Reflections of Day 2: Dhiab Forced-Feeding Hearing
This morning Eve was ejected first from the courtroom, and then from the building -- in handcuffs because she refused to leave any other way. Once they led her outside, they (the Federal Protective Services branch of the Dept of Homeland Security, who were called by the security guards) released her.
It all began at the security entrance when we arrived in the morning -- Eve was told she couldn't enter because she was wearing an orange WAT t-shirt (Shut Down Guantanamo in front; Stop Torture in back). Ray McGovern arrived about the same time we did with an orange t-shirt that was visible just above the collar of his button-down shirt and spiffy blazer. Hearing the controversy regarding Eve's clothing, Ray quickly buttoned his top button and said he had on an orange undershirt. Eve, who was wearing a white t-shirt beneath her WAT t-shirt, turned the orange t-shirt inside-out. That wasn't good enough because the letters were still visible, only backwards. I then gave her my sweater, which she put on and zipped up.
The guard had initially said neither of them could enter, but when called, the head of security gave them both permission to attend the hearing, with the warning that if they revealed their shirts they would be removed from the courtroom. Once in the courtroom, Eve sat quietly for quite some time before first removing the sweater and then her orange T-shirt. At that point the guard came over and confiscated the shirt, and Eve continued to sit quietly. A bit later two guards came in and ordered her to come with them, saying she could leave her belongings in the courtroom. She left with the guards, and soon afterwards a guard returned and took her belongings.
A journalist who came about that time told me later she had seen Eve standing in the hall talking quietly and calmly to the security guards, giving them a lecture on the First Amendment. Apparently it took them quite awhile to remove Eve Tetaz from the courthouse.
