Run, Chris, Run

4 July 2011

Dear Anne,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,

“Do you love me?” and he said to him,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” –John’s Gospel, Chapter 21

Time is up! This Independence Day freedom means more to me than ever. Now I know the privilege of everyday ordinary citizenship in a whole new way. Unlike most ex-offenders with whom I have served time in federal custody, I resume my status as a full fledged citizen. I retain my access to the mainstream of the American work-force and with my right to vote intact may still effectively influence elected officials. Meanwhile ex-offenders with felonies have no such privileges.

For my birthday I completed a ten-month certificate program to become a Pace e Bene agent for non-violent change. The final workshop was based on Bill Moyer’s Doing Democracy introducing his eight-stage model of social movements. I learned that in every movement people are called to participate in four key roles: the rebel, the citizen, the reformer, and the change agent. As we use are gifts and talents to chose the role that’s right for each of us, we’re called to make effective contributions. Finally, all roles are welcome!

His analysis explains my transition within the movement to close the U.S. Army School of the Americas. My role as a rebel has come to an end. Next I reclaim the responsibilities of an active citizen. I am grateful to my extended community for helping me through prayer to be an effective rebel or prisoner of conscience. The protection God has given me as I’ve served my time is only explained by such community prayer.

As a citizen deeply concerned about the SOA/WHINSEC I am choosing to support the movement as a fundraiser.

I’m really nervous! But Anne, I value the tradition of Christian almsgiving and I want to inspire that Christian virtue in others. So, now as I transition from the prophetic role to active member of the Church, I still get to be a leaven for the common good.

How? By running a marathon! Since I arrived at the Salvation Army Correction halfway house, I received church passes to attend Old St. Patrick’s Church. There I accepted an invitation to get involved on the Chicago marathon charity team. Friends know this is my third marathon, and my first fundraising effort. To be honest I just wanted to run the marathon for fun. I know, God has given me the gift of doing the strangest things for fun: Civil Disobedience and marathons, some idea of fun.

Chris

Write to Chris!

Hello friends!

I had the pleasure of speaking to Chris by phone several days ago. He is doing well. He has his own room in the halfway house in Chicago and he feels he has adjusted to life there. He does not have work yet and seems to be doing some creative things to make money. It's different from the prison of course -- he is able to get out and about once a week, stealing away to the library or to Mass. He also says that he really supports what the halfway house is all about -- that it is in fact "part of the solution." They do a great deal in the way of job prep and emotional support for the guys who are transitioning back into society.

It seems though, by talking with him, Chris is lonely. He gets along with everyone well but because everyone has there own rooms, he doesn't seem to have as much quality interaction with people. So, if you have time, send him a card or a letter at:

Chris Spicer #94642-020
105 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago,Ill 60607

It would mean a great deal to him!

Blessings,
anne

Update from SOA Watch

Watch Prisoners of Conscience released from federal prisons.
Pedro Guzmán released from the Stewart Detention Center!

We are so excited to tell you that Father Louis, David Omondi and Pedro Guzman have been released from prison!

Last Friday David was met by friends and family at Yazoo City, Mississippi, and Father Louie at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution, California. After serving six months in prison for crossing the line onto Fort Benning during the 2010 November Vigil, they are glad to see loved ones and open space. They've sacrificed a lot to help transform this culture of militarism into one of justice and peace.

Can you join them in taking a stand? If you haven’t already, contact your representative today and urge them to sign on to the congressional letter calling for the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC by executive order.

Following 19 months of incarceration at the Stewart Detention Center (one of the largest immigrant prisons in the U.S.), Pedro Guzman has been released! Pedro's unjust incarceration was the focus of a protest and civil disobedience action in the lead-up to the 2010 November Vigil.

As Father Louis, David and Pedro head home, and while the SOA Watch Prisoners of conscience Nancy and Chris remain locked up, we have been stepping up efforts in the halls of the Capitol to build support for two important Congressional sign on letters. If you take action today, it will help strengthen our case and bring us even closer to shutting down the SOA and archiving justice in Honduras.

Charges against SOA Watch activists still pending in Columbus, Georgia and Washington, DC
All charges against Kaelyn Forde and Jon Conway, two of the journalists who were among those indiscriminately arrested by the Columbus police during the 2010 November Vigil, were dropped on Thursday, May 19, 2010. Nineteen of those who were arrested in Georgia last November still have pending charges of "unlawful assembly," "demonstration without a permit" and "picketing" against them. The SOA Watch Legal Collective is working with them on their legal defense.

Fifteen SOA Watch activists are scheduled to go to court in Washington, DC on September 12. The 15 were part of the die-in on the White House sidewalk during the SOA Watch Days of Action in April 2011. They engaged in the nonviolent direct action to call for an end to U.S. militarization in the Americas and on President Obama to sign an executive order to shut down the School of the Americas.

Thank you for all that you do in this movement! Let us keep everyone who is being targeted by the criminal (in)justice system and Nancy and Chris in our thoughts, write to them in prison and help magnify the courageous actions of all the prisoners of conscience by turning up the heat in Congress to close the SOA/WHINSEC for good.

Yours in struggle,

SOA Watch

P.S. Already taken action? You can help spread the word about this vital work by sharing this action with your friends and family here.

Help SOA Watch accompany Honduran community leaders whose lives are being threatened.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s already given to our new Honduras Accompaniment Program. Since the 2009 coup led by SOA graduates, over 80 political assassinations have taken place in Honduras. As a recent SOA Watch delegation substantiated, the numbers of murders, detentions and death threats to community leaders and human rights activists have spiraled in recent weeks. Our partners in Honduras have asked that we send Spanish-speaking international accompaniers to vulnerable communities. The mere presence of international observers can literally save lives of those struggling for justice in Honduras.

Thanks to your generosity, we have already raised $4283. There is still time to help us reach our goal of $5,000 to allow us to launch this program in June. If you haven't already done so, please give today! www.soaw.org

Chris' new address

HI folks!

Here's another update from moms!

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Chris called and said he had a safe trip and a precious furlough of 24 hours flying to Chicago and getting to stop and visit in the wee hours with his friends and community members of White Rose Catholic Worker of Chicago before he presented himself at the downtown correctional institution which may be his "home" til July 3. His address is: 105 S. Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60607

He was able to get a pass to walk to St Pat's Cathedral yesterday for Mass, but will need to stay on the grounds for the rest of the week getting 25 credits of classes toward "reentry". He has a SINGLE room and a job there of washing showers at 9PM. Then the next week he must be looking for work.

Blessings,
Marti

Reflection from Mom

Below Marti reflects on her visit with Chris today as he awaited his plane transfer to Chicago. It's very touching, please read!
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Dear Anne, Family and friends,

Chris' Dad and I were able to pick him up at FDC Seatac and spend some precious time with him before he flew to Chicago to serve the last 6 weeks of his sentence at a Salvation Army halfway house. It was a joy to be able to be with him during this transition. He actually got out a few minutes early and had a chance to just sit quietly in the sun and contemplate the building, the blue sky and red azaleas...Then we picked him up and took him 1 block down the hill to a park with hiking trails, trees, birds singing. After a little time he picked a spot and we had time for a family prayer along with the Eucharist we had brought (his #1 request). Then we had coffee with Dad before he had to drop us at the airport and head back to work. Chris and I had a lovely visit over a nice meal -- he chose veggie pasta and we got salad, a fruit plate and some other things he had had little of...

He expressed appreciation for all the support of prayers,books, letters and visits (and the prayer and SOA/US prisons information night that was co-hosted by the St Joseph's Sister Parish El Salvador Committee and the Spicer Family. That night May 13th, we had the co-leaders of the PacNW SOAWATCH sharing, a video about the SOA and prayers of fifty attendees).

Chris said that the letters have been deeply moving but he is overwhelmed knowing he can not respond to them all and is hopeful that people have referred to the jailhousegenesis blog for information and updates. For the next week, he will have no or limited ability to leave the facility and probably limited phone and e-mail capability. We don't even have an address yet.
Folks in Chicago can only visit when they have applied and been approved through the BOP system.

So a new phase of his prison experience begins! Thank you for prayers for his continued journey. He has been safe and learned and given along the way.

Anne, THANK YOU so much for all your work on Chris' letters and blog!!! It has really lightened his load! I will try to send a picture of Chris as he was picked up today when I get it back from developing.

Marti

Fresh Air!

Well, the day has arrived. Tomorrow, Thursday, May 19th, Chris will be released early to finish his sentence in Chicago at a halfway house! I haven't been able to talk with him since my visit, so unfortunately I cannot report on how he is doing. Please continue to pray for him as he makes his transition. He'll be in the halfway house until the completion of his sentence, July 3. After that, he is free.

It is likely that Chris will want to post himself on this blog once he gets out, to share directly with all of you. Please stay tuned for several more weeks. Chris and his family have greatly appreciated your prayers, support, encouragement, books, letters ...everything!

Blessings,
anne

The Tumult of Visitors Day

30 April 2011

Dear Anne,

"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.... She said, 'If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.'" Mk 5:28

After our visitors left, Desmond said to me: "My son...he keeps asking when I am coming home so I can make pancakes. He tells his mom she doesn't make them right..." Anne, you say there's something hard about me. You looked around the visitors room and said "Some of these men look scary." If only you knew our own fear, how hard it is to enter that visiting room... Cole on Friday night was clean-shaven and studded out with slicked hair to greet his lover. Afterward, when there were only remnants of the neighborhood late night snack he had prepared, he sat sullen in his room with Don, who, hyper as ever, after failing to cheer Cole up was probably desperate when he fetched a peanut butter wafer for me. Cole said, "Part of it was my fault. I had left my ID in the kitchen and couldn't find it." That slip ate ten minutes away of the visit. his friend came at 6:55 but because of the delay Cole arrived at 7:35, meaning only an hour and twenty-five minutes remained for a visit. "They should punish us, not them," Cole said. "They shouldn't treat our guests like that Greg agreed. But always a visit is bittersweet. Today I felt numb trying to believe your presence in the blueness of the veins in your hands, how you flip your hair back, and the silver hoop swings from your ear.

Chris