US human rights groups demand closure of Guantanamo prison

A coalition of human rights groups are joining with others across the world to mark the 11th anniversary of the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Activists are protesting the human rights violations they say Guantanamo represents, including torture, detention without charge and Islamophobia.

Organizers are calling for the immediate closure of Guantanamo Bay prison and they’re demanding that government officials be held accountable for torture and other abuses.

Protesters say they’re angered by U-S President Barack Obama’s failure to close the prison, despite making the promise to do so during his first campaign.

And they say the voters failed to hold the President accountable when he ran for re-election.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California says illegal detentions go beyond the borders of Guantanamo.

The group filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles officials, claiming that authorities were illegally detaining people in the basement of the Federal Building.

Protesters say Americans need to stop allowing government officials to violate human rights.

The coalition is also pushing the city to reject the National Defense Authorization Act.

They want the city to oppose the prospect of indefinite military detention without trial for people on American soil.

(2013-01-12/.presstv)