No more deaths

My friend, Sally Lloyd, called my attention to a website entitled No More Deaths that is dedicated to immigration humanitarian work and doing something about the injustices involved. Read this:

No More Deaths volunteers, Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss, both 23, were arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol for medically evacuating 3 people in critical condition from the 105-degree Arizona desert in July 2005.

Shanti and Daniel were following the protocol of NMD training (acknowledged by NMD and US Border Patrol) by consulting medical professionals who advised them to evacuate the critically ill men to a medical facility, and then consulting a NMD attorney who approved the evacuation.

Their arrest and subsequent prosecution for providing humanitarian aid has shocked people of conscience around the world. These young humanitarians are facing prosecution by the US government which could result in a 15 year prison sentence.

We urgently need your help and support to stop this prosecution.

Statements from NMD representatives and supporters:

"...On the basis of the facts as presented, Amnesty International is supporting calls for the charges to be dropped in this case and considers that, if convicted and imprisoned, Daniel Strauss and Shanti Sellz would be prisoners of conscience."

Arresting people for saving lives is horribly wrong. Those of us with a conscience about peace and justice issues believe it is our moral obligation to care for the stranger regardless of whether or not that stranger is documented or undocumented.