Ezell on Death Squads

I am outraged at Ezell’s characterization of response to recent death squad activity in this city as an “orchestrated PR campaign” by the religious sanctuary movement. People are experiencing terror. An entire Salvadoran community who have sought asylum in L.A. because of persecution, reprisal, murder in their homeland are now not only the victims of similar death squad threats, but of attitudes expressed by Ezell, which can only have negative effects in influencing public opinion against the refugees, against the sanctuary movement and against the religious communities working in solidarity on behalf of the refugees.

The sanctuary movement does not need PR; people need protection. Before the FBI and the LAPD have completed their investigations, Ezell has the gall to malign the movement and individuals like Father Olivares, and to impute cheap motives to those whose concern is respect for life and for human rights.

Until those responsible for the death threats are identified, Ezell should conduct himself responsibly. He may not share our concern for the safety of the Salvadoran refugees in Los Angeles, but we would hope he would, at the very least, share our outrage at the violence which has already been committed and our hope that the guilty will be brought to justice.

LENORE NAVARRO

DOWLING

Los Angeles