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photo gallery - 13 January 2007
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On the afternoon of Jan 13th, 2007, to mark the 5th year that "war on terror" detainees have been imprisoned with only ten
people charged and noone tried, a group of activists gathered on Union Square to engage people in San Francisco's
shopping district on the question of what to do about persistent U.S. torture and indefinite detention, at
Guantanamo and elsewhere. Act Against Torture, Amnesty International, the American Friends Service Committee, and
the Presente! affinity group co-sponsored the participatory-protest.
Also see more photos on
IndyBay and AAT's video via IndyBay & YouTube
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We arrived around 12:30 to begin setting-up. People walking up Geary street started to
get interested in what was going on as soon as Act Against Torture's cage had been assembled.
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Of course, there were a fair few shoppers & tourists who couldn't be bothered
to take a leaflet...
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Two jumpsuited and hooded prisoners on the Geary-Stockton stairs created a striking
tableau.
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Many passers-by took leaflet and donned ribbons to express their commitment to take
concrete action to end the United States' government practices of torture and
indefinite detention.
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A chorus of activists read out a litany of torture practices for which the U.S. government
has been responsible.
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Radio and television media showed up to check out the scene. A representative of Amnesty International's
local office spoke with a reporter from KCBS radio.
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The Brass Liberation Orchestra participated, setting the tone on the Geary Stockton stairs.
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Kneeling prisoners were guarded by an activist in camoflage a few steps up from where the BLO played to the crowd.
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Meanwhile, kitty-corner from Union Square, activists passed out orange ribbons and leaflets
outside the Neiman-Marcus department store.
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Toward the end of the afternoon's protest, orange-clad activists swarmed the corner of
Geary and Stockton Streets, passing out the last of our leaflets and orange ribbons.
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The cage moved to the Geary / Stockton stairs for a change of tableau...
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In the end, thousands of San Franciscans and visitors to the city were encouraged to
act against torture.
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