Follow-up on TASSC Talk on Torture

On this past Tuesday, Demissie A. Gebremedhin, director of Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC), gave an informative and sobering talk on torture and the disturbing policy of the Bush administration policy to justify torture as an acceptable interrogation method. The mission of TASSC is to "end the practice of torture wherever it occurs and to empower survivors, their families and communities wherever they are." TASSC is an important moral voice against torture, which can never be justified. You can find additional information about TASSC at their web site, http://www.tassc.org/. The talk was sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group.

January 11 is the 6th year anniversary of Guantanamo and "marks six years of torture, detention and abuse at Guantánamo." We invite you to join with TASSC and other peace groups in calling for shutting down Guantanamo, repealing the Military Commissions Act, restoring Habeas Corpus, and charging or releasing all detainees. The Military Commissions Act (MCA) "rejects the right to a speedy trial and allows a trial to continue in the absence of the accused" and most disturbing, "permits coercive interrogations and torture." Please see the web site http://www.witnesstorture.org/ for more information on the campaign to close Guantanamo. One action you can take is to contact Senator Kennedy, http://kennedy.senate.gov/, Senator Kerry, http://kerry.senate.gov/ , and Representative Lynch, http://www.house.gov/lynch/index.shtml and express your opinion.