Pax Christi Metro DC

On October 17, 2007, the first anniversary of the signing of the Military Commissions Act, Fr. Steve Kelly, SJ and Fr. Louie Vitale, OFM were sentenced to 5 months in prison for their nonviolent witness against torture at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona in November of 2006. They were taken into custody immediately. (More information at http://tortureontrial.org)

Please support them

Write a note of support to:

Stephen Kelly #00816111
CCA
P. O. Box 6300
Florence, AZ 85232

Louis Vitale #25803048
CCA
P. O. Box 6300
Florence, AZ 85232

They were taken to a privately run detention center in Florence, Arizona the day of their sentencing. It is not known if, when or where they may be transferred. If the priests are moved, your letters addressed to Florence will be returned to you. You may then send letters to them c/o The Nuclear Resister, PO Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733 and their mail will be forwarded to them.

If you are mailing something to them at this prison, please know:

• All books and magazines must be sent by the publisher or directly from a book store.
• Non-copyrighted documents in manilla envelopes are fine, but to expedite it, print on the manilla envelope “paperwork enclosed”.

Fr. Kelly and Fr. Vitale ask that every woman and man of conscience do all that they can to protest the injustice of torture and to end U.S. policy that sanctions torture.

• They encourage people to participate in the protests at Ft. Benning, Georgia and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona on November 17 and 18, or consider having a protest in your community. For more information, visit http://www.soaw.org (protest at Ft. Benning) and http://southwestwitness.org/ (protest at Ft. Huachuca)
• Visit http://torturelaw.org and sign the petition to repeal the Military Commissions Act and use the handy form to customize a letter that will be emailed to your Senators.
• Their commissary needs are taken care of but contributions for prison support expenses are welcome. Checks can be made payable to the Nuclear Resister (please put Torture on Trial on the memo line) and mailed to the Nuclear Resister, PO Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733. Donations can also be made securely online at the Torture On Trial website at http://tortureontrial.org/donate.html
• Prison visits are being coordinated by Br. David Buer. Visiting hours at the detention center in Florence are limited, and occur very early in the morning. It is very important to contact David if you are interested in visiting either of the men, so he can make sure that no one travels all that way only to be turned away because there is already a visitor there. You can contact David at buer@intermind.net or call (314) 803-6735.