Milwaukee Welcomes 22nd Pastors for Peace Caravan, July 8th
 
Milwaukee Welcomes 22nd Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba on July 8th. This group of dedicated activists will arrive from their cross country trip designed to raise awareness and through civil disobedience to fight for our right to travel to Cuba. The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan will be bringing with them donated items from thousands of people across the country. These humanitarian supplies were donated as an act of solidarity with the Cuban people who have endured nearly 50 years of an economic blockade by various US administrations.
 
The Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba will be welcomed July 8th by members of the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba and the Central United Methodist Church at a potluck supper starting at 6pm, followed by a program with music and a guest Rev. Luis Barrios speaking on "Cuba, Theology and Social Justice".
 
The Rev. Luis Barrios, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology and ethnic studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice-City University of New York.

Rev Barrios is the associate priest at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Harlem and the spiritual advisor for the Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas-UCC in the Washington Heights community. Dr. Barrios is a weekly columnist of El Diario La Prensa in New York City, one of the oldest Spanish newspapers in the United States. He is an active member of the IFCO-Pastor for Peace Board of Directors and was heavily involved in the 2005 campaign to free the computers seized at the border. He has since participated as a speaker in several caravans to Cuba.He is a passionate exponent of the use of non-violent civil disobedience to challenge unjust laws and policies. In 2009 he spent several months in jail for his participation in a protest about training in torture methods at the US military’s “School of the Americas” in Fort Benning, GA.
 
The Pastors for Peace project has special significance for Milwaukee since it was founded by Rev. Lucius Walker who worked in Milwaukee in the 1960's and was an important part of the civil rights and peace movements. Rev. Walker passed away this past year and the caravan will be remembering him.
 
In defiance of US government restrictions, which it considers illegal, the Pastors for Peace caravans take volunteers and tons of material aid across the border into Mexico for shipment to Cuba. Those wishing to donate materials can drop them off at the Central United Methodist Church, 25th and Wisconsin, Sundays through Thursdays, 8:30am to 12:30pm until July 7th. The emphasis this year is on construction materials that can be used to repair buildings from hurricane damage. Bikes and other sports equipment for children are also appreciated. All donations should be relatively new and in usable condition. To what items are needed, check out www.pastorsforpeace.org.