No More Guantanamos is a left-of-center activist organization that supports the closure of the detention camp for captured terrorism suspects at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 1 The group also supports the release of some of these detainees into the United States 2 3 and has said that the legal status of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon as “crimes” or “acts of war” “can be debated.” 4
No More Guantanamos has called for the dismantling and abolition of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claiming it serves as a “weaponized proxy for white supremacy.” 5
The group also operates the Guantanamo Survivors Fund, which solicits donations to provide financial support for detainees who have been released from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. 6
History and Leadership
No More Guantanamos was founded in 2009 7 and granted tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2010. 8 The organization was founded in response the Obama administration’s failure to close the detention camp for captured terrorism suspects at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, despite then-President Barack Obama having promised to do so as a candidate. 9
Nancy Talanian is the founder, director, and treasurer of No More Guantanamos. 10 Previously, she was the founder and director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee 11 and has organized in support of Defending Rights and Dissent. 12 13
Bruce Miller is the president of No More Guantanamos. 14 He is on the advisory board of the Western Massachusetts ACLU and is a trustee of the left-of-center Rosenberg Fund for Children. 15
During the presidency of Donald Trump, Miller and Talanian claimed that if they did not resist Trump administration efforts to expand the Guantanamo detention facility then “free citizenship essential to democracy will effectively disappear.” 16
Activities and Funding
No More Guantanamos is a coalition of U.S. residents, organizations, and attorneys who advocate for the closure of the detention camp for captured terrorism suspects at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 17 The group supports the release of Guantanamo detainees into the United States 18 19 and has said that disputing the legal status of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon as crimes or acts of war “can be debated.” 20 It has previously advocated in support of detainees at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan 21 and called for the dismantling and abolition of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claiming the department serves as a “weaponized proxy for white supremacy.” 22 The group has advocated for the Obama administration, 23 Trump administration, 24 and Biden administration to close the Guantanamo detention facility. 25
On January 11, 2023, No More Guantanamos organized a rally and march that called for President Joe Biden to close the prison and free all remaining detainees. 26 Also in 2023, the Berkeley, California, No More Guantanamos chapter organized a rally demanding the closure of Guantanamo Bay with Code Pink San Francisco Bay Area, Progressive Democrats of America Oakland, Triple Justice, environmentalist activist group Extinction Rebellion Peace, and others. 27
In 2022, the group attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for allegedly building his political career on vilifying American Muslims with Islamophobic rhetoric and as well as his criticisms of “woke-ism.” 28
In 2015, No More Guantanamos signed a letter along with Amnesty International USA, Center for Constitutional Rights, Code Pink, Council on American Islam Relations (CAIR), Veterans for Peace, and others in support of the release of Guantanamo detainees in the U.S. who have been approved for transfer but cannot go to their home country. 29
No More Guantanamos also connects human rights groups with Guantanamo detainees and their attorneys, 30 publishes a newsletter and blog about Guantanamo Bay, 31 and provides financial support to former Guantanamo detainees through the No More Guantanamos Survivors Fund. 32 33
The organization has chapters in Berkeley, California; 34 Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts; New York, New York; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Tallahassee, Florida. 35
No More Guantanamos Survivors Fund
No More Guantanamos also operates the Guantanamo Survivors Fund, which was founded in 2022 and provides financial support for former detainees who have been released from the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility. No More Guantanamos solicits donations for the fund and works with Witness Against Torture, the Muslim Counterpublics Lab, Healing and Recovery After Trauma (HeaRT), and others on the project. 36
As of April 2023, the Guantanmo Survivors Fund has committed more than $55,000 in aid to former detainees of Guantanmo and their families. 37 The fund has helped former detainees make rent payments and car payments and pay other expenses including food, apartment support, travel assistance, and prosthetic supplies. 38
References
- MacDougall, Alexander. “Northampton rallygoers to Biden: It’s time to close Gitmo.” Daily Hampshire Gazette. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.gazettenet.com/Residents-make-the-case-for-the-closure-of-Guantanamo-49511643.
- [1] “Leverett (MA) Town Meeting Approves Resolution to Welcome Cleared Guantanamo Detainees.” No More Guantanamos. April 24, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/leverett-ma-town-meeting-approves-resolution-welcome-cleared-guantanamo-detainees.
- “Guantanamo Uighurs Are Not Alone; US Community Welcomes Other Detainees Who Cannot Safely Be Repatriated.” No More Guantanamos. April 21, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/guantanamo-uighurs-are-not-alone-us-community-welcomes-other-detainees-who-cannot.
- “Frequently Asked Questions.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/learn/frequently-asked-questions.
- “Facebook Post.” No More Guantanamos Facebook. Posted March 8, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/nogitmos/posts/pfbid02Z5e1uj3uTzNuizjNQB1aWXG1fshe4oHSEkkKEebRDA6XS8qE4UBKiwFvzW8obow6l?__cft__[0]=AZVZtvf9x2hQHBt5deCAN7Sue1XKb-D7t0qSNnj6n4OdVmsI8XM2vBBIpPo_gY-b6xuxownwL_Ilj4Rgg8uAA45MXnHmnUWx86k6EliFxiAorUOdj35RVNg7YITNNUa887_oya5h0LA_G__1OArhYD5uj1VwRJjWVRX_8azeM-HhZHGMkpTo5AdUlMrowqmPxuRdQ-zZ-B5siJzzZRYfnIIB&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- “Give to the Guantanamo Survivors Fund.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023.
- “Local Activists to Mark 21 Years of Torture and Injustice at Guantanamo.” No More Guantanamos. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2023-01/local-activists-mark-21-years-torture-and-injustice-guantanamo.
- “Determination Letter.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. October 27, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_27-0540530_NOMOREGUANTANAMOSINC_09252009_01.tif.
- MacDougall, Alexander. “Northampton rallygoers to Biden: It’s time to close Gitmo.” Daily Hampshire Gazette. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.gazettenet.com/Residents-make-the-case-for-the-closure-of-Guantanamo-49511643.
- “Our Staff.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/about/our-staff.
- “Our Staff.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/about/our-staff.
- “Board of Directors.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/about/board-directors.
- Hentoff, Nat. “Joining the War Over the Constitution.” The Village Voice. October 22, 2018. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/10/22/joining-the-war-over-the-constitution/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=cfb87dc3-5257-4c44-8128-1251f7378b88.
- “Bruce K. Miller.” West New England School of Law. Accessed April 19,2 023. https://www1.wne.edu/law/faculty-and-staff/faculty.cfm?uid=264.
- “Board of Directors.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/about/board-directors.
- “Human Rights Activists Call for Closure of Guantanamo, No Torture Under Trump Administration.” Center for Constitutional Rights. January 11, 2017. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://ccrjustice.org/home/press-center/press-releases/human-rights-activists-call-closure-guantanamo-no-torture-under.
- MacDougall, Alexander. “Northampton rallygoers to Biden: It’s time to close Gitmo.” Daily Hampshire Gazette. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.gazettenet.com/Residents-make-the-case-for-the-closure-of-Guantanamo-49511643.
- “Leverett (MA) Town Meeting Approves Resolution to Welcome Cleared Guantanamo Detainees.” No More Guantanamos. April 24, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/leverett-ma-town-meeting-approves-resolution-welcome-cleared-guantanamo-detainees.
- “Guantanamo Uighurs Are Not Alone; US Community Welcomes Other Detainees Who Cannot Safely Be Repatriated.” No More Guantanamos. April 21, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/guantanamo-uighurs-are-not-alone-us-community-welcomes-other-detainees-who-cannot.
- “Frequently Asked Questions.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/learn/frequently-asked-questions.
- “Guantanamo Uighurs Are Not Alone; US Community Welcomes Other Detainees Who Cannot Safely Be Repatriated.” No More Guantanamos. April 21, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/guantanamo-uighurs-are-not-alone-us-community-welcomes-other-detainees-who-cannot.
- “Facebook Post.” No More Guantanamos Facebook. Posted March 8, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/nogitmos/posts/pfbid02Z5e1uj3uTzNuizjNQB1aWXG1fshe4oHSEkkKEebRDA6XS8qE4UBKiwFvzW8obow6l?__cft__[0]=AZVZtvf9x2hQHBt5deCAN7Sue1XKb-D7t0qSNnj6n4OdVmsI8XM2vBBIpPo_gY-b6xuxownwL_Ilj4Rgg8uAA45MXnHmnUWx86k6EliFxiAorUOdj35RVNg7YITNNUa887_oya5h0LA_G__1OArhYD5uj1VwRJjWVRX_8azeM-HhZHGMkpTo5AdUlMrowqmPxuRdQ-zZ-B5siJzzZRYfnIIB&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- MacDougall, Alexander. “Northampton rallygoers to Biden: It’s time to close Gitmo.” Daily Hampshire Gazette. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.gazettenet.com/Residents-make-the-case-for-the-closure-of-Guantanamo-49511643.
- “Human Rights Activists Call for Closure of Guantanamo, No Torture Under Trump Administration.” Center for Constitutional Rights. January 12, 2017. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://ccrjustice.org/home/press-center/press-releases/human-rights-activists-call-closure-guantanamo-no-torture-under.
- “June 15 Marks 6,000 Days of Guantanamo: Rights Groups Tell Donald Trump to Close the Prison, Say “Not One Day More!” No More Guantanamos. June 15, 2018. Accessed April 18, 2023.
- MacDougall, Alexander. “Northampton rallygoers to Biden: It’s time to close Gitmo.” Daily Hampshire Gazette. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.gazettenet.com/Residents-make-the-case-for-the-closure-of-Guantanamo-49511643.
- “Berkeley: Close Guantanmo, Prosecute Yoo for Torture.” CODEPINK. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.codepink.org/01112023.
- “Facebook Post.” No More Guantanamos Facebook. Posted December 15, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/nogitmos/posts/pfbid09zwePt3nnKP1nVY38ycV71Ps2TZJiSM7Qu2daxgZX5VdZdNrQs5CZyVcq2XMv8kvl?__cft__[0]=AZUUTEWMUt1OLZlPURwkhskK0qyXh2blOncQTlOJRM9n1q08qYIdIM8Wvgl_Ka40PS36KgKLCeU-h2snD0BqHpfD55eeeS94pi6phmH7DULKUI4rO2t365X331SaZV-Lz262H18ZsXaZNg-zGG1zScg4sVWlJJl9EEkqYz_l-AzeVO0JRHBc-_cnw-VidxThjo_9D4qKao1X_TPsd3mMyVv1&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- “Rights Groups Send An Open Letter to President Obama and Ashton Carter: Free the 57 Guantanamo Prisoners Approved for Transfer.” Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2015-05/rights-groups-send-open-letter-president-obama-and-ashton-carter-free-57.
- “About the No More Guantanamos (NMG) Project.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/get-involved/about-no-more-guantanamos-nmg-project.
- “Welcome.” No More Guantanmos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/.
- “Pioneer Valley groups hold two local events to mark 13th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay Prison.” No More Guantanamos. January 9, 2015. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2015-01/pioneer-valley-groups-hold-two-local-events-mark-13th-anniversary-guantanamo-bay.
- “Facebook Post.” No More Guantanmos Facebook. Posted December 29, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/nogitmos/posts/pfbid0JjnbzTmqLuMPsMcaL69HqF9axsY5fqrNcPskbUdNUCQfBvnnXiq1ztKAWGAfjpaRl?__cft__[0]=AZUxcs3dseGPJC141yQdj0Ioy2B1nDIhwN6GZe45pz6qRIVWVHyBTFupUxcEWbeH2_8LRQRHIJhgVZ2JI0A1P848jQ80f0nwt2W0GI0p-wUUPZip-GHux6Yl9jFjA2reqJUOy_XpODNWxNYs41ZnE_qCEDmOj5xLTZ9wDz4DVF4ce_ZzqbB8xRo2Le9Si0bJ3QJcXEwmEzyym6XsuxmoSech&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- “Berkeley: Close Guantanmo, Prosecute Yoo for Torture.” CODEPINK. January 11, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.codepink.org/01112023.
- “Guantanamo Uighurs Are Not Alone; US Community Welcomes Other Detainees Who Cannot Safely Be Repatriated.” No More Guantanamos. April 21, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2010-04/guantanamo-uighurs-are-not-alone-us-community-welcomes-other-detainees-who-cannot.
- “Give to the Guantanamo Survivors Fund.” No More Guantanamos. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/guantanamo-survivors-fund.
- “Facebook Post.” No More Guantanamos Facebook. Posted April 13, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/nogitmos/posts/pfbid0DehderUntfZH4gNTv8aJXRXjwrJo1mAQ9sdFMoTbsCoMzmdvcEuNRrPr7qooxzZ8l?__cft__[0]=AZVO-0XV56dksmTtbFPJdksuxATPxAazekQoKT2DRXK7SVawF-HZ-WWhkAxG23jgl2BbzZnf0k_KtH3BOGojeDALLnvtTRF_W2VmPTSXln5W8W4pFDzFUvaLJEfDkYdAoV42F3HQ4l0965uzbZXOPDcZITK_yBp_vLE49wwP5fJlG3vKS_TaOtviY1aA2udtz955pPAMu8V8mryw8f_boQjb&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R.
- “Summary Report of the Guantanamo Survivors Fund First Eight Months. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/summary-report-guantanamo-survivors-fund-first-eight-months.