Miami activists to rally at U.S. Southern Command to demand closure of Guantanamo Bay prison

Miami, FL – On June 25, at 5 p.m., protesters will take to the streets of Doral, Florida in front of U.S. Southern Command to demand that Trump shut down the torture prison at Guantanamo Bay once and for all. The march coincides with the International Day in Solidarity with Victims of Torture and will mark the 15th year since the first detainees were sent to the U.S. prison facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Since then, 779 men have been sent to Guantanamo Bay without trial and have been jailed without ever having been officially charged with any crime.

During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump repeatedly expressed a desire to expand the U.S. use of torture and to keep open the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, saying that he would “load it up with bad dudes.” This would reverse the trend started under President Obama, whereby a slow stream of prisoners has been released, bringing the population of the camp down to 41. At the same time, President Trump has intensified U.S. military strikes in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen – plunging the region further into chaos.

On June 25, the people of South Florida will march alongside activists travelling from around the state and beyond to say “No to Trump’s torture agenda.” The starting point is NW 36th Street and NW 87th Ave at 5 p.m. followed by a march to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) at 9301 NW 33rd Street, Doral, FL 33172.

The People’s Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR), CODEPINK-Miami, Progressive Democrats of America–Miami, Broward Green Party, War Vs. Human Needs, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), SOA Watch South Florida, National Lawyers Guild South Florida Chapter, Veterans for Peace Miami, Al-Awda South Florida, and local community members will participate in the protest.