I think the rest of the family is doing okay too. We didn't have monthly dinners like we had planned so, we still see each other as often as before which isn't often at all. In other words, back to normal.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
6 Months Later
It's been six months since dad passed away. All the footage and photos of his funeral are still sitting on a flash drive somewhere. I still can't sleep in my bed, but the hallucinations stopped. I know he is gone and that is the reality of it. He's not on a vacation and I'm used to the idea that he's never coming back. Time has made it easier. Mom is doing better. I think she still misses him and is lonely, but I think the time has come soon where I should move. I think she'll be okay.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 9
Photograph by Justin Norman
Almost a thousand people gathered today in Lafayette Park in Washington D.C. from all over the country and world to mark the 10th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay. It was the largest action against the detention center since its opening in 2002.
The actions began at noon today. I spent the day live streaming so unfortunately, I don't have any photos to share to you from me. Just five minutes before the rally began at noon, it started lightly raining, but that did not stop us.
You can watch the entire live stream here:
Feeling pretty good today despite having had only 3 hours of sleep last night because my mind was racing with thoughts of what to get done today, or because of the lack of nutrients to the brain. Brain is working not too disjointed today.
We still have another day of protesting to go as do the men in cell blocks 5&6. Judith Kelly, Carmen Trotta, and Brian Hynes receive their sentencing and make their sentencing statements tomorrow morning. We break our fast at 6PM.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 8
After morning planning we processed at the White House. An obnoxious man in his 40's mocked us, "Detainees, kneel. Detainees, do my laundry..." On another day at the court house a woman walked by us and said to each member, "Loser." Another guy stated, "What the fuck? Look at all these fucking losers." I wonder if we weren't hooded if these people would have the gall to utter such insults. 
After the White House vigil, I took another shift which introduced us to 72 hours. A group of about five guys in their 20s walked by in suits. Chris asked them if they are part of a religious affiliation. They laughed and said, "Do we look like we are?" I said, "Sensors," referring to the Myers/Briggs system of personality typing.
Sensing: Paying attention to physical reality, what I see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. I'm concerned with what is actual, present, current and real. I notice facts and remember details that are important to me. I like to see the practical use of things and learn best when I see how to use what I'm learning. Experience speaks louder to me than words.
I was making a connection between people who don't seem to care about human rights being mostly sensors. (73% of the population have a preference towards sensing vs. intuition) Chris and I are also both perceivers and I pointed at our sloppy appearance. Chris said, "Do you think if we were dressed in suits and were more put-together more people would speak with us?" I said, "Maybe, but I'm not willing to do that. It's like how work places have dress codes. Because I look successful, does not mean that I will feel more powerful inside. The clothes I buy will not make me richer either. I don't care enough about my appearances for this to make a difference to me."
Next on the agenda, I headed over to watch Andy Worthington's documentary, "Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo" and to listen to a Q&A of he three Center for Constitutional Rights attorneys. They stated that the detainees express to them great gratitude for protests that people do than the legal work they provide them. I was very happy when I heard this morning that an attorney had communicated with the prisoners in cell blocks 5 and 6 of the 350+protests being globally planned and of the fast with Witness Against Torture. In solidarity, the prisoners planned a sit-in and hunger strike for the 10th, 11th, and 12.
Tomorrow is the big day, where I will be sending a livestream of our actions. The feed is also automatically archived.
www.livecast.com/witnesstorture
We need 25,000 signatures in order for a response to a draft to be mandatory. Please sign here:
Monday, January 9, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 7
The 7th day of fasting began at 7A.M at the Pentagon as people walked into work. A poem written by Shakir Aamer and his biography was spoken out loud on the intercom. Shakir is a Saudi Arabian citizen currently being held indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay since 2001. He initiated the first hunger strike at Guantanamo and has spending most of his confinement in solitary confinement as a result. He has lost half of his body weight.
They Fight for Peace
Peace, they say.
Peace of mind?
Peace on earth?
Peace of what kind?
I see them talking, arguing, fighting- What kind of peace are they looking for?
Why do they kill?
What are they planning?
Is it just talk?
Why do they argue?
Is it so simple to kill?
Is it their plan?
Yes, of course!
They talk, they argue, they kill- They fight for peace.
We completed 48 hours of the 92-hour vigil and have had two group discussions whether or not it's in our best interest to continue the vigil, taking into consideration peoples' health. The shifts are being fulfilled as of now and we continue. There were flurries today and tonight. The streets were closed and the cage had to be moved from the property. We rushed to the scene to assist our friends. The cage was positioned back to the Pennsylvania Avenue after President Obama returned from a fundraiser.
I am happy to announce that over 300 actions are being planned globally to protest the 10th anniversary of Guantanamo.
I close this blog with an article from a torture survivor, Murat Kurnaz:
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 6
I slept all day after taking the 1AM - 4AM shift at the 92-hour vigil. Did not participate in any actions. Went to the screening of Taxi to the Dark Side at Radical Space D.C. where we had a Q&A afterwards and invited people from Occupy D.C. There was a former military police there who ran outside during the documentary to vomit.
Video of Witness Against Torture group discussion on Taxi to the Dark Side
WAT also confront John McCain during a press conference in the morning.
Reflections from WAT:
An article from a Guantanamo Bay survivor:
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 5
On day five we moved from Holy Trinity back to St. Stephen's in the morning for action planning where Justin fell asleep.
The 24 hour vigil team decided that we would start the vigils today at 4P.M. with groups of three. One person would be under a hood inside the cage and the others would be making contact with the public, leafleting. After action plan meeting we constructed the cage at Freedom Plaza where we proceed to process from there to the Washington Monument and final destination: The White House.
The 24 hour vigil team decided that we would start the vigils today at 4P.M. with groups of three for five days, thus making it 92 hours. One person would be under a hood inside the cage and the others would be making contact with the public, leafleting. We handed out almost 1,000 leaflets. After action plan meeting we constructed the cage at Freedom Plaza where we proceed to process from there to the Washington Monument and final destination: The White House.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Fast for Justice 2012: Day 4
Before we went to court I found this flower bed outside our church. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps a decorative kale, but it looks delicious.
The jury returned after less than an hour of deliberation. Judith Kelly - guilty of disorderly conduct for expressing grievances towards Guantanamo Bay and the NDAA bill to congress. Michael Levenson was the only 3 of 4 who received his sentencing today. The prosecution would like to receive some time to research the criminal backgrounds. Prosecution wanted to charge Michael with 30 days jail time, six months unsupervised probation, not to be allowed on capitol grounds for a year and 150 hours community service. It is mandatory in D.C. for all guilty defendants to pay $50 to the Victims of Violence Trust Fund. The judge issued Michael 15 hours community service, 2 days incarceration which he suspended, six months unsupervised probation, and no illegal activity for a year.
While the court was in break, we wrote letters to Guantanamo Bay detainees. For a list of current detainees and address visit:
After court, we returned to homebase for an afternoon vigil to take advantage of the spring weather. We broke into teams of 4-12 people to vigil to the White House, Department of Justice, Lafayette Park, and Supreme Court . My group went to the Supreme Court. The police were not warned of our presence, so naturally they questioned us and blocked the street in some situations.
Processing to the Supreme Court
Standing next to my friends at the Superior Court
The doctor came today. My blood pressure is 110/80. Physically good. Sleeping well too. Last night I dreamt I was stuck inside a cheeseburger. I realized I had this dream because I need to sleep with my sleeping bag unzipped.
Random thoughts of the night: Why is music so sad? What will ever fix this gash? So much beauty I capture in the world with cameras, so much sorrow I feel inside. I'm homesick for my childhood.
Notes from Day 4:
http://2012.witnesstorture.org/2012_dayfour
A note from Andy Worthington:
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