Viatorians Kneel in Solidarity with Guantanamo Prisoners
1/13/2012

It was a living memorial, of sorts, as Viatorians knelt with other activists in front of the Federal Courthouse in Chicago, reciting names of prisoners still detained at the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba.

Exactly 10 years ago, the Bush administration opened the facility to hold 20 detainees from the Afghan and Iraq wars. Over the years, it has held hundreds of suspected terrorists and Al Qaeda members, and come into scrutiny because of its water boarding tactics. Currently, 171 remain detained, and are considered to be in legal limbo.

“The United States has lost a significant part of its moral fiber,” says Fr. Thomas Long, CSV. “Torture not only diminishes the tormenter and victim, it degrades everyone who condones it.”

Worldwide, the 10th anniversary of the opening Guantanamo Bay drew protests from the White House to Miami, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as in Paris, Toronto, Madrid, Berlin, London and Brussels.

Viatorian priests and brothers partnered in Chicago with officials from Amnesty International, the 8th Day Center for Justice, the White Rose Catholic Worker, and the World Can’t Wait, in mounting the protest.

“The Viatorian commitment to ending torture dovetails with our mission of standing with those who are accounted of little importance,” Fr. Long adds. “This would include the victims of torture.”