SOA-26

Hazel, 77, is a mother of four from Yellow Springs, Ohio.  She was sentenced to 3 months in prison. 

Hazel, John Ewers, and Bill Houston reported to prison on July 17.  John and Bill are in Ashland, KY, and Hazel is in Pekin, IL.


Hazel on the Radio!!!

Hazel: She's back!

Hazel: A Biography

Trial Statement
    - May 22 -23

Updates
     - August 1
      - September 1

Write to Hazel

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Hazel carries a mock coffin onto Fort Benning during the School of Americas protest in November 1997. 

Photo from the (Columbus, Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer. 

Hazel Tulecke served her prison sentence at Federal Prison Camp
Pekin, IL concurrently with her husband Bill Houston, who is still incarcerated
at Federal Prison Camp Ashland in Kentucky. She is the mother of four
(from an earlier marriage), and belongs to the Yellow Springs Friends
Meeting in Yellow Springs, OH.  Hazel was raised by Quaker parents, and
reports having had an awakening at a particular meeting when she heard
members of the congregation speaking eloquent truths from their hearts.
She was moved by the possibility that she might also have access to
important truths within, and that insight has moved and directed her ever
since. 

After a long marriage and the raising of four daughters (who were
themselves introduced to nonviolent protest around the Vietnam War and
nuclear weapons), Hazel's activism intensified. She became involved with
the Movement for a New Society and continued anti-nuclear work -- she was
arrested as part of the Women's Pentagon Action in 1980 and served one
month in jail. Soon thereafter she began to feel drawn to studying
Spanish (she already spoke and had taught French). She put this new skill
to work in 1982 when she became involved with Peace Brigades
International, and began her accompaniment work with the popular movement
in Guatemala. In 1986 she travelled with a Witness for Peace delegation
to Nicaragua, and initiated a sister city relationship between Yellow
Springs and Jicaro, Nicaragua. That relationship endures, as does Hazel's
commitment to nonviolent direct action informed by that "small, still
voice within" -- which has most recently prompted her toward the grassroots effort to
close the SOA/WHISC. 

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Thanks for all your faithful attention!  It's really interesting here.  There is an immediate bond between us and the women here.  I gather it's because our issues -- the War on Drugs and the SOA are one and the same -- the same combination of forces that screw the people by means of police & military -- the same hypocrisy in the reasons given for their positions.  In any case this place is really remarkable for how well the women treat each other (not just us) -- taking care of each other, helping each other, etc.  It helps, of course, that for some reason the population is down about one-third from the last winter.

Our group mostly got their jobs today but I'm among the few who haven't had our physicals yet & will start soon.

Count will start in 3 minutes.  Love & hugs & thanks for your wonderful help!

Hazel

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It's been good to hear from every one of you and very encouraging to know that my getting about 5 letters a day is partly because you support my reason for being here and want to close the SOA-WHISC.  [I]f it is, ...consider going to this year's demo in Ft. Benning (or getting your Aunt Sadie to go if you can't) in November.

My time here is half over!  I expect to be leaving here by bus at 10 a.m. on October 12th.  I do count & recount the days -- even though the experience is not that bad.  Living conditions are in fact sumptuous compared to that of most of the population of the world from the standpoint of food, clothing, shelter (including air conditioning & comfort).  More important is the kind of atmosphere of the community built by the women themselves -- who care for us and each other to a really surprising degree & even organize & teach classes in aerobics, line dancing & Spanish or prayer circles & sweat lodges and Sabbath services.  Part of this is because of being a Minimum Security Federal Camp but also because many (most) of the women don't really belong in prison but are put here for long sentences away from families and children by unjust Mandatory Minimum Sentences and "conspiracy" laws connected with our bogus War on Drugs.  I -- even with my comparatively tiny sentence -- do have my low moments -- over senseless waiting & rules.  But I really enjoy working on the dishwashing crew with these playful, wonderful women.

I have been getting letters from Bill.  Ashland won't permit us to talk by phone.

Love, Hazel

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