The Sanctuary Experience

During the 1980's, citizens of El Salvador and Guatemala fled their countries because of persecution, torture, and death threats. The United States, a signator to the United Nations Protocol on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593302134
• ISBN13: 9781593302139
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Aventine Pr
• Length: 440 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Voices of the Sanctuary Community Are Heard

The Sanctuary Movement of the 1980's, in defiance of U.S. government policy, sought to protect the human rights of Central American refugees fleeing persecution in their homelands. Editors Otter and Pine have compiled compelling stories from the oral history of grassroots participants in Southern Arizona during those days. It all started with five faith communities declaring to the government that they would be sanctuaries for refugees in the face of the government's denial of their rights under both domestic and international law. Even in the face of legal prosecution this movement grew across the nation. In less than four years more than 500 congregations, college and university student bodies, cities, counties, and even the states of New Mexico and Wisconsin publically declared themselves to be sanctuaries for refugees and this movement had a noticeable impact on national policy. These are stories of sanctuary workers on the front line. These are some of the voices of those who did not have a voice. They provide insight into the motivations and experience of women and men, in any era or country, who decide to stand up for what they believe is right in the face of overwhelming odds.