SHARE EL SALVADOR
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Our Model
    • History >
      • Going Home Campaign
      • Land Transfer Program
      • Seeds of Hope
      • Women’s Literacy Campaign
      • Sister Parish Program
    • Supporters
    • Staff and Board
    • Contact Us
    • Annual Reports
  • Our work
    • Scholarship Program
    • Advocacy
    • Roses in December
    • Grassroots Partnerships
  • Campaigns
    • El Salvador >
      • Women Sowing Seeds of Hope
      • Cancer Prevention
  • Delegations
    • Major Delegations
    • Sistering Delegations
    • Youth Delegations
    • Tours >
      • U.S. National Tour: Spring 2018
    • Theological Seminars
  • Blog
  • Donate

We visited the Guapinol Eight - July 6th

7/9/2021

0 Comments

 
By Tom De Meo
Picture
There are times when all pretense and superficiality passes away, and things become focused and serious in a surreal way.  This day was one of those times.

Today we visited the Guapinol Eight, so named because they are eight prisoners of conscience in detention for protesting against mining development in a national park affecting the Guapinol River.  They are in a prison in Olanchito.  We actually only visited seven prisoners, as the eighth remains in a high security prison in la Ceiba.

For many of us, especially us less experienced visitors, this was a unique experience.  These men have been in detention for two years, and their families receive continuous threats.  They each briefly introduced themselves, as did we.  We expressed our profound respect for their efforts and our commitment to doing what we could, however limited or inadequate, to further their release.  They expressed optimism and gratitude for our presence.  I noticed all the prisoners were clean, with fresh clothes, and that the guards were cordial and accommodating.

In the end all that mattered was that we were there.  In the Catholic faith we talk about the importance of presence, of being there.  We left some gifts of towels and toiletries, hoping they would not be stolen.  Sister Mary blessed us with a closing prayer, and we were on our way out the door.
​
My only other thought on this is that we should all dedicate ourselves to doing what we can to have these people released—writing our Representatives and Senators, advocating however we can…. La lucha continua

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    SHARE EL SALVADOR

    SHARE STRENGTHENS SOLIDARITY WITH AND AMONG THE SALVADORAN PEOPLE IN EL SALVADOR AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Jobs and Internships
Frequently asked Questions

SHARE El Salvador
2425 College Ave,
Berkeley, CA 94704

Mission
SHARE strengthens solidarity with and among the Salvadoran people in El Salvador and the United States in the struggle for economic sustainability, justice, and human and civil rights.
Vision
To transform society, SHARE increases the capacity of organized communities and their partners through our model of mutual accompaniment.

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Our Model
    • History >
      • Going Home Campaign
      • Land Transfer Program
      • Seeds of Hope
      • Women’s Literacy Campaign
      • Sister Parish Program
    • Supporters
    • Staff and Board
    • Contact Us
    • Annual Reports
  • Our work
    • Scholarship Program
    • Advocacy
    • Roses in December
    • Grassroots Partnerships
  • Campaigns
    • El Salvador >
      • Women Sowing Seeds of Hope
      • Cancer Prevention
  • Delegations
    • Major Delegations
    • Sistering Delegations
    • Youth Delegations
    • Tours >
      • U.S. National Tour: Spring 2018
    • Theological Seminars
  • Blog
  • Donate