SOAW-W News for April, 2003
1) April 1 Update: Conversation with Fr. Bill & Article on Fr. Louie
2) Prison Addresses for Don and Ann
3) Charlie safe in Baghdad
4) SOAWW Pilgrimage to Prison - April 27-29
5) Encouragement to Reps. especially PELOSI
6) Honoring the Memory of Bishop Gerardi
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
April 1, 2003San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.orgIn this posting:1) Conversation with a Peace Activist - Fr. Bill O'Donnell, April 2
2) Contra Costa Times Article about Fr. Louis Vitale.Conversations with a Peace Activist
Wednesday, April 2nd 2003 7-10 pmA celebration of peace and non-violence. Holy Names College is proud to host a dialogue with Father Bill O'Donnell. The event will also feature USF students who were arrested along side Father Bill at a protest of the School of the Americas and several of the Bay Area's leading slam poets.
Located at: 3500 Mountain Blvd. Oakland, CA 94619
Contact: Susan Eggett eggett@hnc.edu (510) 436-1113
Sponsored By: Holy Names College www.hnc.edu.PRIEST IS SINGLE-MINDED IN QUEST FOR WORLD PEACE
By Thomas Peele, Contra Costa Times
Mon, Mar. 31, 2003SAN FRANCISCO - As he led an anti-war processional on Market Street on a recent morning, the sun hiding behind Financial District towers as the city slowly awoke, the Rev. Louis Vitale heard a familiar voice. "Hey, my paisano!" shouted a burly police officer, a riot helmet wedged under his arm.
Vitale turned, his brown Franciscan robe billowing as several women behind him carrying cardboard coffins draped with calla lilies lost their stride and bumped together.
The smiling officer hit another cop on the shoulder and pointed at Vitale as if recognizing an old friend.
"I arrested him the other day," the officer said. "Hi Father!" Vitale waved. His followers straightened the line. Then he took his wrists in his hands and walked on toward another arrest. Those wrists know the clinch of handcuffs the way most pastors know the feel of a familiar Bible. Somewhere in his years of activism, he lost count of the number of times police arrested him for stepping across a line at nuclear test sites, or at the U.S. Army base at Fort Benning, Ga., home of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly the School of the Americas. Activists have contended for years that foreign soldiers trained there went on to use their skills in repressive nations in Central and South America. Activists say his voice is among the most vital in efforts to stop the war in Iraq.
"It is very, very important that San Francisco speaks out, and very loudly," said Vitale, 70. "The world is against this war. We have to stop the slaughter."
He is a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant, a self-described playboy in his youth who drove roadsters and once was part of a flight crew that ignored orders to shoot down what officers repeatedly told them was an approaching Soviet bomber.
When Vitale's fighter pulled alongside it instead of firing, "We asked them why, if it was a bomber, was there a little old lady waving at us from the window," he said. It was an airliner.
Soon afterward, he entered the seminary with a heavy dose of skepticism for the military. Later he enrolled at UCLA and earned a Ph.D. in sociology in 1970.
He can point to no exact moment he became not just an activist priest, but instead "a liberal radical." He met Martin Luther King Jr. and worked with Cesar Chavez.
"There was so much going on, Vietnam, civil rights, the farm workers, the free speech movement," he said while in his tiny office at St. Boniface Church in the city's Tenderloin District. "It is the touch of God. "There is something deep, deep down inside of me now that tells me where I have to be."
Often that is behind bars. Earlier this year, Vitale completed a three-month sentence at a federal prison camp in Nevada for protesting at Fort Benning. In the desert he saw pilots training for war. "It was a preview," he said. "It was very troubling to me."
That Vitale is among those leading anti-war efforts here doesn't surprise the Rev. Bill O'Donnell of Berkeley's St. Joseph the Worker Catholic church, who was also arrested at Fort Benning.
"It is the simple conviction that (peace) is the truth," O'Donnell said. "Louie is convinced that Jesus was serious about the way to free the world from domination is through non-violence. He is single minded." Vitale fasts so often -- he went without food during the first gulf war -- that friends and fellow protesters such as Dolores Priem worry for him. "He has no hidden agenda. He is extremely self-effacing. I just wish he'd eat more," Priem said.
She runs a group called School of the Americas Watch that recently gave Vitale a humanitarian award.
"In our efforts, (Vitale) is a very good strategist," she said. "He is fearless."
He believes, unequivocally, he said, in "people power," and that non-violent protest will cause social change.
He has been arrested six times since the war began. The president, he said, "is like a kid playing war. I don't believe Bush has a clue what he's doing." Vitale said he doesn't expect everyone to understand what he is doing. "A lot of people probably think I am nutty running around all the time getting arrested," he said.
Friday, Vitale joined a group of religious leaders blocking the Philip Burton Federal Building. He moved quickly to be among the first arrested. Officers placed him in a holding area where he softly joined others singing "Down by the Riverside."
There, sitting on the concrete, his legs tucked under him, he looked completely comfortable with his hands cuffed tightly behind his back.
Reach Thomas Peele at 925-977-8463 or tpeele@cctimes.com
URL: www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/*/printstory.jsp
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
April 14, 2003San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.orgIn this posting:1) Prison Addresses for Don and Ann
2) Charlie safe in Baghdad1. SOAW Prisoners of Conscience
Below you will find the new addresses for two SOAW activists who began six-month sentences on April 8. Rachel Montgomery and Laura Slattery will join Ann at the Dublin facility on April 29. On the same date J.C. Orton will begin his prison term in Atwater. Look for details of a pilgrimage from Oakland to Dublin, April 27-29.
Through September 2003
Don Haselfeld
Inmate # 91381-020 Beta Inmate Qtrs.
Federal Prison Camp
3705 W. Farm Rd.
Lompoc, CA 93436-2756Through September 2003
Ann Huntwork
# 91391-020
FPC Dublin
5775 8th Street
Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 945682. Charlie Liteky was able to make a call (by satellite phone) today to Judy Liteky. He reported that he is fine. He has ended his role with the Iraq Peace Camp near a water treatment facility. He and other Iraq Peace Team (IPT) members now focus their time on conversations with the US Marines who are stationed outside the Palestine Hotel (international journalists) and the adjacent Al Fanar Hotel (IPT and others). Some IPT members left Baghdad on Sunday, 4/13, and have reached Amman, Jordan. Among them are Wade Hudson of Boulder Creek and Dr. April Hurley of Santa Rosa. They are expected to return to the Bay Area in the near future. Charlie plans to remain in Baghdad.If you want to read other journal entries, read the IPT report on civilian casualties, and see IPT photos, try http://www.inlet.org/wade
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
April 18, 2003San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.orgPILGRIMAGE to PRISON: OAKLAND TO DUBLIN
Rachel Montgomery and Laura Slattery will begin their sentences at the Federal Prison Camp in Dublin on Tuesday, April 29. J.C. Orton will begin his sentence at the Prison Camp in Atwater on the same day.They invite everyone to join any and/or all parts of the journey including the Pancake Breakfast Sunday morning, walking segments of the trek, the potluck dinner, and/or camping out. The itinerary has been divided into sections in order to make it easier for those who want to connect at certain points. There are buses that travel the main roads (in Oakland, and Castro Valley/Dublin). Some people might leave cars at two places, walking a distance and then driving back to the other car. We ask you to make your own
arrangements as there is no "walk coordinator." Some road instructions are included in brackets to identify where the trails meet up with the main road, Redwood Rd.SUNDAY, 27 APRIL
8:00 - Pancake Breakfast at Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) - 4848 International Blvd [btwn High and Seminary in E. Oakland] ($5 - to go to OCW which works with immigrants and refugees from Latin America)10:00 - Leave Oakland Catholic Worker heading North (1 mile) on International Blvd to 35th, Right, 3.9 miles to Skyline Blvd (last 2 miles extremely uphill); Left .4 miles to staging area on Right [Crestmont is the cross street].
12:30 - Lunch
1:00 - Leave staging area, on Dunn Trail (.3 mi) to Golden Spike (2.2 miles) to road (Redwood). Cross road, go left on MacDonald trail (.1 mi) to MacDonald Staging Area
2:30 - MacDonald Staging Area (2nd Staging Area) [on Redwood Rd, about half a mile east from Skyline]. Go on MacDonald Trial (also called E.Bay Skyline Trial) (3.8 miles) to Bort Meadow Staging Area (water) [on Redwood Rd., about 4 miles past Skyline, about a mile past Pinehurst Rd. on right hand side of road].
6:00 - Drive 4 miles to Anthony Chabot Family Camp Site. Dinner (potluck) and camping here.
[total mileage: 12 miles]
MONDAY, 28 APRIL
8:00 - Breakfast9:00 - Drive back to Bort Meadow Staging Area. Leave Bort along Grass Valley Trail (1 mile); Left onto Redtail Trail (2.5 mile) to Marciel Gate [on Redwood Rd, about 3 miles past Pinehurst road on right.]
11:00 -Leave Marciel Gate on Redtail Trail (1.6 mile) to Parking and Bathroom area (near Marksmanship Range, but stay to left). Take Brandon/Proctor Trail (1.67 miles) to the Proctor Staging Area. [on Redwood Rd, about 1.5 miles up from Castro Valley Blvd. on the west side]
1:00 - Lunch at Proctor Staging Area
1:30 - Take a right on Redwood Road (1 mile) to Heyer Rd. Take a Left on Heyer (1 mile) to Cull Canyon Rd. Go Right on Cull Canyon, (.2 miles), then take a Right on Crow Canyon (.4 miles), and then a Left on Castro Valley Blvd.
3:00 Meet at Transfiguration Catholic Church ADDRESS (.2 miles up on the left). Across the street from the shopping center
3:30 Walk East on E. Castro Valley Blvd (4.8 miles) to SDA (Seventh Day Adventist) Church on right. [Palomares road is about half way there; and E. Castro Valley Blvd. turns into Dublin Canyon Rd. at that point]
6:00 - Dinner
[total mileage: ~ 14.5]
TUESDAY, 29 APRIL
8:00 - Breakfast9:00 - Prayer
9:30 - Walk East on Dublin Canyon Rd (2.3 miles) to Foothill Rd. Left on Foothill Rd, over freeway where it becomes San Ramon Rd. (.5 miles) to Dublin Blvd. Right on Dublin Blvd (2 miles) to DeMarcus Blvd. (entrance to Camp Parks Reservation). Note: You can walk to this intersection from the Dublin BART Station.
12:00 - Across from entrance: Lunch; Blessing Circle; Farewells
1:00 - Final Trek through the gates (family only)
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
April 21, 2003San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.orgATTENTION SOAW ACTIVISTS!1) PLEASE CALL OR FAX NANCY PELOSI A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO CO-SPONSOR HR BILL 1258, LEGISLATION TO CLOSE THE SOA. SHE HAS YET TO SIGN ON. CALL OR FAX THIS WEEK WHILE SHE IS IN CALIFORNIA!
Rep. NANCY PELOSI
Phone: 415.556.4862
Fax: 415.861.1670SAMPLE LETTER or MESSAGE
Dear Ms. Pelosi:
You have been a strong supporter of bills to close the School of Americas (SOA). Now with your Democratic leadership position, it is even more important for you to take a strong stand to close the SOA and to encourage your fellow congresspeople to cosponsor HR 1258.
Now more than ever, the people of the USA, especially those in our district, need your leadership to close America's own school of terrorism.
Please lend your continued voice of reason and support on this issue and join Congressman James McGovern in cosponsoring HR 1258.
2) These Representatives should also receive Phone Calls and Faxes requesting that they cosponsor HR 1258:
Rep. TOM LANTOS
Phone: 650.342.0300
Fax: 650.375.8270Rep. ELLEN TAUSCHER
Phone: (925) 932-8899
Fax: (925) 932-8159Rep. MIKE HONDA
Phone: (408) 244-8085
Fax: (408) 244-8086Rep. MIKE THOMSPON
Phone: (707) 226.9898
Fax: (707) 251.9800Rep. ANNA ESHOO
Phone: (650) 323-2984
Fax: (650) 323-34983) These Representatives are among the 66 cosponsors of HR 1258 and can be thanked.
Lynn Woolsey
Phone: (415) 507-9554
Fax: (415) 507-9601George Miller
(925) 602-1880Pete Stark
Phone: (510) 494-1388
Fax: (510) 494-5852Zoe Lofgren
Phone: (408) 271-8700
Fax: (408) 271-8713Barbara Lee
Phone: (510) 763-0370
Fax: (510) 763-6538
School of the Americas Watch–West ~ SOAW–W
April 25, 2003San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.org
- Subject: Honoring the Memory of Bishop Gerardi of Guatemala
- Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 09:30:43 -0700
- From: Melanie Sego
Two Events in Commemoration and Remembrance of Monseñor Juan Gerardi (1922-1998) of Guatemala whose murderers include SOA Graduate Colonel Byron Lima Estrada.Background:
On April 26, 1998, Bishop Juan Gerardi was assassinated two days after the release of the Catholic Church's REMHI report (also known as :"Guatemala: Never Again"), that attributed the vast majority of the human rights violations committed during Guatemala's 36-year civil war to the Guatemalan army and other government forces. After three years in the court system, three military officers were found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Five years after his death we celebrate Monseñor Gerardi's life and
continue his work of fighting human rights violations, which are alarmingly on the rise in Guatemala in recent months.FRIDAY, MAY 2 at 7 PM in SAN RAFAEL
Kennedy Hall, Mission Church of San Rafael, 1104 Fifth Ave.
Dinner with Monseñor Alvaro Ramazzini, one of Guatemala's most progressive Bishops, who has struggled for indigenous rights and against impunity despite threats to his life. He will talk about Gerardi's legacy and give an update on the current situation in Guatemala. Photos by Jonathon Moller will be on display and for sale at this event. Proceeds will go to the Guatemalan Accompaniment Project. Donation: $5-15 for dinner with live Marimba. Info: 415-924-3227.SUNDAY, MAY 4 at 1 PM in OAKLAND ***
St. Elizabeth's Church, 1500 34th Ave.
Commemoration Mass celebrated by Bishop Ramazzini in the Mayan and Spanish tradition. Following the mass there will be a reception in the gymnasium across the street with Guatemalan food and Marimba. At the reception Bishop Ramazzini will
discuss the current political climate in Guatemala and give an update on the REHMI project.***Everyone is strongly advised to take BART due to the shortage of parking near the Church. Take BART to Oakland, exit Fruitvale and proceed to walk towards East Bay/Oakland hills for 1 block to International Blvd. turn left and make a right on 34th Ave. to St. Elizabeth's Church.
Co-sponsors include SOA Watch East Bay.
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