-11.30pm [thanks ftp]
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364804.html
*****
previous Nottingham University Peace Matters:
Protests as arms dealers attend Careers Fair
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/325974.html
Lt.General Arif Hassan, of the Pakistan Army, Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/11/327548.html
Prime Minister visits Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331554.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331575.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331596.html
'Overcoming Media Bias' Nottingham Student Peace Peace Conference
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/02/334602.html
Student Peace Conference :: University of Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/334976.html
Die-In at Nottingham University to protest at un-ethical investments
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340171.html
Sounds on the Downs,Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348061.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348082.html
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@gn.apc.org
Web: http://tash.gn.apc.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
Enough is enough! Guantánamo Bay is a symbol of injustice and abuse. It must be closed down.
Following the spectacular success of the earlier AIUK silent protest in Central London outside the US embassy, The University of Nottingham’s Amnesty International Society thus staged a similar silent protest in Long Row East in Nottingham city centre [next to the City Hall], where each participant was decked out with a Guantanamo Bay style orange jump suit.
Concurrent with this demo, a contingent of the orange ones, went to the local Starbucks Coffee House, in Clumber Street.Starbucks has an outlet in Guantanamo Bay. They proudly support the US military.
A company spokesman has said: “We refrain from taking a position on the legality of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay”. The company also states: “Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve stateside and overseas. We sincerely appreciate that they are willing to risk their lives to protect Americans and our values of freedom and democracy.” So, there you have it.
Anyway, the organisers had asked, and gained permission from the authorities, a month ago. However, I saw the first two policemen, come round the corner on patrol, and their faces were a picture of suprise. So, nobody had told them ........ As usual, the Community Protection officers and the Police Community Support Officers [half-constables] just had to get involved also. Clearly, since those protesting needed support and protection.
I understand many signatores where collected for the petition, and a large number of leaflets handed out, explaining what it's all about.
Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, joined in the protest about half way through. Very much in support of those there, he wished all well. Further, he was kind enough to do a short interview for Indymedia.
Well done to those involved!!
For further info and to get involved contact-
suamnestysoc@nottingham.ac.uk Amnesty International Society - University of Nottingham
http://su.nottingham.ac.uk/~amnesty Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org.uk The National Guantanamo Coalition
http://www.guantanamo.org.uk Tackle the Shackles, Close Guantanamo
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/359937.html Sheffield G8 Events: Guantanamo Bay orange jump suits
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/06/314498.html Amnesty protest over Guantanamo Bay in Nottingham :: report with audio
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/03/364789.html London's Guantanamo Demos : Contains Radio piece for Resonance show - Monday 12th March, 10.30-11.30pm [thanks ftp]
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364804.html *****
previous Nottingham University Peace Matters:
Protests as arms dealers attend Careers Fair
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/325974.html Lt.General Arif Hassan, of the Pakistan Army, Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/11/327548.html Prime Minister visits Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331554.html http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331575.html http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331596.html 'Overcoming Media Bias' Nottingham Student Peace Peace Conference
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/02/334602.html Student Peace Conference :: University of Nottingham
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/334976.html Die-In at Nottingham University to protest at un-ethical investments
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340171.html Sounds on the Downs,Nottingham University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348061.html http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348082.html ____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:
tash@gn.apc.org Web:
http://tash.gn.apc.org Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
Tash [alan lodge]
e-mail:
tash@indymedia.org
Homepage:
http://tash.gn.apc.org
Additions
Starbucks - Profiting from Torture
12.03.2007 12:52
In addition to the organised protests, some people made a visit to the nearest branch of Starbucks to highlight the company's support for the Guantanamo torture camp. After making several customers rather uncomfortable they were asked to leave by a member of staff who didn't believe that his employers would open a branch at Guantanamo Bay. Well here's what the company has to say:
"Starbucks does not physically operate a store or sell coffee to military troops on Guantanamo Bay; rather our coffee is served in dining facilities operated by Naval Supply (NASUP), headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia"
However, Starbucks also say that they "... refrain from taking a position on the legality of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay" and that "Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel."
They certainly aren't bothered about minor irritations like torture and detention without trial getting in the way of their profits. For people who, like the worker at Starbucks, don't know much about Guantanamo, here are some facts:-
There are approximately 460 prisoners held at Guantanamo, and about 300 others have been released (without charge) or transferred to other governments.
Inmates are classed as "enemy combatants" rather than prisoners of war (POWs) in order to evade the protections of the Geneva Convention.
According to the Administration, the prisoners in Guantanamo may never be granted a trial, either military or civil, and may be detained until the end of the war on terrorism (i.e. indefinitely).
There have been 41 'official' suicide attempts at the camp. Defense lawyers contend the number of suicide attempts is higher.
At times as many as 131 inmates have been on hunger strike. Force-feeding methods including the use of a restraint chair have been used to keep them alive.
No one in Guantanamo Bay has been convicted of an offence.
For information on other actions see the following links:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2006/10/354093.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/06/341924.html
"Starbucks does not physically operate a store or sell coffee to military troops on Guantanamo Bay; rather our coffee is served in dining facilities operated by Naval Supply (NASUP), headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia"
However, Starbucks also say that they "... refrain from taking a position on the legality of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay" and that "Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel."
They certainly aren't bothered about minor irritations like torture and detention without trial getting in the way of their profits. For people who, like the worker at Starbucks, don't know much about Guantanamo, here are some facts:-
There are approximately 460 prisoners held at Guantanamo, and about 300 others have been released (without charge) or transferred to other governments.
Inmates are classed as "enemy combatants" rather than prisoners of war (POWs) in order to evade the protections of the Geneva Convention.
According to the Administration, the prisoners in Guantanamo may never be granted a trial, either military or civil, and may be detained until the end of the war on terrorism (i.e. indefinitely).
There have been 41 'official' suicide attempts at the camp. Defense lawyers contend the number of suicide attempts is higher.
At times as many as 131 inmates have been on hunger strike. Force-feeding methods including the use of a restraint chair have been used to keep them alive.
No one in Guantanamo Bay has been convicted of an offence.
For information on other actions see the following links:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2006/10/354093.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/06/341924.html
IMCer
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
Good demo
11.03.2007 16:17
Nice of the police to check people there, next time they could be asking for our id
Maybe one day some of the police will help us arrest all the corporate war criminals in power & corporate stock marketeers who get roughly 1/2 trillion annually from heroin/smack according to ex DEA & narcotics officers.
Oh well I suppose all these wars & crack dealers allows your corporate bosses an excuse to boss you & everyone else around.
Hopefully next big demo in London Grovesnor square can be effectively occupied & maybe a few oil companies rather than just a swept up a to b march to please certain political factions who are in power.
Good on Alan Simpson for leaving labour party, although at the same time its nice to have someone like him or Byron arguing our point in parliment even if real power is with the corporate oligarchy.
robin ludd
Excellent Demonstration
11.03.2007 19:36
I just happened to be in Slab Square when this excellent demonstration came through.
Well done Nottingham University Amnesty International!
I think you should have done it right in front of the Council House.
Keep the pressure up!
John Shemeld
e-mail:
john_shemeld@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://nottmagainstwar.org.uk