'Hands across el Rio' border wall protest

Here's the official itinerary for Hands Across el Rio -- a 1250 mile, 17 day protest against the border wall:

Yesterday, we received the commitment of El Paso to support our project with a press conference on August 25th and a send off on August 26th. Folks in the Big Bend region want to support the Presidio-Ojinaga event on August 28th. Both Mayors of Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña are pledged to support the event 31st. Mayor Chad Foster of Eagle Pass is in touch with the Alcalde of Piedras Negras to receive us on September 1st.

Mexican Congresswoman, Maria Dolores Gonzales-Mendivil will lead the coordination of Los Dos Laredos Hands Across el Rio on September 2nd. She is also coordinating support to the four Mexican neighboring states of Texas, the alcaldes along el Rio Bravo (mayors on the Mexican side) and Mexican consuls. We're lining up similar commitments from Roma-Miguel Aleman, Rio Grande City-Camargo, Los Ebanos-Diaz Ordaz, McAllen/Hidalgo-Reynosa on down to Brownsville-Matamoros on September 8th. We will finish our journey at the mouth of the Rio Grande at Boca Chica on Sunday, September 9th.

LULAC National, Rosa Rosales, President and Jaime Martinez, Treasurer, have committed their support of Hand Across el Rio. The same is true of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. We anticipate the support of many other organizations and coalitions, from environmental, cultural, economic, political, faith based and tourism

With the exception of El Paso y Juarez...we will launch kayaks and canoes upriver from each principal international pedestrian bridge. Any one who wants to join our flotillas for any portion or any day of this historical event is welcome to do so. Kayaks, canoes, inner-tubes. We will paddle down river to each international bridge respectively and meet up with fellow grass roots citizens from both sides of our Rio who are opposed to the wall. As we experienced in Roma and Miguel Aleman this past weekend...we will be inviting the grass roots folks from both sides of el Rio...to form a human chain in symbol of our border solidarity and amistad.

As Mayor Chad Foster says..."We're joined at the hip". That’s something that folks like Lou Dobbs and members of Congress who have never lived inside the checkpoints do not understand. Our Congressmen and Texas legislators from the border region have spoken out against the border wall. The Texas Border Coalition of our border mayors, judges and economic experts have all spoken in our behalf...in solidarity...against the wall. Our border sheriffs have spoken out against the wall. No one in Washington is listening to them. Now...we the people of the Rio Grand Corridor...from both sides of el Rio...must make our voices heard. "NO Border Wall...!" "Hell NO!!!

We can tell the Congress and the national media all day long that we who live on the border live in friendship with our neighbors on the other side of el Rio. We can tell them that we don't want to be in a militarized zone...on American soil...here in Texas. Now...we will show them why we don’t need one. We get along just fine!


En amistad and solidarity…


Jay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr


jay@villadelrio.com

Border protests in Texas
Email from Jay Johnson-Castro

A smashing success...!!!
On Saturday (July 14)...two significant protests against the wall were held. Thought I'd give a brief summary on both.
On Saturday morning, Betty Perez and company...or the Lower Rio Grande Valley area...coordinated a flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Betty was the coordinator of this event...which was hosted by "noborderwalls"...a group of environmentally savvy folks (groups.yahoo.com/group/noborderwall ). To my knowledge...this is the most cohesive group on the US-Mexico border so far. It includes some caliber minds from around the Valley who are using their creative juices to collectively oppose the wall.
We launched up river from Roma in a secluded village along the banks of the Rio Grande called Fronton. Media was converged in ample numbers...including AP, Reuters, San Antonio Express News, Univision, local CBS and a diverse group of local journalists.
We floated down to the historic suspension bridge that connects Roma and Miguel Aleman. The Miguel Aleman Mayor joined the flotilla. His family was on the bank downriver as we paddled by. When we got to the suspension bridge...there was a rally, press conference...and then...a "Hands Across the River". A human chain that virtually stretched across the international bridge.
In the evening, we attended a protest in Brownsville. I was coordinated and hosted by a group called CASA, under the direction of Elizabeth Garcia. Again, the media was plentiful. After a rally, there was another human chain...which felt more symbolically a human wall along the banks of Rio Grande...in opposition to the border wall. After the chain...there was a march from the park through downtown to the campus of the University of Texas Brownsville (see photos at Unidos Contra El Muro).
In both cases, elected officials showed up in support. The diversity of participants reflected those of us who reside on the border. There was no lack of color, size, age, religious affiliation. There was not lack of opposition to the wall. Lots of interviews were taken. Lots of pictures and video. Lots of sound bites...of diversified feelings about the wall. Mission accomplished!
This took the collaboration, coordination and willingness on the part of many folks...who may not have been heard or had their quotes or pics in the paper and on TV. Hopefully you can feel the reward of seeing the fruits of their labor. We're grateful to you...
Jay

Guantanamo hunger strikers defiant despite forced feedings

Guantanamo hunger strikers defiant, despite force feedings
By BEN FOX, Associated Press Writer

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Twice a day at the U.S. military prison here, Abdul Rahman Shalabi and Zaid Salim Zuhair Ahmed are strapped down in padded restraint chairs and flexible yellow tubes are inserted through their noses and throats. Milky nutritional supplements, mixed with water and olive oil to add calories and ease constipation, pour into their stomachs.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070720/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/guantanamo_hunger_strikes

Algonquin Defenders: Uranium, cancer and poisoned water

Canada: Sharbot Lake Rejects Offer

In Sharbot Lake within the past couple of months a small number of the Algonquins from the Ardoch First Nation repatriated their unceded traditional lands, still currently used by Natives and Non-Natives for hunting and fishing.

In the same area in Northern Ontario , a corporation called FRONTENAC VENTURES has been "testing" the area for "possible" uranium mining for a few years. The area they repatriated is currently under negotiations with CANADA . However these negotiations are "on hold" by CANADA . Yet FRONTENAC still has a license to carry on with their "testing".

Yesterday Frontenac Ventures made a financial offer to the Algonquins of Ardoch First Nation. This financial offer was flat out rejected by the Algonquins. No amount of money can ever compensate them for the likelihood of death, cancer, mutated births, still births, sterilization and other health risks that will arise as a direct result of uranium mining.

The health risks are too great for our future generations. The environmental damage will be substantial and unstoppable. Why take the risk with any of our children? The responsibility of our people is to maintain life for our future generations. That's all aspects of life. The plant life, animal life and human life. We are born with a responsibility to protect life, no matter what the cost is to us.

The Algonquins need our support as they are undertaking a HUGE responsibility. They are fighting to protect practically the whole watershed of Northeastern Ontario.
Everyone connected to that watershed will benefit, when the Algonquins are successful.

When asked about the financial offer one Algonquin stated, "...we can not be bought. (the land repatriation is) Not about money..."

Janie Jamieson

[To help contact:
Chief Paula Sherman 613-279-1970 paulasherman@trentu.ca
Bob Lovelace at 613-374-5598, Cell 613-532-2166;
Harold Perry 613-479-5534;
Lynn Daniluk 613-268-2746 Cell 614-267-0539;
Ormond Lee of the settler committee 613-267-7584

Post by MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com.
July 20, 2007.

Toxic trailers and smallpox blankets

News links at Indianz.com today : FEMA trailers contaminated

US government knew FEMA trailers were toxic:
http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/003999.asp

Toxic Trailers and Smallpox Blankets

Lakota Spiritual Leader, David Swallow, Speaks Out on Dangerous Conditions
by David Swallow, Lakota Spiritual Leader and a Headman of the Lakota Nation, Edited by Stephanie M. Schwartz and "Deja Vue, Indeed: The Evolving Story of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers," by Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer - Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)

Toxic Trailers and Smallpox Blankets
by David Swallow, Lakota Spiritual Leader and a Headman of the Lakota Nation
Edited by Stephanie M. Schwartz
© July 16, 2007 Porcupine, South Dakota

My name is David Swallow. I live near the community of Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I want to speak today. I want to speak out against ethnic cleansing, genocide, and extermination in these modern days.

Today, due to the terrible economic situation on the Pine Ridge Reservation, everyone knows that many poor people need housing. Horrible poverty is everywhere here. Reports say unemployment on Pine Ridge is around 85% or worse.

Many of my people are sick. I am told that the life expectancy here on Pine Ridge is between 48-52 years old. By this, I am one who has already lived past when they thought I would die.

There are some people who live good lives. BIA workers and Federal and State Government workers don’t live on the Reservation. They have jobs and live in nice housing in towns in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Others live good lives, too. Tribal Council members have jobs so they can afford decent housing. They live good.

But all these people are working together to bring toxic, contaminated FEMA trailers left over from Hurricane Katrina to the poorest people of Pine Ridge. They will be creating an ethnic cleansing like in the 1800s when the Government sent blankets to the reservations which had smallpox infection in them.

This new trailer housing creates disease. That is why the Government gives them away to Indians. The Government wants the oil, uranium, and rich minerals that might be on our land but the Indians are in the way of this.

That is the same reason the BIA and the Tribal Council started up the Land Consolidation Act of 2000, to buy up all the Reservation land. With no jobs, little food, and much homelessness, they put us in a position where we have to sell our land.

Now they’re trying to bring in trailer houses infested with toxic chemicals. These chemicals get into the air and make people very sick, especially the children, elders, mothers, and people already with health problems. The contamination causes cancer, heart diseases, lung diseases, rashes, mental problems, breathing problems, many horrible things.

If these trailers are such good housing, why doesn’t the mainstream people want to buy them? Why did their own inspectors warn them about the danger from the high levels of the chemicals? Why are the people already living in them suing the trailer makers and FEMA because of getting sick from the toxic poisons? Why will no one listen when many major mainstream news reports have talked about these FEMA trailers being toxic?

Every time we deal with the Government, they give us a deal like this. This is no good way.

I want to say, we are not “Indians.” We are Lakota. And we Traditional Lakota carry the Red Nation C’anunpa [Sacred Pipe] in Truth. Who walked this land first? The Red Man did. And he should be dealt with in a good way.

We need jobs, not charity. We don’t need contaminated hand-outs. We need lots and lots of jobs. We need good economic-development projects and programs on the Reservation. If we had jobs, we could build our own homes. With jobs, we would be able to solve many of our problems.

If anyone really cares about conditions on the Reservation, they should look to these things. They should not try to kill us with poisoned homes.

So this is what I have to say today. Ho h’ecetu yelo, I have spoken.

David Swallow, Wowitan Yuha Mani
Porcupine, South Dakota – The Pine Ridge Reservation


Deja vue, Indeed: The Evolving Story of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers

by Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer - Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)

© July 16, 2007 Firestone, Colorado Stephanie M. Schwartz

In June of 2007, Senator Tim Johnson, FEMA, Congress, and the BIA arranged for 2,000 FEMA trailers to be made available to the Native American reservations in dire need of housing. These trailers are part of the 8,000+ excess, unused FEMA trailers constructed for the victims of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina. Exactly which American Indian reservations and how many units each reservation will get remains yet to be decided.

The tribes will be required to pay transportation costs as well as the costs to prepare the lots, set the trailers up, and to winterize them. However, clearly this appeared to be a significant help towards the critical need of about
90,000 American Indian families in critical in need of adequate housing (as detailed in a 2003 study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights).

According to public statements, Senator Johnson specifically envisioned many of these trailers going to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, a place whose poverty-stricken conditions are likened to third world countries. The Senator and the BIA have been working closely with John Steele, Paul Iron Cloud, and the Tribal Council from Pine Ridge to make it all happen.

It seemed a surprisingly ideal solution, one which many people applauded at first as a huge humanitarian and logical move by the Federal Government. Ideal, that is, until one starts to investigate the history of these mobile homes and learns of an astonishing toxicity issue with the vast majority of the units.

Said to be fully-furnished, three bedroom units, these trailers were built during a construction frenzy created by FEMA's unprepared but immediate need to house Hurricane Katrina survivors. A report from the Sun Herald News in Mississippi in May of 2006 details the picture of this manufacturing frenzy.... untrained workers, a dearth of suitable materials, using materials possibly made outside the U.S. which contained higher levels of chemicals than normally allowed, and low quality control on hastily-created assembly lines.

Chemicals… therein lies the problem. The Government's public announcements about these trailers fail to mention the history of toxic contamination from formaldehyde which has been proven to exist in the FEMA trailers and mobile homes constructed for the victims of Katrina.

Formaldehyde is a chemical which emits gasses which the EPA considers to be highly toxic and carcinogenic (known to cause lung, nose, and throat cancer) but which is not regulated for trailer manufacturing in this country. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, exposure to formaldehyde toxins can create irritated eyes, breathing problems, headaches, asthma attacks, coughing, congestive heart disease, nausea, depression, memory-impairment, skin rashes, respiratory problems and even can lead to cancer. To compound the problem, high temperatures or high humidity increase the toxin levels.

Worse, for people who already are compromised with respiratory health issues, and for infants, children, nursing mothers, and elders, exposure can prove disastrous and even more deadly.

Formaldehyde is used in cheap building materials like particle board, plywood, curtains, molded plastics, counter tops, glue, carpet, insulation, and wallpaper. While normal trailers and mobile homes also contain these toxins, the FEMA trailers and mobile homes, hurriedly built as bare-bones cheap models, seem to contain significantly higher concentrations.

In 2006, the Sierra Club tested FEMA trailers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and found 83-94% of them to contain formaldehyde levels far above EPA and OSHA recommended workplace limits of 0.10 parts per million. Other testing has shown comparable results. Varying reports state that the gas levels emitted by the formaldehyde in the contaminated trailers ranged from 3 to 1,000 times the acceptable EPA limits.

Originally, FEMA's response to hundreds of complaints from Katrina victims was that the toxic vapors go away with adequate ventilation after about six months. However, continued testing has proven that not to be the case.

Additionally, according to a report given by journalist Dan Rather on HD-TV, information has come to light that FEMA was informed of the high toxicity by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) just two months after Katrina hit, in October 2005, but chose to ignore the information. Testing to ensure employee safety, OSHA found new units in four county FEMA staging areas to have toxicity levels 20 times above government standards just in the air outside the trailers.

Dan Rather further related his interview with a former FEMA employee who clearly indicated that not only was FEMA aware of the toxic problems but chose to ignore them. Moreover, the employee stated that FEMA advised their employees to remain silent about the test results.

In March of 2007, the Washington Post News reported FEMA's woes in trying to sell their excess trailers and mobile homes. Selling the units at 40 cents on the dollar seemed like simple poor financial management on the part of FEMA in this report.

However, in light of the contamination issues, it may have turned out to be the best financial move FEMA could have made.

In May, 2007, both ABC News and CBS News reported that Louisiana Dem. Senator Mary Landrieu and Louisiana Rep. Congressman Bobby Jindal have each independently called for hearings to address the FEMA trailer toxicity issues and FEMA's poor response as well as to what it knew, how much it knew, and when.

In June, 2007, the Louisiana Advocate News reported that a class-action lawsuit had been filed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Federal Court which claims that "hundreds of thousands" of people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama may have been exposed to dangerously high concentrations of carcinogenic formaldehyde fumes with no recourse or viable solution provided by FEMA.

According to a report in the Washington Post on July 13, 2007, Desiree Collins of Louisiana filed the original lawsuit regarding the contamination of the FEMA trailers. She allowed her lawsuit to become a class-action lawsuit for all Katrina survivors who are victims of the toxic exposure. On July 2, 2007, the 47 year old wife and mother died of lung cancer which was diagnosed only a week before she died. Her husband and children will continue the court case.

Obviously, it seems tragic enough that well over 75-85,000 families, victims of Hurricane Katrina, still have to remain trapped into living in their FEMA units two years after the fact, a home most likely contaminated and dangerous. That, in itself, defies anyone's definition of humanitarian aid.

Yet since June of 2007, with South Dakota Dem. Senator Tim Johnson leading Congress into approval, tribal councils are working hand in hand with the Federal BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) to bring 2,000 of these very same trailers to the reservations of South Dakota as well as to other reservations. Again, all under the guise of humanitarian aid.

Deja vue, indeed. We have been here before. The seeming-correlation of the distribution of toxic trailers to the reservations in 2007 and the government dispersing smallpox-infested blankets to the reservations in the 1800s is not so far-fetched at all. It just leaves one wondering…..

For More Information:

Website: Toxic Trailers
Informational Website Resource Dedicated to Katrina Victims Forced to Live in Contaminated Trailers
http://www.toxictrailers.com/

U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services: ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:
Medical Management guidelines for Formaldehyde (HCHO)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg111.html
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg111.pdf

Dan Rather Reports: 2007 Episode 216: Toxic Trailers
http://www.hd.net/transcript.html?air_master_id=A4558

ABC News: Congressman Wants FEMA Trailers Hearings
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3189161

CBS News: Congress Acts on FEMA Trailer Probe
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/18/cbsnews_investigates/main2827155.shtml

KRISTV: Corpus Christi, Texas: FEMA Trailer Plaintiff Dies of Lung Cancer
http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=6787670

KXMB News: Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota: FEMA Trailers Headed to Reservations
http://www.kxmb.com/News/Politics/137555.asp

Native American Times: Tulsa, Oklahoma: FEMA’s Potentially Toxic Trailers Headed for Indian Reservations
http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8834

Rapid City Journal: Rapid City, South Dakota: Unused FEMA Trailers Headed to Reservations Nationwide
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/23/news/top/doc467c2d5501f5e704745072.txt

Sierra Club: Mardi Gras Celebrations Overshadowed by Toxic Trailers
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2007-02-15.asp

Sierra Club: Delta Louisiana Chapter:
Testing by Sierra Club Shows Abnormal Levels of Formaldehyde in FEMA Trailers
http://louisiana.sierraclub.org/pdf/Formaldehydeteleconferencerelease5-16-06.pdf

Sierra Club: Mississippi Chapter: Fact Sheet: Toxic Trailers?
http://mississippi.sierraclub.org/
http://www.sierraclub.org/gulfcoast/downloads/formaldehyde_test.pdf

The Advocate and WBRZ News: Baton Rouge, Louisiana: New Orleans Woman Suing Mobile Home Vendor
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8008812.html?showAll=y&c=

The Anniston Star: Anniston, Alabama: The Alabama Legacy of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2007/as-columns-0708-0-7g07s4012.htm

The Sun Herald: Gulfport, Mississippi: Toxic Trailers
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/16754150.htm

Washington Post: Washington D.C.: FEMA Taking Hit on Sale of Surplus Trailers
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1228940021.html?dids=1228940021:1228940021&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&fmac=&date=Mar+8%2C+2007&author=Spencer+S+Hsu+-+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&desc=FEMA+Taking+Hit+on+Sale+of+Surplus+Trailers

Washington Post: Washington D.C.: FEMA Trailer Plaintiff Dies of Cancer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301417.html?sub=new

Stephanie M. Schwartz can be reached at SilvrDrach@Gmail.com
To view this and other Schwartz articles, visit http://www.silvrdrach.homestead.com/

This article may be reprinted, reproduced, and/or re-distributed unedited with proper attribution and sourcing for non-profit, educational, news, or archival purposes.

American Indian Movement Colorado

AIM Gatherings in Colorado

1. Tomorrow, the ceremony at Four Winds (5th and Bannock) that had been held on Sunday mornings, is moving to Saturdays. The ceremony tomorrow begins at 2:30 pm, and there will be a wopila (thanksgiving) meal to follow.
2. In conjunction with the wopila meal, we will have a going-away dinner for Michelle Running Wolf and her sons, Timberwolf and Gerald. Shelley and family are moving back to Cheyenne River, where Shelley will begin a new job on Monday! Please come and give your best wishes to Shelley, Timber and Gerald. They have been an essential part of our Colorado AIM family, and we will miss them. Shelley promises, however,that she is bringing a busload of folks back for Columbus Day!
3. On Tuesday, July 24th, the University of Colorado Regents will bevoting on whether to fire Ward. This is it. This is the final decisionin whether or not to fire our fellow AIM member and brother, Ward. Avigil is scheduled for Tuesday morning, and the Regents will havetheir meeting later in the day. This message comes from Natsuregarding the plans for Tuesday.
All who can, should try to make it toBoulder for part of the day Tuesday:July 24: Regents To Vote on Firing ChurchillMain Rally at 3:30pm – CU BoulderUMC South Plaza (Broadway at Euclid St.)D-Day in the struggle to defend free speech and Prof. Ward Churchillis Tuesday July 24.On that day, the CU Regents will vote after an all-day meeting, most of which will be closed to the public. But the Regents must come outto face us when they make their vote and explain it. So, be therewith us at 3:30pm for our main rally. We will observe their vote andmake our voices heard.If you can join us for more of the day, we will hold a small rally inthe morning (7:30am, UMC South Plaza) to show our presence and we willmaintain a vigil while the fight goes on behind closed doors.Here are 5 reasons why you should join us on July 24th:1) Our enemies are watching—this attack on Prof. Churchill is a keyrightwing "test case" for a much broader national assault. The easier they think it is to fire Ward Churchill on boguscharges of research misconduct, the more attacks we'll see onprofessors, staff, and students, on ethnic studies and women's studiesprograms, and on critical thinking.2) Our friends and allies across the country and around the worldare counting on us to represent them. In just the past month, 100'sof people have written to urge the Regents NOT to fire Prof.Churchill.3) This is your last chance to weigh in—this is the final step infiring Prof. Churchill.4) The University is counting on you not to come—why else scheduleit during the summer?5) It's never too late to do what's right, as Michael Meeropol,economist and son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg realized two weeksago: " I have hesitated to voice my support for Professor WardChurchill as his case was being adjudicated… These charges were (Ithought) substantive and went to the heart of our profession'sintegrity – relating to intellectual honesty. I have been moved,however, to finally raise my voice in protest after reading thedetailed analysis by Professor Tom Mayer…. To be frank and blunt, thecharges against Professor Churchill are bogus and represent a fig-leafof cover for a politically motivated firing…."The Regents may change their plans/location at the last minute, so,spread the word, stay tuned, and check out last minute developmentsat: http://www.wardchurchill.net/, where you can also find background andanalysis.Finally, we are students, faculty and staff at CU-Boulder who havebeen carrying on the struggle here since the beginning. Pleaserespect our game plan of holding a strong, peaceful rally and vigil.And finally,4. There is a celebration of the life of Helen Henry, one of thestrongest non-Indian supporters of AIM and of indigenous peoples thatI have ever known. Although she is frail, and about 85 years-old, sheis still keeping on, and her family has invited all of us to celebratewith them. I hope that a number of AIM people can attend, and that wecan sing for her, and show her our appreciation for her life, and forher alliance with us. Here are the details: Please join Helen's family, church and residential community incelebrating the life of our dear friend, longtime peace, indigenousrights, and social justice activist Helen Henry. Although her healthis declining, it would bring Helen great joy if her beloved friendscould join her for this party.When: Saturday, July 28, 3-6pmWhere: First Unitarian Church, Denver (14th and Lafayette), Community RoomWhy: Because we love her!What to Bring: Yourself and as many friends and family as would liketo come see herSome light refreshments will be provided by Helen's son Seth. Pleasedon't feel obliged to bring food or drink, but if you feel called todo so, that's just peachy too.There is no formal program, so please feel free to bring any stories,words, songs, or remembrances of Helen you would like to share withthe collective. Please join us to celebrate an extraordinary peacefulwarrior, as we renew and recommit ourselves to the struggle and her fine legacy.
from Colorado AIM