Sometimes the best camera is the camera you have.
So it was today when we stumbled upon the 100 Days Campaign’s civil disobedience in front of the White House with only our iPhone.
Reportedly 60 people were arrested (this reporter witnessed what he can most precisely say was many or several tens of people, so that jives). As Obama gave remarks in the main foyer of the White House about the Chrysler bankruptcy, just yards away dozens were being arrested in the midst of a peaceful protest of conscience on a matter of human rights.
Members of this group have been holding vigil outside the White House every day for the past many days, presumably all of the previous 100 days of Obama’s term. They’ve highlighted the plight of Uighers and others who have been held without charge or cleared for release, or both — and those who have died in custody.
While Obama has promised to close the detention facility, the group takes issue with all such facilities (including Bagram, Afghanistan) and joined literally behind the banner “justice delayed is justice denied”; they do not believe action is being taken fast enough.
Hundreds of tourists and local office workers, many likely administration employees, gathered around or witnessed the proceeding as they passed by.
You might also want to see Jeremy Scahill’s post of material he aggregated about and related to this demonstration.
Protest season has started in Washington. Earlier this week, in addition to the 100 Days Campaign’s vigils, one could witness other protests:
- ADAPT set upon the White House, in what sounded like an angry challenge or rebuke to Obama regarding his support (ABC News)
- Some members of the House of Representatives joined Darfur activists in what seemd to be a scripted civil-disobedience action at the Sudanese Embassy to protest human rights violations (Huffington Post)
- Greenpeace scaled a crane near the Department of State, dropping a banner with an image of the earth and the words “Too big to fail.” (Washington Post)
- SEIU’s nationwide protest against Bank of America included a picket line at the BoA branch just down the block from the White House.