Announcements:

De-federalize the National Guard

Press conference announcing state legislation to de-federalize the NJ National Guard

Posted on 7/3/08 by

Military Families Speak Out Weekly Newsletter

Read a copy of MFSO's latest newletter: Two Page Note relating to how the US continues operations with no legal constraints in Afghanistan HERE.

Returning To The Ranks - Fort Jackson's Task Force Trains, Prepares Troops Re-Entering Active Duty
(Columbia (S.C.) State, September 1, 2008, Pg. B1) More than 5,000 soldiers and sailors from the Individual Ready Reserve have returned to the U.S. military's active-duty ranks after taking refresher training at a Fort Jackson unit called Task Force Marshall. Based at the South Carolina National Guard's McCrady Training Center at the east end of the post, the task force is not a mini-boot camp. Instead, it is geared toward helping troops get back in the groove of Army life. Members of the Ready Reserve are soldiers who have been on active duty but have not completed their eight-year obligation.

How many more times will our same troops be put in harm’s way? My own son is leaving this week for his 4th overseas deployment. He graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology in May, magna cum laude, but was unable to find a job. No one wants to hire a Reservist. Employers know they will be redeployed. My son and his wife are expecting their first child shortly. He will not see his child until the baby is almost ready to walk – if he is lucky. My son felt that he had no other choice – he re-enlisted so he could support his family.

Peace,

Anna Berlinrut
MFSO Essex County, NJ Chapter

Posted on 9/4/08 by Military Families Speak Out Essex Co.

Confiscated computers returned to Pastors for Peace Caravan

July 14, 2008 — for immediate release

CONTACTS:

In McAllen, TX: Ellen Bernstein: 646/319-5902, 646/319-5904

In New York: Lucia Bruno: 212/926-5757, 347/423-4330

PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN COMPLETES ITS 19TH CHALLENGE

OF THE US BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA:

"DETAINED" COMPUTERS RELEASED BY US AUTHORITIES AND SENT ON TO CUBA



Members of the 19th US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan returned to the US today after challenging the US blockade on travel to Cuba and delivering nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid to that island nation. When they crossed through Mexico and reached the US border at Hidalgo, TX today, the members of the caravan were processed through US Immigration and Customs.

Responding to constant pressure from communities all across the US, US officials then returned to the caravan the 32 computers that had been seized on July 3.

"It’s difficult for even the US government to enforce the blockade against us, since they know that we are acting on the basis of our moral principles -- principles which are supported by the great majority of the US people," said Rev. Thomas Smith, president of the board of directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.

Determined caravanistas then hand-carried the 32 computers across the International Bridge from Hidalgo, Texas into Reynosa, Mexico.

The computers will be sent from Reynosa on to Cuba, which means that every item of the nearly 100 tons of humanitarian aid collected by the caravan from all across the US will in fact be donated to Cuba.

"We appreciate that the computers were released today. But our work could not be complete until we knew for sure that the computers would be on their way to their intended home," said Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. "In fact, even now, our work is not complete — not until this mean-spirited, foolish, petty, counterproductive, immoral blockade against our Cuban sisters and brothers is ended."

The caravan program in Cuba included visits to different provinces, homes for the elderly, and health care sites. Caravanistas also visited the Latin American School of Medicine, where young people from 30 nations of the Americas and Africa are studying medicine on full scholarship in order to serve as physicians in their home countries. More than 100 of the students in this program are from medically under-served communities in the US.

Caravanistas are already planning for next year’s 20th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, which is expected to have broad participation, including a large youth contingent to participate in next year’s US/Cuba ‘Hip Hop Exchange."

Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for 40 years in support of social justice. More information about the caravan and photo images are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org.[url]

Posted on 7/15/08 by

Pastors for Peace Caravan harassed at border

MEDIA ADVISORY

Thursday, July 3, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
In McAllen, Texas: Ellen Bernstein 646/319-5902
In New York City: Lucia Bruno 212/926-5757


Homeland Security Agents Seize 31 Computers Bound for Cuba at Texas Mexico Border

Pastors for Peace Caravan Threatened With Arrest
for Exercising Their Right to Protest

Despite previous agreements, federal agents seized 31 computers from the Pastors for Peace as they attempted to cross Pharr International Bridge early this morning at the US-Mexico border.

The U.S. government has forced the issue by turning back on previous actions and agreements" said Rev. Lucius Walker, Executive Director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. " They have intentionally provoked and harass us he continued.

"We will not be intimidated. We have made every effort to be cooperative and they have responded with aggression. These computers are the same type as the hundreds we have taken in the past", said Rev. Walker.

These computers were donated by a Japanese-American group from the Bay Area of California. They were so impressed with Cuba's educational system that they collected used PCs from their community to contribute to the 19th Pastors for Peace US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan.

In addition to the computers, participants are taking 100 tons of humanitarian aid across the US-Mexico border and on to Cuba. The aid includes wheelchairs, medicine, musical instruments, sports equipment, six brightly-painted school buses and a bookmobile to be donated to the people of Cuba.

The caravanistas are challenging US law by delivering aid and traveling to Cuba without a license. They range in age from 8 to 86, and include Irish, British, German, and Canadian citizens as well as US citizens. Seven members of the caravan are Cuban-Americans. The Caravan also includes a contingent of hip hop and spoken word artists who will be meeting up with their fellow artists in Cuba.

Although they come from a broad variety of ages and backgrounds, the caravanistas are united in their determination to bring an end to the immoral and unjust blockade against Cuba. Explaining why they are participating in this year's Friendshipment Caravan, caravanistas said:

"A person does not need an ancestral connection with Cuba in order to believe that what America has done and continues to do is not only immoral but denies us our right to travel as Americans."

"It is our obligation as citizens to be informed about what is happening 90 miles off our shores; I am addressing this by witnessing it with my own eyes."

Pastors for Peace is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), an ecumenical agency with a 40-year history of work for social justice. More information and photo images of the caravan are available at www.pastorsforpeace.org.

Posted on 7/3/08 by