Inside the Federal Courthouse
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| On January 11th, 2007, five years after the first prisoners were brought to Guantanamo, 89 people occupied the U.S. District Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. Here, several hold a banner: "Justice for Guantanamo Prisoners." |
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| At 12:30 p.m., activists gathered in the courthouse atrium, revealed their "Shut Down Guantanamo; Stop Torture" t-shirts, unfurled banners, and began to hold a prayer service. The group read passages from Isaiah and the Koran as well as prisoners' names and stories. U.S. Marshals gathered quickly, as did many courthouse employees who watched from the bridges and the atrium floor. |
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| Each person carried the identity of a Guantanamo detainee, intending to give that name if arrested instead of his/her own. In that way the group hoped to finally get those names into court, even if only symbolically. Here, in orange: Omar Degheyes, Shardar Khan, and Saleh Mohamed Al Zuba. |
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| During the prayer service. "For five years these men have been detained without trials; in many cases without access to lawyers or to their families; without hearing the charges against them. Many are being tortured; three have committed suicide. Bring them to the United States, try them in a court of law, and free those who are found innocent. Five years is too long!" |
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| Marshals told the group that the chief justice would allow them to continue their presence in the courthouse atrium--if they would all remove their t-shirts and put down the banners. They refused, and went on with the prayer service. Here, the marshals begin making arrests. |
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| All 89 were arrested, held in the courthouse basement for eight hours, then released with citations for disorderly conduct. |
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| Looking out the courthouse window: Abdulah Alhamiri |