A time comes when silence is betrayal . . . We must speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak. For we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness so close around us.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture
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Press Release
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 FOR MORE INFORMATION: 202-363-3928
(Washington, D.C.) Over 200 people from various religious denominations and organizations demonstrated today in front of the White House against the President's signing into law the Military Commissions Act. Sponsored by the Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture (WRRCAT), the participants held what they called a "People's Signing Ceremony" outside the White House as the President conducted the official signing ceremony with Members of Congress inside the White House.
"Our signing statement rejects this legislation," Linda Gustitus, Chair of WRRCAT, said to the crowd. "It rejects its acceptance of torture, unlimited detention, secret prisons, unaccountable acts of cruelty, and sham hearing procedures. . . We, as people of faith, are here to tell the President and the world that these dark times in our nation's history, while real, are also temporary--because we will work unceasingly to repeal this immoral legislation and to stop U.S.-sponsored torture and the denial of due process forever."
The demonstrators heard from religious leaders and a victim of torture; led by a choir, the demonstrators sang religious and patriotic songs; and after participants signed the People's Signing Statement, the demonstrators tried to deliver the statement to the President at the White House gate. The White House guards refused to accept the statement, asked the demonstrators to disperse, and arrested 16 demonstrators who refused to do so.
Speakers included:
- Reverend Scott Alexander, Senior Minister, River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD
- Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, Maryland; Rabbis for Human Rights; National Religious Campaign Against Torture
- Reverend Dr. Janet Parker, Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, Arlington, VA
- Orlando Tizon, a torture victim with the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition
- Bill Goodman, Legal Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
- A letter of support from Bishop John Bryson Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C.
WRRCAT is a multi-faith organization dedicated to ending all U.S.-sponsored torture. It formed earlier this year as an affiliate of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). Both organizations were strongly opposed to passage of the Military Commissions Act. Please see the Web sites for further information: www.wrrcat.org and www.nrcat.org.
Click here for a copy of The People's Signing Statement, signed by the demonstrators and presented to the White House.
Photos are available and can be freely used. Click here.