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Witness Against Torture (WAT)

Website:

www.witnessagainsttorture.com
Location:

New York, NY
Type:

Activist Group
Founded:

2005
Organizer:

Matt Daloiso

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Witness Against Torture (WAT) is a grassroots volunteer activist organization that began in 2005 with the goal to close the U.S. detention center at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba and to release the remaining detainees. Each January, WAT fasts, organizes protests, and conducts civil resistance before the White House. 1 WAT members join with several other organizations in activist events including Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition, No More Guantanamos, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Code Pink. 2 3

Background

Witness Against Torture is a volunteer activist organization working to close the U.S. detention center at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and to release the remaining detainees. In 2005 Matt Daloiso, a member of the left-wing Catholic Worker activist movement 4 and 24 others traveled to Cuba to visit Guantanamo Bay. 5 They violated travel bans to Cuba to draw attention. When they were turned away, they fasted and protested for 5 days and held a press conference. 6

Following this trip, Daloiso and some of his fellow travelers formed Witness Against Torture and began to organize and protest, claiming that the prisoners at Guantanamo were being tortured and imprisoned indefinitely. 7

Guantanamo Bay in Cuba holds an American military detention center for alleged terrorists held as unlawful combatants that was first opened in 2002 and held approximately 780 prisoners over the years. As of May 2, 2023, 30 prisoners remain. In 2009, the Obama administration ordered the closure of the prison, but Congress prevented this. 8

Activities and Funding

In 2005, Witness Against Torture declared January 11 as a “day of national shame.” It was the date the first prisoners were sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002. On this date, WAT members participate in protests, civil resistance, and fasting. 9 Often members participating in protests wear orange jumpsuits and black hoods. 10

In 2007 WAT members occupied the Supreme Court to demand that the prisoners be given the opportunity to challenge their imprisonment. They held vigils throughout Washington, D.C., organized hunger strikes, and started petitions. 11

In 2009 WAT organized the 100 Days Campaign to Close Guantanamo and End Torture during the first 100 days of the Obama administration. 12 At the conclusion of the campaign about 200 activists participated in a protest in Washington, D.C., wearing orange jumpsuits and black hoods. Sixty-two activists were arrested. Other organizations participating in the protest included Amnesty International, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU, and Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC). 13

In 2015, WAT along with No More Guantanamos, Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Code Pink (CODEPINK), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and others signed a letter to then-President Obama in support of the release of Guantanamo detainees in the U.S. who have been approved for transfer. 14

In 2016 WAT members gathered at the Department of Justice protesting the death of Tamir Rice with signs that said “Kill White Supremacy, Not Our Children.” 15 They also organized a rally at the White House sponsored by Amnesty International, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Defending Rights and Dissent, Code Pink (CODEPINK), National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms, No More Guantanamos, and others. 16

In January 2023 WAT members, along with members of the activist group Catholic Worker, gathered for the annual protest in Washington, D.C., marching from the Pentagon to the White House. 17 They continue to speak about Guantanamo at schools and universities to educate the public. 18

Witness Against Torture collaborates with No More Guantanamos, Muslim Counterpublics Lab (MCL), and Healing and Recovery After Trauma, to create the Guantanamo Survivors Fund, which provides financial support for former prisoners at Guantanamo and their families. 19

WAT has no physical office. As a grassroots volunteer organization, donations to WAT pay for the website, videos, social media campaigns, protests, and any legal fees incurred because of civic actions. 20

Leadership

Matt Daloisio is a founder and listed on the Witness Against Torture website as the general contact. He is a criminal law defense attorney in New York 21 and a member of the Catholic Worker activist movement. 22

Chris Knestrick is listed as the WAT events contact. 23 He is executive director of the NEO Coalition for the Homeless in Cleveland, Ohio. He is part of the Catholic Worker movement. 24

Frida Berrigan is listed as the Witness Against Torture press contact. 25 Berrigan is an antiwar activist, lived at Maryhouse Catholic Worker, and worked at War Resisters League as of February, 2011. Previously she worked at World Policy Institute. Berrigan has participated in the annual protest to close Guantanamo with Witness Against Torture and was one of the original 25 WAT members who visited Guantanamo in 2005. 26 She has since moved to Connecticut and run for mayor of New London as a member of the Green Party. 27

Justin Norman is responsible for the WAT website. He produces videos and content to support Witness Against Torture. 28 Norman is a writer, director, editor, producer, actor, and composer. He is co-founder of Shrieking Tree, which was founded as a web design company. 29

References

  1. “The Long Version. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  2. Claire-Schaeffer-Duffy. “Catholic activists protest torture practice.” National Catholic Reporter. May 1, 2009. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.ncronline.org/news/catholic-activists-protest-torture-practice
  3. “Rights Groups Send An Open Letter to President Obama and Ashton Carter: Free the 57 Guantánamo Prisoners Approved for Transfer.” No More Guantanamos. May 19, 2015. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2015-05/rights-groups-send-open-letter-president-obama-and-ashton-carter-free-57
  4. Dennis Sadowski. “Group fasts to close Guantanamo Bay prison.” National Catholic Reporter. January 12, 2010. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/group-fasts-close-guantanamo-bay-prison
  5. “Our History in 3 Minutes. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  6. Frida Berrigan. “21 years later, Guantanamo is still open – and we are still protesting to shut it down.” January 16, 2023. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://scheerpost.com/2023/01/16/21-years-later-guantanamo-is-still-open-and-we-are-still-protesting-to-shut-it-down/
  7. “Our History in 3 Minutes. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  8. “The Guantanamo Docket.” The New York Times. May 2, 2023. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/guantanamo-bay-detainees.html
  9. “The Long Version. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  10. “The Long Version. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  11. “Our History in 3 Minutes. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  12. “Witness Against Torture.” Common Dreams. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/organization/witness-against-torture
  13. Claire-Schaeffer-Duffy. “Catholic activists protest torture practice.” National Catholic Reporter. May 1, 2009. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.ncronline.org/news/catholic-activists-protest-torture-practice
  14. “Rights Groups Send An Open Letter to President Obama and Ashton Carter: Free the 57 Guantánamo Prisoners Approved for Transfer.” No More Guantanamos. May 19, 2015. Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/newsroom/2015-05/rights-groups-send-open-letter-president-obama-and-ashton-carter-free-57
  15. Frida Berrigan. “21 years later, Guantanamo is still open – and we are still protesting to shut it down.” January 16, 2023. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://scheerpost.com/2023/01/16/21-years-later-guantanamo-is-still-open-and-we-are-still-protesting-to-shut-it-down/
  16. “Groups Gather Today at Noon at White House to Protest 14th Guantanamo Anniversary.” Common Dreams. January 11, 2016. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/01/11/groups-gather-today-noon-white-house-protest-14th-guantanamo-anniversary
  17. Frida Berrigan. “21 years later, Guantanamo is still open – and we are still protesting to shut it down.” January 16, 2023. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://scheerpost.com/2023/01/16/21-years-later-guantanamo-is-still-open-and-we-are-still-protesting-to-shut-it-down/
  18. “Our History in 3 Minutes. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  19. “Give to the Guantanamo Survivors Fund.” No More Guantanamos.” Accessed June 23, 2023. https://www.nogitmos.org/guantanamo-survivors-fund
  20. “Our History in 3 Minutes. Witness Against Torture: A Decade of Compassion.” Witness Against Torture – About. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  21. “Matthew W. Daloisio.” NYSACDL New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Updated March 9, 2023. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://nysacdl.org/members/?id=66621027
  22. Dennis Sadowski. “Group fasts to close Guantanamo Bay prison.” National Catholic Reporter. January 12, 2010. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/group-fasts-close-guantanamo-bay-prison
  23. “About.” Witness Against Torture. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  24.  “Homelessness & Hope: A Storytellers’ Faith Journey – Chris Knestrick. IRTF InterReligious Task Force. January 29, 2020. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.irtfcleveland.org/calendar/homelessness-hope-storytellers-faith-journey-chris-knestrick
  25. “About.” Witness Against Torture. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  26. George M. Anderson. “Growing Up Berrigan: Portrait of a family of peacemakers.” American – The Jesuit Review. February 21, 2011. https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/765/article/growing-berrigan
  27. LinkedIn Post by Joel Kupferman. November, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=frida%20berrigan&origin=TYPEAHEAD_ESCAPE_HATCH&sid=%406E
  28. “About.” Witness Against Torture. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://witnessagainsttorture.com/about/
  29. “Justin Norman.” Shrieking Tree – About. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://shriekingtree.com/staff/justin-norman-film-director-writer-editor-composer/
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Witness Against Torture (WAT)


New York, NY