Hunger Strikes Continue at Guantanamo After Six Months

Sixty inmates Guantu00e1namo Bay remain on hunger strike after six months, leading celebrities to speak out in protest.

By Von Diaz Aug 06, 2013

More than 60 inmates at the Guantánamo Bay Naval base remain on hunger strike today, marking six months of protests. The strike, which began in March after a routine cell search, has put Guantánamo back in the spotlight and brought attention to the 86 inmates who have already been cleared for release, as well as others who have not been formally charged.  

Some well-known celebrities are speaking out against the protest. Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) produced a video response to the hunger strike, where he demonstrated the standard procedure used by US agents for force-feeding detainees. Most recently, singer PJ Harvey released a haunting song dedicated to Shakur Amer, a UK citizen detained at Guantánamo Bay for 11 years without being charged. 

Despite President Obama’s 2008 campaign pledge to close Guantánamo Bay, and his continued promises to prioritize the closure, the facility still houses 166 inmates