[antiwar-van] In Memory of Reverend Lucius Walker Jr

[Kira Koshelanyk]

~*~ Statement in Memory of Reverend Lucius Walker Jr. ~*~
August 3, 1930 - September 7, 2010
 
Many people involved in the fight for a better world, from North America, to 
Cuba and beyond, are at this time feeling a great sadness at the loss of 
Reverend Lucius Walker Jr, who was the Executive Director of IFCO (the 
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization) and Pastors for Peace. The 
death of Rev. Lucius Walker is not only great blow to those who knew, loved, 
laughed with, worked with and fought alongside him but is also a loss for 
humanity, as Lucius Walker was one of the fighters which our world needs more 
of. Lucius Walker saw the injustice that the US government inflicts against 
those struggling for liberation and self-determination, and dedicated his life 
to the struggle against this injustice. Lucius Walker had just recently 
celebrated his 80th birthday, on the August 3rd Mexico to US border crossing 
challenge of the 21st Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. The 
caravan, which Lucius Walker founded, is the most significant campaign against 
the US war against Cuba, which breaks the criminal US trade and travel blockade 
every year.
 
In Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) we had the opportunity to work 
and fight alongside this great leader, as our co-chair Alison Bodine, (after the 
government of Canada politically targeted and banned from her Canada) took up a 
position working for IFCO/Pastors for Peace in New York, as well as other MAWO 
organizers have participated in the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba – and will 
continue to do so. We greatly value the experience of working with such an 
outstanding leader, and of being involved with the organization he was a founder 
of.
 
Lucius Walker has been an inspiration to social justice and Cuba solidarity 
activists throughout his life, and in his passing it is even more necessary to 
follow the example he left for us. His unshakable honesty, courage, and drive in 
this struggle were present in him up until his death, and continue in our 
memories.
 
Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) offers our sincere condolences to 
Lucius Walker’s family and to his co-fighters in IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
 
Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO)
www.mawovancouver.org