DJPC Celebrates a Quarter Century of Solidarity
by Brenda K. Gillen

In 1979, Jimmy Carter was President, gas was rationed, and there was a meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. While Americans worried about the possibility of nuclear fallout, mothers in developing nations watched their babies waste away. An estimated one million babies under the age of one died from malnutrition caused by reliance on infant formula. That didn't sit well with John Proctor and a small group of Denver's citizens. They banded together to participate in an international boycott to protest unethical marketing of infant formula in the third world. The boycott, aimed at the Swiss-based Nestlé Corporation and its subsidiaries, became a global campaign. The matter was settled in 1981 when the World Health Organization voted to restrict the promotion of such products. In Denver, the organizers of the local boycott formed the Denver Justice and Peace Committee to address global injustice in developing nations.

On Nov. 12, 2004, more than 200 supporters filled the Cameron United Methodist Church in celebration of the Denver Justice and Peace Committee's 25 th anniversary. The festivities included a potluck, silent auction, music, speakers, and awards for hard-working activists. The evening was about history, both past, and that yet to be written. Topics discussed during the event included the ongoing struggles of the Latin American people, the recent divisive U.S. election, and efforts for peace during a protracted war on terrorism.

The group's early international actions were recalled, including DJPC's 1980s era participation in a campaign against Western Airlines' cooperation with the U.S. government's deportation of Salvadorans, and a movement to declare Denver a sanctuary for Central American refugees. DJPC programs continue to support Latin Americans. The CAMINOS program sponsors a human rights observer in Guatemala to accompany witnesses seeking justice in legal cases against former military dictators. Locally, the Global Solutions to Violence Program teaches Denver-area high school students about peace, nonviolence, and globalization. These programs are funded in part by proceeds from a silent auction held during the anniversary celebration. A variety of items were available for bid, including fine art, books, clothing, jewelry, food, and gift certificates for massages, Spanish lessons, and even a haircut. Over $1200 was raised from the auction.

William Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, was the keynote speaker for the event and recipient of the DJPC Global Justice and Peace award. Since 1994, Schulz has been a spokesperson for Amnesty, carrying the message about human rights to local, national, and international audiences. Before joining Amnesty the ordained Unitarian Universalist minister was president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. He was involved in a variety of social justice causes including championing the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Romania in the early 1990s. Throughout his career, he has defended the rights of women, gays, lesbians, and prisoners.

Schulz discussed human rights violations occurring in the U.S. under the guise of security as detailed in his recent book, Tainted Legacy: 9/11 and the Ruin of Human Rights (Nation Books, 2003). While he spoke about horrific things that are occurring—ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan, the war in Iraq, and a billion women worldwide subjected to violence—Schulz said activists must remain optimistic while focusing on the long haul. He said, “The arc of the universe bends toward justice” and offered as examples the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam when the majority of Americans still favored U.S. involvement in the conflict, and recent polls indicating declining support for the death penalty.

Schulz also urged DJPC members to resist divisive efforts. “This isn't just a one party America. This is our America, too.” Looking beyond the polarizing election of 2004, Schulz envisioned a future with human rights, with justice, and most of all, with hope.

The annual gathering provided the opportunity for DJPC members to congregate and for the board to show its appreciation for members' efforts throughout the year. Harriet Mullaney, Board/Vice-Chair, acknowledged contributions of every member, from those involved in the Nestlé boycott to the newest ones. Each year, the board recognizes the outstanding contributions of one member. The John Proctor Member of the Year award was presented to Wendy Hawthorne. The award, named after the volunteer who organized the Denver area component of the Nestlé boycott, was bestowed on Hawthorne for her commitment to DJPC. She served on the DJPC board from 1999 to Spring 2004, dedicating herself to furthering DJPC goals and enhancing the success of its programs. Outside DJPC, she manages Lead-Safe Denver, a program that improves housing conditions for low-income children. She also was active in the political campaigns of Howard Dean, John Kerry, and Mike Miles. Wendy's participation as a witness in a lawsuit filed by DJPC against the Golden Police Department last year deepened her understanding of the need for DJPC and organizations of its kind.

DJPC's work in Latin America was brought home by Otoniel de la Roca Mendoza, a Guatemalan refugee who gave a moving account of his experiences. He was captured by the Guatemalan Army in the mid 1980s, held as a POW, and tortured. Paramilitary groups in Guatemala executed his wife, parents, sister, and a cousin. He sought refuge in the U.S. in 1997, but as recently as July 2004, a family member was executed as part of an effort to intimidate him. The killings and threats, according the Amnesty International, are related to de la Roca's appearances before the Inter-American Court in Costa Rica. He wants the murderers of his family found and put on trial. His story illustrates the importance of the Denver Justice and Peace Committee's ongoing solidarity with Latin Americans.