Organize To Speak Out

The United Nations has designated June 26 as the International Day in Support of Survivors and Victims of Torture. Each year coalitions of human rights, civil liberties and faith organizations declare June "Torture Awareness Month" in an effort to respond to the growing evidence that the United States government is engaging systematically in the use of torture and inhuman treatment as part of the "war on terror." www.ucc.org/torture_awareness_month We suggest that you use these occasions as opportunities to engage in the actions listed below.

1. HOLD MEDIA ACCOUNTABLE
   Keep an eye on the alternative and foreign press, watching for stories the U.S. mainstream media doesn't cover accurately. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and mention ActAgainstTorture.org. Organize friends and neighbors to write and call editors and station managers to demand coverage of what's really going on.
2. SPREAD THE WORD
   When you read an article that's not in the mainstream media, make copies and pass them on to friends, co-workers, or neighbors. Write the address of this or related websites on the cover so that they know where to find more information.
3. DISSEMINATE
   Print out information cards (http://www.actagainsttorture.org) and leave them in cafes, schools, your work place, or in the pockets of clothes in the store.
4. ENCOURAGE TEACHERS
   Encourage teachers in your school to use these curricula below, or the theatrical/reading pieces below:
   www.teachablemoment.org/high/torturedbq.html
   www.forusa.org
5. GET TOGETHER
   Hold a house meeting with your friends and neighbors to plan an action against torture.
6. HANG A BANNER
   Hang a banner over freeways, alter billboards: don't let anyone in your town forget what is happening.
   
7. HOLD AN EVENT
   Convince your faith group, union, or school to host a speaker or lead a discussion about torture and detention.
8. ORGANIZE A VIGIL
   A group of people standing on a busy street corner at rush hour, with signs, banners, candles, chants, or whatever your friends and neighbors come up with, lets folks know that there's a growing local movement against torture and indefinite detention.
9. HOLD A TEACH-IN
   Hold a teach-in or a series of teach-ins.
10. PERFORM STREET THEATER or ORGANIZE A PUBLIC READING
    Get together with creative friends and do something dramatic in a public place to encourage people to actively confront and oppose torture and indefinite detention.
    
11. ORGANIZE A DELEGATION
    See Witness Against Torture (http://www.witnesstorture.org/) for information about organizing a delegation to Guantanamo. Demand to speak directly to the prisoners and their guards.
12. TAKE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
    Take time to act, but also take time out as needed as this is a concern that is most troubling.
13. ORGANIZE
    Support friends in taking these actions. Become an organizer.