wfn.org | Re: Queen Elizabeth inducts MCC/MBM worker into order of British

[Mennonite Central Committee Communications]

TOPIC:  QUEEN ELIZABETH INDUCTS MCC/MBM WORKER INTO ORDER OF BRITISH
EMPIRE
DATE:   February 21, 1997
CONTACT:  Emily Will
V: 717/859-1151 F: 717/859-2171
E-MAIL ADDRESS:  mailbox@mcc.org

A joint release of MCC and Mennonite Board of Missions

LONDON -- On February 11, Joe Campbell became the
first person affiliated with Mennonite Central Committee
(MCC) and Mennonite Board of Missions (MBM) to be
named a member of the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II inducted Campbell and
some 100 other people into the order at a ceremony at
Buckingham Palace here.

Queen Elizabeth chatted with Campbell as she presented
him with the award, asking about his work.  She told him
how much she had enjoyed a rare visit to Northern
Ireland during the cease-fire and that, like so many
others, had been heartbroken when the cease-fire
ended.

Campbell doesn't know who nominated him for the award,
only that it was for "services to the community in
Northern Ireland."  His work in Northern Ireland spans
more than 20 years.  In the past he has worked with the
YMCA and Frontier Youth Trust.  Currently, Campbell,
who is Irish, works in conflict resolution with the
Mediation Network of Northern Ireland.  He also directs
MCC and MBM programs in Northern Ireland.

The Order of the British Empire was instituted in 1917 by
King George V, initially to honor civilians who had
served their local communities during World War I.

Each of the 100 people honored on February 11 were
allocated three guest tickets.  Excited to be at the palace
with Joe were his wife, Janet, eldest daughter, Esther,
19, and son, Colin, 18.  The Campbell's youngest
daughter, 10-year-old Lisa, enjoyed a visit to Hamleys
Toyshop and afterwards joined the family for
photographs and a celebration lunch.

                        -30-

Alison Lyon, for MCC Communications Department

esw21february1997

Alison Lyon is a free-lance writer from London.  She is a
member of St. Martin-in-the-Field Anglican Church in
London.
MCC photo available:  Joe Campbell with his family in
front of Buckingham Palace.  (MCC photo by Gordon
Gray)
 TOPIC:  MCC NEW ORLEANS WORKERS JOIN COALITION TO PROTEST
FRATERNITY'S RACIST ACTIONS
DATE:   February 21, 1997
CONTACT:  Deborah Fast
V: 717/859-1151 F: 717/859-2171
E-MAIL ADDRESS:  mailbox@mcc.org

NEW ORLEANS--Four Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
U.S. workers joined others in protesting recent
activities of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity
here.  Brenda Zook, Kelly Going, Julie Litwiller and
Suzanne Southard were part of a coalition that organized
a press conference January 23 to call attention to racist
and intimidating actions by fraternity members.

Members of the DKE fraternity, also known as "Dekes,"
sent out a flier proclaiming January 20--the federal
holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther
King Jr.--as a "DKE National Holiday."  The flier invited
people to "Come celebrate the King's birthday with fried
chicken from Popeye's [a local fast-food restaurant],
watermelon and a 'forty' [a 40-ounce bottle of alcoholic
beverage]."

The fraternity, while not recognized by Loyola
University and suspended from Tulane University, both
located in New Orleans, continues to recruit students and
distribute materials at both institutions.

"Actions such as [promoting the 'DKE holiday'] create a
climate of fear and intimidation in which people of color
must live not only on the campuses of Tulane and Loyola,
but also in the Greater New Orleans area and throughout
the country," Carrie Anderson of European Dissent, a
white anti-racist organization, was quoted as saying in
the Times-Picayune.

Coalition representatives, including the four MCC
workers, described the DKE flier as "despicable," and
called on the fraternity to shut down its house and be
held accountable for its members' racist activities. 
Although a month has passed since the incident, public
debate continues through letters to the editor in the
Times Picayune.  Ultimately the fraternity party did not
take place; the Louisiana Weekly cited the protests as
the reason.

MCC workers here say learning about and fighting
against racism have become part of their assignments. 
For Going, a recent unit retreat that included driving to
Selma, Ala., and Montgomery, Ala., to learn more about
the civil rights movement made a difference in how she
responded to the situation with the fraternity flier.

"That trip made it possible for me to more fully
understand what Martin Luther King Jr. did, and what it
means to slander his name," Going comments.  "King said,
'If there isn't justice for everybody, there isn't justice
for anybody.' As Christians we must try to exemplify
God's justice in our lives."

"Racism is an illness affecting the whole body," says
Litwiller.  "If we truly believe we are all part of one
body, and we see that one part is hurting, we know the
whole body suffers as a result."

For Zook, fighting racism is part of a faith journey: "The
whole process was faith-strengthening," she says.  "I
knew people from our home churches, families and the
local community were praying about the situation, and
about our involvement. I was praying for wisdom in a
situation that was totally new to me."

Although the coalition had less than three days to
organize the press conference, coverage was good.  The
daily paper, The Times Picayune, covered the situation
two days in a row and three local television stations also
provided coverage.  The Louisiana Weekly placed the
story on its front page.

The coalition, formed by Loyola University students,
included the St. Thomas/Irish Channel Consortium
(STICC), a coalition of churches and social agencies
founded by the St. Thomas Residents Council.  MCC U.S.
service workers have worked in the St. Thomas
community since 1985.  Also participating were Trinity
Episcopal Church, The People's Institute for Survival
and Beyond, an anti-racism training agency where Zook
serves and Pax Christi, a Roman Catholic peace
organization.

Coalition organizers were quoted as saying, "They
[fraternity members] and others like them may think
they can count on the university, churches and other
powerful people to look the other way, to minimize their
actions, to be silent. We need to make sure they cannot
count on this silence. We need to make sure they are held
accountable for [their actions]."

The DKE fraternity has repeatedly been accused of racist
behavior.  Founded in 1844 at Yale University, the
fraternity boasts a long list of prominent past and
present members, including current Louisiana Governor
Mike Foster, U.S. Congressman Bob Livingston (R-La.),
former president George Bush and former vice president
Dan Quayle.

"Current student members of the fraternity will also
become influential members of society as elected officials
and corporate heads," points out Sally Jacober, program
coordinator of the MCC U.S. program in New Orleans. 
"Silence would encourage the belief that future racist
actions in these arenas would likewise be tolerated," she
says.

Brenda Zook, of Hagerstown, Md., is a member of Hebron
Mennonite Church in Hagerstown.  Kelly Going, of
Wallkill, NY., is a member of Wallkill Reformed Church. 
Julie Litwiller, of Lancaster, Pa., is a member of East
Chestnut Mennonite Church in Lancaster.  Suzanne
Southard, of Shawnee, Kan., is a member of Prairie
Baptist Church in Prairie Village, Kan.  Sally Jacober, of
San Francisco, is a member of First Mennonite Church in
San Francisco.

                        -30-

Deborah Fast, MCC Communications

21february1997

MCC photo available: Pictured are, from left to right:
Brenda Zook, Julie Litwiller, Suzanne Southard and Kelly
Going.  MCC photo by Sally Jacober.TOPIC:  HISPANIC MENNONITE PASTORS CRITICIZE INS ACTION
DATE:   February 21, 1997
CONTACT:  Deborah Fast
V: 717/859-1151 F: 717/859-2171
E-MAIL ADDRESS:  mailbox@mcc.org

Pagans take lead in forming Interdenominational
Coalition for Justice

HARRISONBURG, Va.--Two Hispanic Mennonite pastors
have joined others in raising concerns about recent
actions taken against employees of the Wampler Longacre
(WLR) turkey processing plant here.  MCC U.S. service
intern, Mayra Pagan, and her husband, Samuel D. Pagan,
Director, are leaders of the Interdenominational Coalition
for Justice, an organization formed to advocate for the
employees.  Pagans are both pastors of the Agape
Bilingual Mennonite Mission, a ministry of Ridgeway
Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg that reaches out to
Hispanics.

On the afternoon of February 3, U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Services (INS) agents, Harrisonburg and
State police, local sheriffs and the FBI entered and
surrounded the WLR factory, wielding guns, handcuffs,
and accompanied by dogs.  They seized some 50
employees and eventually charged 38 people with being
in the United States illegally.  About 28 employees are
being held in the Rockingham County Jail and other state
jails.

The Interdenominational Coalition for Justice is speaking
out against the intimidation used against WLR employees,
and what they see as a targeting of Hispanic people.  At
a community meeting and rally February 9 at the
Ridgeway Mennonite Church, attended by some 400
people, coalition members gathered to protest the tactics
of the federal agents.  The situation has affected the
employees who were present, their families and the
Hispanic community in general, says Samuel Pagan,
creating a climate of hysteria, fear and panic.

The Coalition is also assisting families of those arrested,
helping with basics such as groceries and clothing,
providing counselling and prayer, and advising them on
immigration procedures.

They are also calling for changes to immigration laws
that would make it easier for aliens with relatives in the
United States to stay here.  Pagan argues that deporting
illegal immigrants breaks up families and that the law
should be changed to take this into consideration.

"They [the INS and police] are not dealing with
criminals," argues Mayra Pagan.  "They had no proof of
illegal activities; these are working families. They [the
INS and police] are violating the rights of people." 
Pastors in the coalition have not been allowed to visit
those held in prison, and are unable to find out where
they are held.

"We want to ensure these people get proper legal
assistance," says Pagan.  The coalition is working with
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to hire
lawyers and bring a lawsuit against the INS.

As reported in the Times-Dispatch, thousands of Hispanic
immigrants have moved to the Shenandoah Valley to work
in its many poultry plants.  Estimates of the number of
Hispanics in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area
range from 3,000 to 7,000.  Rev. Pagan estimates there
are 5,000.

The Coalition includes Hispanic congregations from
various denominations in the Harrisonburg area.  The
group expresses their motivation as follows: "We have a
dream that someday, we can live as Christian brothers
and sisters, sharing the riches of God's creation freely
and liberally. For God has created us equal, paying with
His blood the price to reconcile humankind, in Him, so
that we can become one, to live in peace and love
together. For this we pray. Amen."

The Agape Bilingual Mennonite Mission, where Pagans
serve, started in June, 1996 as an outreach of the
Ridgeway Mennonite Church to Spanish-speaking
immigrants in Harrisonburg.  The Revs. Mayra and
Samuel Pagan moved from Puerto Rico to initiate this
effort.  To date activities have included summer day
camp, English as a second language (ESL) and
citizenship classes, Spanish classes and leadership
training.  Future plans include alcohol and drug
prevention programs, family counselling and bridge
building between the police and judiciary and the
Hispanic community.

The MCC U.S. Service Internship Program fosters
leadership skills for people in Anabaptist congregations
and community-based organizations from African-
American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American and
Hispanic communities.

                        -30-

Deborah Fast, MCC Communications

21february1997