Join LA area peace activists and organizations to come together and call for the closing of Guantanamo Prison Camp upon the 20^th anniversary since it opened by participating in 3 activities!

Hosted by: Cinema Libre Studio, ICUJP, LA Progressive

Endorsed by: Addicted to War, #CloseGuantanamo.org, Code Pink LA, Courage to Resist, Defending Rights and Dissent, National Lawyers Guild – LA, National Religious Campaign Against Torture and Witness Against Torture

** THREE ACTIVITIES **

#1 – 12:00 PST – IN PERSON: ICUJP “Close Guantanamo Now” Los Angeles rally @ DTLA Federal Bldg.

Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP) will hold its eleventh annual “Close Guantanamo Now” protest rally from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in front of the Downtown Los Angeles Federal Building at 300 N. Los Angeles St. (90012).

#2 – 5:00pm PST – ONLINE: Premiere preview of “I AM GITMO” a new feature film followed by a Panel Session with #CloseGuantanamo activists. (Worldwide)

DETAILS:

Sharon Kyle of LA Progressive to open event followed by filmmaker Philippe Diaz who will introduce “I AM GITMO”, a recently completed narrative feature, showing a 25 minute “world premiere preview”

SYNOPSIS: In Afghanistan, a Muslim school teacher is accused of involvement in 9/11 and transported Bagram Air Base and then to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is relentlessly interrogated and tortured.
Though the claims are false, he learns he can be held indefinitely due to his enemy combatant status and his interrogators’ testimony will decide his fate. (Featuring Sammy Sheikh and Eric Pierpoint.)

Based on true events, although not the story of a specific prisoner, the film is unrated with graphic scenes of realistic torture.

Panel Session (60 minutes) to follow moderated by Jon Krampner (ICUJP) featuring:

• Michael Rapkin, Guantanamo Lawyer
• John Kiriakou, CIA Whistleblower
• Philippe Diaz, Cinema Libre Studio/I AM GITMO

>> OPEN TO ATTENDEES WORLDWIDE! Register: http://tiny.cc/IAMGITMO

#3 – 7:00pm PST – ONLINE: NORTH AMERICAN SNEAK PREVIEW of GUANTANAMO DIARY REVISITED (52 minutes) + Q&A to follow!

Synopsis: Following his best-selling book, “Guantanamo Diary”, which describes his decade of imprisonment and torture at Guantanamo Bay, Mohamedou Ould Slahi sets out to find his torturers with journalist/filmmaker John Goetz. Slahi, who was imprisoned in the aftermath of 9/11 and accused of being part of Al-Queda although never proven guilty, wants to take revenge – by inviting them for tea. Slahi seeks to forgive his former tormentors but each of them, including the mysterious Mr X, will have a different reaction.

The documentary was featured on Ira Glass’ “This American Life” radio program (under the title In Search of Monsters) and has been acquired by Cinema Libre Studio for North American distribution in March 2022.

Discussion to follow (30 minutes)

> Due to rights, the film will only be available to stream for US & Canadian audiences.
Register: http://tiny.cc/IAMGITMO

Watch a preview of GUANTANAMO DIARIES REVISITED here.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP CLOSE GUANTANAMO?

PROMOTE THIS EVENT – share the graphics above and use #CLOSEGUANTANAMO #IAMGITMO or re-share from @IAmGitmoFIlm on Instagram and Facebook.

JOIN THE TWITTER STORM ON MONDAY JANUARY 10^th – search for #GITMO20 and lend your voice to the movement!

WRITE A LETTER to President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and Anthony Blinken,  U.S. Secretary of State.
Find an example HERE from the Center for Constitutional Rights.