Some updates from Washington, DC & the Fast for Justice. There are currently over 110 people fasting around the country, and 70 men in Guantanamo on Hunger Strike.

Thursday brought us into Day 5 of the fast. The daily vigil began at DuPont Circle, and made its way to the Russell Senate Building, where five members of Witness Against Torture had arrived early in the morning to get seats for the hearings of Eric Holder for Attorney General. The five orange jump-suited folks sat in the hearings, carrying the message that “waterboarding is a crime” & “torture is a crime.” More about our visit to the Senate here.

On Wednesday, after our daily vigil in DC, Witness Against Torture participated in "The First 100 Days: Bringing Human Rights Home" press conference and panel discussion at the National Press Club, put together by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Martha talks about why she's part of the nine-day fast to close Guantanamo and end torture.

Paki Wieland talks about attending the Eric Holder Attorney General hearings. She is one of 100 people fasting for 9 days for an end to Guantanamo and torture.

On Day 5 of the fast for justice, some of the participants visited the Senate dressed as Guantanamo detainees. Eric Holder's Attorney General hearing was going on inside. Shot by Nancy Mancias.

A small group of "Fast for Justice" participants were inside the Eric Holder Attorney General Hearing, carrying small "TORTURE IS A CRIME" and "WATERBOARDING IS A CRIME" signs. Code Pink folks were also in the audience.

AP: Obama's AG pick breaks from Bush on torture, GTMO:

"Waterboarding is torture," said Holder, President-elect Barack Obama's pick to run the Justice Department.

[...]

The answer also sent a wave of approval through the public viewing gallery where protesters, dressed in orange prison scrubs like those worn by detainees at the Guantanamo Bay military prison, held signs calling for an end to torture.