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No sooner than I sent the followup letter to the prisoners I began to get letters of appreciation back from them. It was truly amazing to me. Here is what they had to say:
This letter is long overdue as your 10th Freedom Run has come and gone, but I just wanted to write and say thanks for the letter you sent last month. I love the idea of your Run For Freedom and I hope that Erik Johnson(I love him - what a great man) was able to feel your running free spirits outside the FCI Manchester.
Thanks again for the letter, the Run, for all you do.
Abi Miller - 12/03/2002
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The Saturday after the SOAW vigil/action, a group of runners for peace ("Run For Freedom"), in support of all prisoners of conscience, ran from a federal prison camp in Lexington, where Janice Servre-Duszynska was incarcerated, to Manchester. It was a very powerful and spiritual event. The prison officials went on alert -- placing a guard/vehicle at the entrance to the prison complex three days before their expected arrival, questioned me several times (one of the correctional officers defended the SOA and claimed to have been an instructor there in the 1980s), and placed the whole camp (now 410 inmates) on lockdown in our units Saturday afternoon and evening.
Then they incredulously asked me for days following the event if the runners "protest" accomplished anything. My response: Not a single word, cry, smile, prayer, run, walk, kiss, embrace, vigil, or act of civil resistance offered out of love for peace is lost in the struggle for justice and the renewal of this sacred earth and space.
Erik Johnson - 12/08/2002
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Greetings from my jail cell! Thank you so much for your running journey and for including my name on your SOA/POC banner - it helps remind me I'm connected to more than the 10' x 6' cell wherein I'm confined for 23 out of every 24 hours daily.
God bless you all for your efforts on behalf of peace, justice, nonviolent witnessing and support of POC's.
Toni Kathleen Flynn - 12/13/2002
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John, Libby, Lisa, Rachel, Curtis, Pumla, Jules, Jim, Jons(2) 'n Terry et al.
"Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news."
Peace be with you "Runners For Freedom"
John Heid - A Christmas greeting - 12/23/2002
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... thanks for your great support and accomplishment... - The Run For Freedom is a great idea - bringing a positive spin to some really important messages - closing the SOA/WHISC, of course, but offering positive alternatives to warfare and violence which seems to permeate our society these days. A healthy venture indeed! .... May you receive strength to continue your blessed witness. May all who continue the pilgrimage, either on the way to jails or prisons (SOA-85) or on the road as Runners For Freedom receive all they need to keep the message alive! LA GUERRA - LA VIOLENCIA - NUNCA MAS!
Peace! - Jerry
Jerry Zawada - 01/02/2003
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Dear Friends,
Many thanks for your letter of support. It is encouraging to know that you are out there continuing to speak obout the SOA.
... The idea of winning was again on my mind during a recent discussion with the Camp Adminstrator(warden) about the SOA and the efficacy of political defiance. At the end of talk he said, in a sincere tone. "Well, you're fighting the good fight." ......
Great run, great pics, great peacemaking.
With deep gratitude..
much peace & love to all.
Ken
Kenneth F. Crowley - 01/10/2003
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Dear John and all of the Runners For Freedom,
Thank you for your courage and strength. .... We here in FPC Greenville are glad you could take your banner and run - the more people see about the SOA and what we are doing in our land to train terrorists and the more people hear about the Freedom all deserve the more possible that freedom is. .... Thank you fo the work you do for Peace. ....
Love, Peace & Hope to you and all of your families.
Kate Fontanazza
PS: I especially liked the preparation story the FCI Manchester went through!
Kate Fontanazza - 01/15/2003
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Dear Friends -
Wow! This is why I love our movement. We, collectively, as a group, a community, a family - we understand the true power of nonviolence that brings change.
I think that nonviolence is about creativity - finding new ways to bring issues of PEACE into our lives. I think that your run was just that - besides being beautiful - and an inspiration to me. I think it also shows that we are a movement and and we all do what we can. I could give up six months but run all those miles? Ha! But you could, obviously!! And that's where our strength is - we all do what we can and we do it in the spirit of HOPE and LOVE.
Thank you friends for doing what needs to be done. Thank you for finding a way to spread a message of peace and bringing us HOPE!
Chani
Chani Geigle-Teller - 02/01/2003
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