Guantanamo Voices

An anthology of illustrated narratives about the world’s most infamous prison

On the morning of September 11, 2001, two planes collided with the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. In January 2002, a group of suspected terrorists were transferred to a Naval Base in Guantanamo, Cuba. They were the first of hundreds of men who would be held there—and 40 still remain. These prisoners were characterized as the “worst of the worst” but many of them have never been properly charged or tried in a proper court, and have been denied due process.

The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a place that most Americans would rather not think about. But the stories of the people whose lives have been shaped by Guantanamo deserve to have their stories heard. In Guantanamo Voices, journalist Sarah Mirk and her team of talented, diverse artists tell the stories of ten people who spent time at the prison since its opening in 2002, including service members, prisoners, lawyers, and journalists.

Guantanamo Voices doesn’t ask the simplistic, blackandwhite question about whether Guantanamo is “good” or “bad.” Instead, it documents a history that’s happening right now—and sheds light on the prisoners and their stories.

About the Editor

Sarah Mirk is a multimedia journalist whose work focuses on telling nuanced, humanfocused stories. She began her career as a reporter for weekly newspapers, then in 2013 became the online editor of national feminism and popculture magazine Bitch Media. She lives in Portland, Oregon.