Why Cross the Line?
So, why am I here? Why did I "cross the line" at Fort Benning, Georgia? I guess the question could also be asked, why not?

Fort Benning is a good place, a sacred place. It's hills of red clay have eloquently been spoken of by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 37 years ago in his famous "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Monument in Washington, DC. when he said, "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

Martin Luther King, Jr. also said that "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." I crossed the line at Fort Benning to demand freedom from the oppression of this school upon the oppressed peoples of Central and South America.

Two months ago, I returned from Colombia, South America as one of one-hundred Witness for Peace delegates. While there I saw and heard and cried with the oppressed and displaced people. Seven children from one family lost their parents in a massacre by the paramilitaries allied with soldiers trained here at the so-called "School of Assassins." Our bus was stopped and boarded by one of the military who said he was trained here at the School of the Americas. He was trying to intimidate us in our efforts to find the truth and bring it back to the people here in the United States. Three women whose husbands had been murdered, one of whom was the town nurse, begged us to speak to our Congress persons to at least get their husbands' bodies back so they could be given a decent Christian burial.

Time to Put Words into Action
I have written my Congresspersons time and time again only to get an impersonal form letter back saying that they appreciated my interest but basically weren't going to do anything about it. But, I do not give up easily, Judge. I will continue to write my Congresspersons and will urge as many others as will listen, to write their Congresspersons also but, you know Judge, you can tell I'm getting older by my gray hair and I'm not going to be around on this earth too much longer. I felt it was time to put my words into action, to put my body on the line where my beliefs are.

I could do no less for those people who I've seen terrified by our cameras, in fear for their lives, begging just to be allowed to live on their small hectors of land and farm the earth in peace, being given a living wage and basic human rights. They're not asking for the moon, just the freedom to grow food for themselves and their children without fumigation from the air contaminating their water supplies, killing their food crops and causing their children's skin to be filled with sores.

How would you like it if some foreign country would send their airplanes in here to kill our corn, wheat and cotton crops? And how would you like it if your life was in danger and you were in fear of someone coming in the middle of the night to burn your house and spray your neighborhood with bullets?

We Are All Brothers and Sisters
I am a hospital chaplain, Judge. I help people to live with cancer and some of them to die with cancer. Someone asked me, "What does being a chaplain have to do with closing the School of the Americas or going to Colombia to risk your life in that war-torn country?" Well, I thought that was a fair question. You know what I told him, Judge? I told him I believe we are all one body, one human family made by our one God. We are all brothers and sisters no matter what our color, race or creed. I believe that when one part of the human family suffers, we all suffer. When one is happy, we all rejoice. When there is injustice some place in the world, we all suffer injustice. How can I sleep in a nice comfortable bed at night knowing my money, my taxes are causing someone in Latin America to die in their beds? For that matter, my taxes are paying your salary. My money is paying for Fort Benning. Why don't I have a right to visit on those grounds?

Judge, I don't want to take a lot more of this Court's time but I want to quote again from Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous valleys and hazardous pathways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble life." I can remember a time when I was first ordained some 41 years ago, a black brother, Bennie Luchion, asked me to stand beside him when the police were using cattle prods on him back in Columbus, Ohio. I failed him then saying my superiors would object. I won't fail him now. This is the time of challenge and controversy for me, Judge.

I crossed the Ft. Benning line two years ago carrying a cardboard coffin representing someone whose life had been taken in Central and South America in my name. And I fell to the ground as if dead when the police stopped us. But as I lay there by the side of the road, I could see hundreds of others passing me by I could see their sandals, shoes, sneakers, all going forward silently, eight abreast, praying in that funeral procession. And I thought, like Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know today, that we, as a people will get to the promised land." And I, too, may not get to the other side. I may not see the School of the Americas closed in my life time but it will be closed.

There are going to be marchers there every year following in my footsteps until the School of Assassins and its bloody history is closed, and I thank God that I had some small part in it. Thank you, Judge, for your patience and fairness.