SOAW
Peacemakers Report to Federal Prisons in California, Connecticut, Florida,
Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
A news release from SOA Watch, sent 4-6-04
[Posted here 4-7-04]
Of the 27 people tried in January for civil
disobedience at Fort Benning, GA on November 23, 2003, the biggest group
(17) reports today, April 6. We remember their witness, their action, and
their spirits as they head off to prison. We also remember those who are
already in jail, welcome those who were released, and remember our
probationers who have already begun serving their time. (Their sentences,
prison assignments, and other updates are below the email message.)
Our friends who are in jail, on probation,
and the 17 who will report to prison today cannot help but reflect on their
actions in light of the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. When we think of our friends who chose civil disobedience,
who put their bodies on the line for justice, a quote from Dr. King comes to
mind: "The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where [they] stand in
moments of comfort, but where [they] stand at times of challenge and
controversy."
"SOA Watch sisters and brothers, receive
our love, our solidarity, and our hope that one day we will live in a world
for all and with all." The words of our friends from the Human Rights
Committee Kamarikun in Santiago, Chile on Nov 23, 2003. "We feel our
brotherhood and sisterhood with only one noble objective, which is to
construct a life with peace, and a peace with justice. We are certain that
some day, justice will dominate over all of the hate and threats. We are
certain that the dreams of Martin Luther King will be a reality for millons
of brothers and sisters who live in great misery and neglect." (See the
whole statement in Spanish and English http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?idp4)
REPORTING TODAY, APRIL 6 TO:
FCI Dublin in northern California: Leisa
Faulkner Barnes from Sacramento, CA: 3 months; Peg Morton lives in Eugene,
OR: 3 months.
FCI Danbury in Connecticut: Alice Gerard
from Buffalo, NY: 3 months (Read "Why I Chose to Cross the Line," by Alice
Gerard
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=700); Betsy Lamb lives in
Columbia, MD: 6 months (Read "Why I Crossed the Line in Ft Benning," by
Betsy Lamb
www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=718).
FCI Coleman in Florida: Faith Fippinger
from Sarasota, FL: 3 months.
FCI Pekin in Illinois Cynthia Brinkman,
SSND from Ellington, MO: 6 months; Kathy Kelly from Chicago, IL: 3 months
(Read "Crossing Lines," by Kathy Kelly
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0329-02.htm)
FCI Manchester in Kentucky:
Don Beisswenger from Nashville, TN: 6 months.
FPC Duluth in Minnesota: Ozone lives in
Duluth, MN: 3 months (Sentencing statement:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=737).
FCI Waseca in Minnesota: Scott Diehl from
Burlington, IA: 3 months (Read Scott's court statement
www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=735);
Greg Poferl lives in St. Paul, MN: 3 months (letter to the American Postal
Workers Union
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=730).
FCI Sheridan in Oregon: Rich Wekerle of
Moscow, ID: 6 months.
FCI McKean in Pennsylvania: Fr. Bernie
Survil lives in Greensburg, PA: 3 months
FCI Oxford in Wisconsin: Dave Corcoran from
Des Plaines, IL: (another) 6 months; Fr. Jerry Zawada of Burlington, WI:
(another) 6 months.
And -- Reporting on June 22 will be:
Craig Adams of Glenwood, WI: 3 months at FCI Sandstone in Minnesota. Shirley
Way of Stanley, NY: 3 months at FCI Danbury in Connecticut. (Statement of
Shirley
www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=732)
ALREADY REPORTING: 4
Probationers: Elizabeth Bradley, from Sacramento, CA: 12 months of
probation. (See a photo of Elizabeth being arrested
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=707); Sarah Jobe from Memphis,
TN: 12 months of probation. Louise Lynch of Fremont, CA: 12 months of
probation; Mary Vaughan of White Bear, MN: 24 months of probation- already
served 6 months in prison in 2000. (See at picture of Mary
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=697)
UPDATE ON THOSE CURRENTLY IN JAIL:
Gary Ashbeck and Eric Robison were moved from Jones (Georgia) County Jail on
approximately March 23 to USP Atlanta. We believe that Gary and Eric are
there very temporarily and will not receive mail there. We believe they are
in transit and will arrive within a few weeks at the federal facilities
where they will finish their terms. We will post addresses for Gary and Eric
when the addresses are available.
RELEASED! Fr. Ben Jimenez, released
January 26; Mike O'Grady, released January 26 (web site
http://home.fuse.net/claver/);
Michael Walli of Duluth, MN: released January 26; Fr. Joe Mulligan,
sentenced to 3 months started serving on January 28. (Press release about
end of fast
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=723)
AWAITS SENTENCING: Karl Meyer was
found guilty for refusing the search both in 2002 and 2003. Sentencing will
be any day.
WHAT TO DO:
START ORGANIZING IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO COME
TO FORT BENNING, GEORGIA TO STAND VIGIL AT THE GATES FROM NOVEMBER 19-21,
2004 - CLOSE THE SOA/WHISC!
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=763.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cowardice asks the question - is it safe?
Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is
it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes
a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor
popular; but one must take it because it is right. -- Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
