On day eight of the Commence with Compassion fast and vigil, June 15, six members of Voices in the Wilderness (VitW) went to Northwestern University President Henry Bienen’s office to protest the selection of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as graduation speaker and recipient of an honorary law degree.  Dr. Margaret Barr, who is in charge of the commencement exercises, said that the disagreement over the choice of a recipient for the honorary degree is simply a “difference of opinion.”

Vigiler Bert Sacks stated that one million civilian deaths in Iraq represents, to him, a tragedy as profound as that of Auschwitz.  “One cannot be indifferent to such suffering,” he said.

The protesters were told that they could remain in the office until 5:00 p.m. before they would have to leave.  The six soon began, once every ten minutes, to quietly tell each employee working in the suite that in the past ten minutes another Iraqi child had died because of economic sanctions against Iraq.  Dr. Barr warned the six not to continue “bothering” the workers, and within 15 minutes had the six  arrested for criminal trespass.  They were cited and released.  A court date is set for July 9.

At press time, it was announced that a “schedule conflict” forced Secretary Albright to cancel her appearance at the commencement to receive the honorary law degree.  For more information, contact Voices in The Wilderness, 1460 West Carmen Ave., Chicago, IL 60640, ph:773-784-8065; fax: 773-784-8837, email: kelly@igc.apc.org   Web: http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw