The Cell Tour

Late Summer and Fall 2008
St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO

Amnesty International USA's message to close Guantanamo, stop torture and to investigate abuses was tangibly represented when the Guantanamo cell tour made two Midwestern stops in the late summer and fall 2008 in St Paul, Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri.

Over two thousand people visited the cell in St. Paul, Minnesota while the replica was on display in a parking lot, a short distance away from the meeting site of the 2008 Republican National Convention. [The cell made a similar stop outside of the Midwest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.] A crew of 35 volunteer activists from Twin Cities' area AIUSA local and student groups helped to get petitions signed and escort visitors through the display.

Several weeks later "The Cell" returned to the Midwest as part of the 2008 Midwest Regional Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout the three day conference, the cell was clearly visible to conference attendees and hotel guests as it sat in the parking lot. Nearly 75% of those attending the Regional conference visited the cell.

During the stops in both cities AIUSA activist members donned orange jumpsuits to help publicize the cell's presence and to create photo opportunities for visitors.