January 11th 2008 Witness Against Torture - Chicago
CHICAGO – January 11 — 10 arrests were made at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago.
A Citizens’ Indictment was delivered to Chief Judge Holderman seeking relief for violations of international and domestic law by the United States and the City of Chicago. Specifically, the Indictment cited the use of torture by the United States in the so-called “global war on terror” and by the City of Chicago Police Department for its systematic practice of torture between 1971 and 1993, and on-going abuse of individuals.
The arrests were made as those who presented the Citizens’ Indictment read the names of detainees held by the United States at Guantanamo and the names of survivors of torture at the hands of the Chicago Police Department.
The action was one of over 75 international actions which call for the closure of Guantanamo and other prisons used by the U.S. in the “war on terror” and which called for the granting of the “writ of habeas corpus” to those detained by the United States since September 11, 2001 in the so-called “global war on terror”.
Those arrested include: Kathy Kelly Laurie Hasbrook Gerald Paoli Jeff Leys Erin Cox Ron Durham Tony Hintze Andrew Shantz Will Tanzman Cassandra Dixon
The ten people were arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the lobby of the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago—nine on a federal charge of failure to conform with directions. Ron Durham was turned over to the Chicago Police Department on a state charge of trespass after he declined to walk when placed under arrest.
More information on the International Days of Action can be found at the website of Witness Against Torture
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