Group Launches Virtual Campaign Space on Sixth Anniversary of Illegal Detentions at Guantánamo

CONTACT: media@aclu.org; (212) 549-2666

NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union today announced a new site in Second Life (SL) as part of its Close Guantánamo campaign. January 11, 2008 marks the six-year anniversary of the arrival of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. The new virtual space includes "Gone GITMO," a program produced by Nonny de la Peña and Peggy Weil and built by SL architect Buhbuhcuh Fairchild. The program gives Second Life residents a glimpse into the inhumane conditions of indefinite detention at Camp X-Ray. While visiting the space, residents can also sign a petition and wear virtual orange clothing as a way to express opposition to torture and indefinite detention at the U.S.-run prison.

The ACLU will hold the first of a series of live events at the campaign space on January 11 at 2 PM ET/11 AM SLT in conjunction with its nationwide call to action for Americans to wear orange this Friday. Orange was chosen because it is the color of the jumpsuits worn by Guantánamo detainees. The event will take place in Second Life on Progressive Island (135,152,35). You can visit the space by clicking on the following URL:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Progressive%20Island/135/152/35/

The ACLU, along with other human rights organizations, launched the Close Guantánamo campaign in December. Events across the country this week will include demonstrations in Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia and Boise, ID; protests in San Francisco and Tampa; a discussion in Pittsburgh; a vigil in Raleigh, NC; and a rally in St. Louis.

More information on the Close Guantánamo campaign and a schedule of events is available at: www.aclu.org/closeGuantanamo