Tuesday, Nov 13 --- Day 11

The Caravan said good-bye to our lovely hosts in Austin as we made our way East to Houston. The drive took about four hours and went smoothly. Once in Houston we made our way to tonight's lodging at the Maryknoll House to drop off our things and prepare for our afternoon events.

First, we spoke with an amazing group of young adults at the Sharpstown Middle School in Houston. We were invited to present our topic during an after-school program for at-risk youth. Carlos began by conveying some of his experiences as a torture survivor, and later discussing the role of torture in war. Frankie also said a few words to the group about the importance of leadership among oppressed peoples. It was Tiel, however, who really got things going. She engaged students in a passionate discussion of race, class, empowerment, disempowerment, and the importance of thinking for oneself. The students with whom we met absolutely amazed us with their comments, insights, and questions. .... And to those students who are reading this now... Our ability to access the internet is very limited today, but Tiel promises be in contact as soon as she can. Thanks for making our afternoon!

Later in the evening Carlos was interviewed on-the-air by a local radio station concerning his recent court victory over the two Salvadoran generals responsible for his kidnapping and torture during the civil war in El Salvador. 90.1 KPFT, a Pacifica Radio station, broadcast his interview beginning at 8:15 pm local time on the show "Nuestra Palabra".

You can listen to the entire show here:

http://archive.kpft.org/pls.php?mp3fil=8348766

You can download the show here:

http://archive.kpft.org/mp3/071113_193001np.MP3

Note: The interview with Carlos takes place during the last 15 minutes of the one-hour show. Both links are directly from the KPFT website: kpft.org

A special thanks to Tony Diaz, Lianna Lopez, and Bryan Parras of "Nuestra Palabra" for making the interview possible. Please visit the show's websites: nuestrapalabra.org and myspace.com/nuestrapalabra

Host Tony Diaz interviews Carlos

And last, I just can't resist. If your shoe gets sick in Houston......

Thanks for reading!

Monday, Nov 12 --- Day 10

Our last full day in Austin, today was spent both downtown and at the University of Texas. We had lunch at a nice little taqueria before heading over to the UT to speak to students in the Latin American Studies Department. Renowned Central American author Arturo Arias, an old friend of Carlos', hosted the event.

Carlos spoke to an exceptionally engaged group of 45 students, who in turn had a number of intriguing questions. The entire event lasted over an hour and a half... a special thanks to the students for staying late!

After the event Professor Arias invited friends, colleagues, and our caravan to his house for a party. We enjoyed the chance to relax and take time to have fun with friends.

Author Arturo Arias (second from the left) poses with Tiel, Carlos, and Frankie in front of a small portion of his impressive literary collection

Carlos and Arturo addressing UT students

Sunset on the landmark UT Austin Tower

Sunday, Nov 11 --- Day 9

Watch Carlos tell his story over the internet! Video may take a minute to load:



[55 minutes. Filmed Nov 11, 2007 in Austin, Texas. Carlos begins by speaking about the recent political developments in Burma, where he spent 8 months earlier this year, before telling his own story and placing it within a larger context of national foreign policy.]

Today our group travelled to the northern region of Austin to the Live Oak Community Church. Carlos spoke to a small but personable group following the mid-afternoon service. Though today's audience was modest, many more will have the opportunity to hear & see the speech: local documentarians were on hand to film for Austin's cable access channel, and a radio show host from KOOP 91.7 FM Austin also recorded Carlos' story.

55 minutes of today's speech are now available here on the blog courtesy of blip.tv. A special thanks to Pam and Stefan Wray for making the video available online.

If you have problems playing the video above, please visit the following link to view the video in-site:

http://iconmedia.blip.tv/file/479561/

The following pictures are from today's event:

All pictures snapped at Live Oak Unitarian Church in Austin.

The Letter from Fr. Louie and Fr. Steve

Pasted below is the text of the letter that Fr. Louie Vitale and Fr. Steve Kelly were attempting to deliver when they were arrested at Ft Huachuca last November. For more info, please visit
http://tortureontrial.org/


TO: MAJ. GEN. BARBARA FAST

We are here today as concerned U.S. people, veterans and clergy, to speak with enlisted personnel about the illegality and immorality of torture according to international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.

We condemn torture as a dehumanization of both prisoners and interrogators, resulting in humiliation, disability and even death. In addition to the hundreds of detainees who have died, we are also concerned about U.S. military personnel. Alyssa Peterson committed suicide after participating in the torture of Iraqi prisoners. Lynndie England and others have been imprisoned for their illegal activities.

We are here today at Ft. Huachuca in solidarity with tens of thousands of people at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Ft. Benning, Georgia (formerly known as the School of the Americas) to say that the training of torturers must immediately stop. Nothing justifies the inhumane treatment of our fellow brothers and sisters.

Torture by U.S. military personnel has reached alarming proportions and has horrified people around the world. We are convinced that the Military Commissions Act of 2006 is unconstitutional. We totally reject its conclusions. Torture is a useless and unreliable tool that leads to an accepted practice of terrorization and the rationalization of wrongdoing.

We are here today to repent and clearly state that because of our sense of moral and human decency we condemn torture.

NOT IN OUR NAME.

Signed this 19th day of November, 2006
Louis Vitale, OFMÂ Â Â Steve Kelly, SJ

A Special Appeal From Tiel --- A Caravan Rider Speaks

I'm Getting Arrested!
Wanna help buy my ticket home?

[Photo: Riders Tiel and Frankie ]

On Sunday October 29th in the middle of the night my appendix got ta tripp'n, damn near dead and puking my own feces I drove myself from South Central to White Memorial Hospital in East Los Angeles. Less than 5 hours after they had cut my stomach open and taken my appendix, I ripped three IV's out my body and despite being admitted with no insurance until late Wednesday evening, I checked myself out of the hospital and into a state of clarity. Fear fled my being like cockroaches caught by kitchen lights, and I began to believe again. I have marched, protested, lobbied, organized, and studied in my small acts of resistance against the SOA, but as I laid up in dat hospital, I could not shake a conversation that I had two years ago while in DC lobbying with Hector. Like the family ink on my arms, his words became tattooed to my soul: the blessing is next to the wound. And so I began to ask myself, if the blessing is next to the wound, why am I so scared of getting hurt?..........

I have contemplated getting arrested for two years now, but punk'd out each time. I am very aware that the materialism and privilege I enjoy (even as a homeless and jobless community organizer) are at the foundation, the very core, of my not getting arrested, of my not advancing my own struggle towards liberation and solidarity. As I thought about past SOAW protests, I was flooded by images of my elders getting arrested and taking risks that should be my own. I became enraged with myself for allowing my elders to do "my work". I mean, these folks should be kick'n me down knowledge, advising my journey through the wisdom of their mistakes while simultaneously trusting the ever changing dynamics of innovative youth, but instead are left like single mothers to perform and master all roles within the movement. This is not to denounce or minimize the college kids organizing nor to say that old folks shouldn't get arrested, rather this is a call to myself and young people everywhere, particularly those of us from the slums, ghettos, and projects of this country, to STAND UP. It's evident that the system don't give a fuck about us, but the real question is do we give a fuck about each other? It is here in this space that I made the decision to get arrested and accept the 3-6 months prison time that accompanies the civil disobedience. I have been fortunate enough to receive bail assistance but am in desperate need of funds to secure a plane ticket home. I am calling on all those visiting the blog to offer solidarity in my attempt to resist by helping me to purchase my ticket back. There are indeed many roles to be played in the movement, and I am asking those of you who are in a position to do so, to do so! Getting arrested is not the climatic point of my involvement in struggle, rather the birthplace of a new phase of activism and resistance. If indeed you are interested in helping me to secure my ticket home you can get at me via email: tielrainelli@hotmail.com or by phone 323-742-3538.

I must keep it proper and offer a few shout outs/thank yous: to my mother, a thoroughbred bottom bitch who not only taught me to ride or die for my people and convictions but who also embodied dat soldier style mentality when she did her bid behind da wall wit her mouth shut and her eyes open-I luv you girl! To my SOLA families and South Central, the lessons in love and community that I have gained from yall drive my actions, strengthen my commitment to justice, and further develop my radical will. To Marianne, whose integrity and profound commitment to non-violence has inspired, challenged, and helped to heal me. To my fellow Ragers from SCCC, youth and adult- the honesty and acceptance we share each Friday is the most important set of interactions I have yet to experience, I carry your anger and rage with me as I transform my own! To Charlita, my sister in struggle whose support and understanding has provided a space for my tears and laughter. To the entire SOAW Community whose agency, persistence, and resilience have forced me to challenge my own struggles with victimization, therefore demanding levels of self-accountability previously unseen. And to my Fly Girl, who in my first week out tha hospital nursed me back to health on levels that stretch far beyond the physical- you know what it is girl!

And finally......

To my slum livin young people search'n for meaning in a society that isolates and oppresses us, I call upon your critique, your lived experience, and your participation in the struggle. No longer should we allow others to speak for us, it is indeed time we spoke and organized for ourselves. Oppression has left us with a sickness that disrupts and perverts our capacity to love and resist and we have an undeniable responsibility to ourselves and each other to decolonize our minds and rebuild our communities.

Get Free Or Die Try'n!

In Solidarity and Struggle,

-T-

Saturday, Nov 10 --- Day 8

Today is our day of rest --- no scheduled speaking events. I (Joe) spent the day resting and catching up on emails and the blog, and tackling technical problems with my computer and camera… seems they are smarter than I sometimes.

The rest of the group headed into Austin to visit friends and a local museum.

I snapped these photos of our hosts' backyard. A very restful place indeed... We are grateful for their tremendous hospitality.

Carlos telling a story

Frankie in the hammock

Friday, Nov 9 --- Day 7

Today we left El Paso at 6 am and embarked on the longest single-day drive of the trip: El Paso to Austin. West Texas is a scenic stretch of desert, slowly giving way to greener foliage as we approached the city.

Beautiful Texas sunrise just East of El Paso

Texas countryside on the path to Austin

The drive was long, and it was a relief to arrive in Austin and be able to stand up and stretch. We got in about 5 pm in order to join local SOA Watch Austin in their weekly protest outside the capitol building. We held the sign (seen below) for an hour and had a number of thumbs-up and honks of support from passing motorists. After the protest we enjoyed dinner near the capitol before heading to stay with our host family.

SOA Watch-Austin member Ken Hayes holds up one end of the protest banner. Ken informed

us that Austin is organizing a bus to the vigil at the gates of Ft. Benning. Over 60 people from Austin and surrounding areas in Texas will be heading to the protest next week. We'll see you there Austin!