Tuesday, 24 July 2001

Dear friends,

I've never had a web-site before, and I'm not quite sure
what is the proper protocol for a letter posted on one.
Three groups of people stand out as I think about
being in prison.

The first group are the common people of Latin America
-- the farmers, the workers in towns and cities, the
unemployed, the mothers and fathers, the disappeared,
the students. And also the privates in the armies, who are
forced to repress their own people -- including the labor
organizers, indigenous religious leaders, nuns, priests,
pastors who lead them -- are the targets of the SOA/WHISC.
In the countries of Central America they were the targets
of the phony "anti-Communist" campaigns. In Colombia
they are the targets of the equally phony "anti-drug" war.
It's important that all of us do what we can to block the
expansion of "Plan Colombia" into the "Andes Initiative"
which would spread the terrible defoliation of Colombian
farms and forests to include neighboring countries.

The second group I think of are my fellow prisoners here
at Ashland. I can't remember ever encountering so much
friendliness and helpfulness when I went to a new job
or school or church or neighborhood) as I've been given by
the other prisoners here. They've loaned John Ewers and
me essential items (to tide us over until the prison supplied
them) and helped us to learn the rules (and how to get
around them). Their friendship and smiles have helped
us tremendously. They've been interested and supportive
as we explained why we're here. Since many of them have
experienced the unfairness and exploitation of the large
corporations and their government, they've found it easy
believe our stories about the atrocities that SOA graduates
have been involved in. As I talk to more of them and learn
their stories, the term "military-prison-industrial Complex"
moves from being a clever slogan, and takes on real
meaning. Of course I'm aware that in any particular case the
story of a prisoner is only one aspect of the truth, but I also
know that the terrible increase in number of prisons
(and of prisoners) reflects a sickness in our national
leadership. Several prisoners have told John and me that
they saw on CNN pictures of our comrades entering
Pekin Prison in Illinois.

The third group I think of are all the wonderful people who
have supported us. The good wishes before we left, the
many sendoffs we received, the letters since we got here.
Not just from people directly involved in the movement to
close the SOA but the whole peace and justice community.
We all need to continue to speak and to act for peace and
justice and to continue to build among ourselves the
"beloved community" that Martin King used to talk bout.

Thanks to every one.

Sincerely,
Bill