 December
10th - United Nations |
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- Finally
arriving in New York City, the Freedom Riders readied for
the Truth Commission.
- We
worked to make our voice heard at a rally against the coming
war against Iraq; this 90-foot banner stated "Billions
for War, Nothing For the Poor."
- Spokesperson
Cheri Honkala later particpated in civil disobedience against
the war.
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The
Truth Commission hearings were held in the UN Church Center,
across the street from the United Nations building. The
Freedom Riders and their supporters packed the sanctuary.
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The
Commissioners charged with evaluating the testimony and
preparing a report included:
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Galen
Tyler, from KWRU, led the proceedings while Cheri Honkala
was in jail from the anti-war demonstration. We heard powerful
testimony from a wide diversity of speakers, including:
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Glenda Adams - Poor Voices United, Atlantic City, NJ
- Sara
Mesina - Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights,
Northeast Ohio
- Wayne
Riddick - United Workers Association, Baltimore, MD
- Rosa
Peria, Arnold Mirales Human Rights Project
- Anthony
Gindraw, New Jerusalem Recovery Community
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Daryl Larson, Kansas Independent Farmers Union
- Mary
Bricker-Jenkins - Temple University School of Social Work
- Roger
Normand - CESR
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In
addition to the testimony, we stopped for rememberances of
Paul Wellstone and Tony Mazzochi, leaders, allies, and freedom-fighters
who have recently passed away. Bob Brown (of the Labor Party)
and Daryl Larson led the tributes.
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Our
International Representatives gave statements of their experiences
as Human Rights Monitors. Andrea from the MST (Brazillian
Landless Workers Movement) said: "I have been on the
bus tour for 20 days....[I have seen] families with nowhere
to live or eat having to live in homelss shelters. Immigrants
are suffering from discrimination...this population does
not have access to public healthcare...I [also] saw was
this this population loves their country. And that is why
this people should organize and fight for their economic
human rights....I will bring with me the promise to dencounce
what I have seen here...Together, people can make change."
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Rev.
David Wildman led a prayer to begin the proceedings.
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As
the Commissioners left to discuss what they had heard, the
Human Rights Choir led the assembly
in songs, including "The Rich Man's House" and the
children's song.
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The Commissioners
returned with a preliminary statement and the promise to deliver
a full response to the testimony. That response, together
with the full text of the testimonies will be posted on this
website and www.economichumanrights.org.
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The Truth
Commission, and the New Freedom Bus Tour, concluded with a
strong sense of purpose. Next year, the 35th anniversary of
the Poor People's March Martin Luther King was working for
when he died, we will march that same route - from Mississippi
to Washington DC.
We also
remembered that some of the Freedom Riders had no home to
go home to - KWRU members are preparing to fight together
for these families.
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