[R-G] Peace Activists Protest Torture In Front Of CIA

[Anthony Fenton]

Peace Activists Protest Torture In Front Of CIA
Friday, 11 January 2008, 10:29 am
Press Release: Washington Peace Center
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00120.htm

Protesting Torture in Front of the CIA

January 10: On Thursday morning activists affiliated with the  
Washington Peace Center and others held a vigil outside the main  
gates of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia.

"We are here as citizen witnesses speaking out as reports continue to  
reveal the role of the CIA in the rendition of people who are  
clandestinely abducted, held without charge, denied access to lawyers  
or loved ones, abused, and tortured in places like Guantanamo and  
Bagram in Afghanistan..." said Malachy Kilbride, Washington Peace  
Center board president.

News reports have divulged that the CIA has covered up its role in  
the possible use of the torture technique known as water-boarding by  
destroying video evidence against apparent congressional opposition.

"I'm so tired of the illegal activities that the government is doing.  
I feel it is my responsibility to come from Wisconsin to stand with  
others against the illegal and immoral activities of this  
government..." said Joy First who traveled from Madison, Wisc., to  
participate in the CIA vigil and the January 11 International Day To  
Shut Down Guantanamo.

Articles in The Washington Post have recently reported that Democrat  
and Republican congressional leaders were aware that detainees have  
been water-boarded and have supported it for years.

"The government proclaims torture is acceptable and necessary and  
that is its humans rights policy..." said Louis Wolf, of Covert  
Action Quarterly, and that he attended the vigil "...to also pay  
homage to Philip Agee who died this past Monday." Agee was the former  
CIA official who revealed the role of the CIA in the overthrow of  
governments in several Latin American countries and the agencies  
complicity in and practice of torture.

Those attending the vigil at the CIA expressed personal reasons for  
their presence at the gates. Pete Perry of Washington Peace Center  
said he was there because "I know several torture survivors and that  
I am representing them at the gates of this nefarious institution."

"I came to the CIA this morning to support our brothers who are being  
tortured in mind and spirit" stated Eve Tetaz of Washington DC.

Both Democrats and Republican congressional leaders have also been  
given CIA tours of places like Guantanamo where some detainee lawyers  
have said their clients are abused and have been tortured.

Washington Peace Center activists will participate in the Friday  
January 11 "International Day To Shut Down Guantanamo" protests  
organized by Witness Against Torture.

"Whether it is the US-run Guantanamo Bay concentration camp, places  
like Bagram, or secret black sites supported by the CIA people must  
openly and actively dissent against these illegal and immoral  
policies of our government. I hope people will join in the  
International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo, places like it, and end  
torture forever" said Kilbride of the peace center.

The Washington Peace Center organized a vigil which closed the main  
gates of the CIA during Torture Awareness Month in June of 2007. It  
was the first time in almost 20 years the gates had been closed by  
activists.

The Washington Peace Center supports the International Day To Shut  
Down Guantanamo and urges people to come to Washington DC to  
participate on January 11 or to organize events and actions in their  
own communities.

ENDS