Report filed by Frida Berrigan and Thomas Good
(Click on the image thumbnail to see a larger version)

Three of the activists arrested identified themselves to police as "Manei Shaman Turki al-Habadi", "Yasser Talal al-Zahrani" and "Ali Abdullah Ahmed" (three men who committed suicide at Guantanamo on June 10, 2006).

Undeterred by inclement weather, more than 60 people marched in a solemn procession from the United Nations to the US mission to the United Nations. Carrying signs that read Shut Down Guantanamo, the group marked the United Nations Day for the Victims of Torture. The procession, which included rabbis, priests, nuns, college students and human rights activists, was led by a cage on wheels representing the Guantanamo prison cells in which over 400 men remain, some for more than 4 years.

The day began with a bit of rain for the anti-torture activists
clad in Witness Against Torture's trademark orange t-shirts.

Mike Dorn (orange shirt) - studying to be a Maryknoll priest,
and drummer Jeremy Varon - author of Bringing the War Home.

Marchers begin a solemn procession out of Dag Hammarskjold
Plaza (opposite the UN - 47th street and First Avenue)

Some of the marchers wore the infamous orange prison jumpsuits
and black hoods - including this activist in the "cage on wheels".

Bill Steyert, of Veterans for Peace and the War Resisters League,
marches to end the use of torture as a foreign policy instrument.

The column approaches the US Mission to the United Nations
(45th street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington)...

Upon arrival, Witness Against Torture - a Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo - moderated a press conference in which distinguished religious leaders, legal experts and the nephew of a Guantanamo prisoner addressed Ambassador John Bolton directly, calling on him to heed international demands to shut down Guantanamo. The press conference was co-sponsored by Riverside Church, Rabbis for Human Rights and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Father Daniel Berrigan, who recently turned 85 years old,
speaks in the courtyard outside the US Mission.

Police and press look on as speaker after speaker
calls on Ambassador Bolton to renounce torture.

Longtime War Resister and Socialist Party member
David McReynolds addresses the crowd.

"Yasser Talal al-Zahrani" in the doorway of the
building that houses the Mission...

Immediately following the press conference, twenty five of those gathered sent a strong message- to end torture, stop indefinite detention and shut down Guantanamo- to the US Ambassador to the UN by blocking the doors of the building; saying they would stay until the international consensus against these illegal acts is respected, heard and acted upon.

(left to right, rear): Brian Kavanaugh (Catholic Worker)
Geraldine Buchman, Dana Brown and Earl Kooperkamp.

(left to right): Ben Maurer (SDS), "Ali Abdullah Ahmed",
"Yasser Talal al-Zahrani" and Father Dan Berrigan.

A police lieutenant reads from a cue card, announcing
the NYPD's intent to press disorderly conduct charges.

TARU (Technical Assistance Response Unit) Cops tape
"for training purposes"...

NLN Audio Clip: Click HERE for the police announcement and the crowd's response.

While the activists were removed after 20 minutes, a new page in the movement to shut down Guantanamo was turned. Three of those arrested took on the names of men who died at Guantanamo - reportedly by suicide - on June 10, 2006. "With humility and sadness that I commit this act of nonviolent civil disobedience as Ali Abdullah Ahmed," said one of those who refused to give his own name. "Ali was 29 and originally from Yemen. Despite being held for 4 long years, no US judge ever heard his case. It is our intention to bring his name, and the names of Manei Shaman Turki al-Habadi and Yasser Talal al-Zahrani, into the US criminal justice system in the hopes that no more men die or are killed before justice and mercy are shown."

TARU looks on as 87 year old Frances Crowe is flexcuffed.

Manhattan South Task Force cops hold back the media.

"Ali Abdullah Ahmed" and "Yasser Talal al-Zahrani" are cuffed
and removed from the entrance to the Mission.

"Manei Shaman Turki al-Habadi" - laying on the ground,
using the classic nonviolent tactic of "going limp".

"Manei Shaman Turki al-Habadi" is carried off.

Earl Kooperkamp is steered toward the waiting police vans...

Ben Maurer is led away...

TARU watches uniforms cuff a hooded torture victim.

The poet-priest was once asked: "How many times have you
arrested for peace Father Berrigan?"

He answered: "Obviously not enough."
Behind Fr. Berrigan - Tom Feagley.

Bud Courtney of Catholic Worker.

Anna Brown (Kairos Community) and Anne Montegomery.

The last activist to be arrested was Todd Eaton...

of New York Protest and SDS

Bud waits for his ride to the 7th Precinct.

Todd

"For you cannot set up a court in the Kingdom of the Blind, to condemn those who see; a court presided over by those who would pluck out the eyes of men and call it rehabilitation."
- Daniel Berrigan (Trial of the Catonsville Nine)

Witness Against Torture began as a walk to visit the prisoners in Guantanamo in December. Twenty four U.S. Catholics walked more than 100 kilometers to resist the war on terrorism and respond to its victims. Upon return, along with countless others, they initiated a National Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo. For more information, visit: www.witnesstorture.org

Released at last: Bud Courtney and Ben Maurer

In all, 25 were arrested: 16 brothers and 9 sisters. Most were charged with Disorderly Conduct and given Desk Appearance Tickets - to be arraigned in late July. Arrested at approximately 1:00, they were slowly processed at the 7th Precinct. Three of the activists - "Manei Shaman Turki al-Habadi", "Yasser Talal al-Zahrani" and "Ali Abdullah Ahmed" - were taken to the Tombs for arraignment. Manei was charged with resisting arrest. The last arrestee to be processed at the 7th PCT was released shortly before 11:30 PM, weary but ready to continue the Struggle.