Andy Worthington – events

My report, with photos, of the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Closing the Guantánamo Detention Facility, attended by former prisoner Mohamedou Ould Slahi and his former guard Steve Wood, and the three screenings of ‘The Mauritanian’ that followed, in Buckinghamshire and Brighton, at which I joined Mohamedou and Steve for Q&A sessions.

My photos of, and my report about the inspiring four-day protest, ‘The Big One’, in London on April 21-24, initiated by Extinction Rebellion but with the support of over 200 other organisations. I applaud the efforts to create a wider climate movement, whilst also recognising the impact that can be achieved through disruptive tactics, and I question on what basis mainstream media broadcasters thought it was appropriate to behave as though this astonishing gathering of climate activists wasn’t newsworthy.

Announcing the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Closure of Guantánamo on Monday April 24, co-chaired by Layla Moran (Lib Dem) and Chris Law (SNP), and with members (MPs and peers) from the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Green Party. Also attending will be former prisoner Mohamedou Ould Slahi, and his former guard Steve Wood, and Mohamedou, Steve and I will also be attending screenings of ‘The Mauritanian’, the feature film about Mohamedou’s imprisonment and torture, on April 25, 26 and 28.

Photos from, and my report about the eight coordinated global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that took place on April 5, 2023 in London, Washington, D.C., New York, Mexico City, Brussels, Los Angeles, Raleigh, NC and Cobleskill, NY. The ongoing vigils take place on the first Wednesday of every month, and, as well as calling for the closure of the prison, also highlight the plight of the 17 men still held (out of 31 in total) who have been approved for release but have no idea when, if ever, they will actually be freed.

Photos of, and my report about the coordinated global vigils for the closure of Guantánamo that took place on March 8, 2023 in London, Washington, D.C. New York and Mexico City. As it was also International Women’s Day, Victoria Brittain, Yvonne Ridley and Kate Hudson of CND spoke at the London vigil, and this article also includes the text of the powerful and poignant speech made by Victoria Brittain.

Videos of myself and Sara Birch, the convenor of the UK Guantánamo Network, speaking at the rally for the closure of Guantánamo in Trafalgar Square on Jan. 14, 2023, marking the 21st anniversary of the opening of Guantánamo, after campaigners had marched in orange jumpsuits from the Houses of Parliament, and up Whitehall via 10 Downing Street.

My photos of, and report about an inspiring march and rally for the closure of Guantánamo in central London on January 14, 2023, organised by the UK Guantánamo Network, a coalition of groups including a number of Amnesty International groups and the Close Guantánamo campaign. Also included is a statement by former prisoner Omar Deghayes, which was read out at the rally.

Video of the New America panel discussion, “Guantánamo at Twenty-One: What is the Future of the Prison Camp?”, an online panel discussion held by New America on Jan. 11, 2023, the 21st anniversary of the opening of the prison, featuring Tom Wilner, Karen Greenberg and myself.

Events marking the 21st anniversary of the opening of Guantánamo, on Jan. 11, including online events that I’m taking part in in the US and the UK, and a march and rally in London. A particular focus this year is the shameful situation faced by the 20 men (out of 35 in total) who have been approved for release but are still held.

With the government of Liz Truss in chaos, having crashed the economy, but still committed to widening inequality and trashing the environment, there’s never been a better time to get involved in protests taking place in London from October 1 to October 16, involving Just Stop Oil, Enough Is Enough, the UK Guantánamo Network, the Don’t Extradite Assange campaign, and Extinction Rebellion.