IRS at war with Pastors for Peace. The Reverend Lucius Walker, the leader of the IFCO [Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization] group, Pastors For Peace, is no longer among us. He worked for many years in solidarity projects with the embattled people of Cuba and Palestine. He is gone, but IFCO, Pastors For Peace are still with us and still working to be a presence of peace in places that seem to be itching for war. At the behest of right wing hate groups, now, the IRS is on the attack. That’s because the far right hates any group which doesn’t support their imperial vision and works to put Americans in touch with the people of the world, no matter where they are. And now that the IRS has been criticized by the right, it seems like they’re now taking on left and anti-Imperial groups like IFCO, Pastors For Peace.
IFCO, the first national foundation controlled by people of color in the US, is now targeted by the government to strip it of its tax exempt status. Amazing. It’s been active in the struggles for global peace for nearly half a century, making friends between Americans and other nations. When Reverend Lucius Walker was alive, he brought 1000s of American young people to Cuba to learn and to practice solidarity. That good human work is being threatened today, and only you can help. Remember, an attack on IFCO Pastors for Peace is more than an attack on one group; it’s an attack on the human and constitutional rights of Americans to speak out, to dissent, to travel, and to practice one’s faith.
The late Reverend Lucius Walker led Pastors for Peace because he was moved by the message of Saint Matthew, 25:35 in the New Testament: “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” Help IFCO Pastors for Peace continue their work by contacting Congress members to demand that IRS cease this harassment against IFCO Pastors For Peace. Contact the Treasury Department to demand that the political persecution of IFCO be stopped. Support IFCO Pastors For Peace by donations to fight against this political attack at ifconews.org, or call 212-926-5757. Or, send a check to IFCO at 418, West 145 Street, New York, New York,10031. Help keep Reverend Lucius Walker’s dream of world peace and global solidarity alive. From in prison nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
