Senator Susan Collins
One City Center, Stop 23
Portland, Maine 04101

Senator Olympia Snowe
3 Canal Plaza
Portland, Maine 04101

Congressman Tom Allen
57 Exchange Street, Suite 302
Portland, Maine 04101

Congressman Michael Michaud
23 Water Street, Suite 205
Bangor, Maine 04401
January 11, 2008

Dear Distinguished Members of the Maine Congressional Delegation,

Today marks the 6 year anniversary since the first 20 prisoners arrived at Guantánamo Bay Cuba. More than 770 men have passed through the gates and no trials have been completed.

As a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world, the United States must hold itself to its own high standards. When we resort to the use of torture, abuse, and indefinite detention we lower ourselves to the level of our enemies and violate our own core values.

Guantánamo Bay has tarnished the reputation of the United States and makes a mockery of the values we hold dear.   We cannot allow this shameful practice to continue to reflect on our state or our nation.  It is time to call once and for all for the United States to CLOSE GUANTÁNAMO!

We call upon the Maine Congressional delegation to do everything in their power to close Guantánamo. Through the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and its jurisdiction over governmental affairs and intergovernmental relations, Senator Collins must use her power to close Guantánamo. Senator Snowe sits on the Select Committee on Intelligence, and must use her position to put an end to this shameful practice. We urge both Senators as well as Congressman Tom Allen and Congressman Michael Michaud to act now to close Guantánamo.

Sincerely,

Shenna Bellows
Executive Director
Maine Civil Liberties Union

Jill Saxby
Executive Director
Maine Council of Churches

Thesil Moran
Area Coordinator
Amnesty International- Maine

Rachel Talbot Ross
President
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People- Portland Chapter

Beth Stickney
Executive Director
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project