Thank You President Correa

September 2012

His Excellency Rafael Correa
President of the Republic of Ecuador
Ecuadorian Consulate General in New York
800 Second Avenue, Suite 600
New York, NY 10017

Dear Mr. President:

We members of the Granny Peace Brigade are writing to say: THANK YOU FOR OFFERING ASYLUM TO JULIAN ASSANGE.

Those eight words sound very simple but we wish them to convey a profound message.  They reflect our deep admiration and gratitude to you.  Your providing a safe haven for Mr. Assange is a political act of great courage and integrity.  It demonstrates a powerful solidarity in the service of Justice.

The Peace movement in the United States has been indebted to you in the past.  We applauded your withdrawal of Ecuadorians from training at the Fort Benning “School of the Americas.”  Your closing the U.S. military base in Manta was another bold action revealing your strength and commitment to Peace.  In that connection the Granny Peace Brigade convened a series of forums about shutting down U.S. bases on foreign soil and in November 2008 we were honored by the participation of your then Ambassador to the United Nations, Maria Fernanda Espinosa.  The Ambassador spoke of your firm refusal to renew the lease for the Manta base.  It was a powerful presentation and linked the Grannies with your work in the cause of Peace.

We attach for your further information a copy of the announcement for that November 2008 event as well as the mission statement of the Granny Peace Brigade. La lucha continua!

! Muchissimas Gracias, Presidente Correa !

–Las Abuelitas por la Paz son:

Ann, Barbara H, Barbara W, Beverly, Betty, Connie, Carol, Caroline, Corinne, Diane, Edith, Eva-Lee, Fran, Jenny, Joan, Judy, Lillian L, Lillian P, Marie, Marty, Molly, Nancy, Nydia, Patricia D, Patricia S, Phyllis, Roz, Susan G, Susan K, Vinie

– Nydia Leaf
for the Granny Peace Brigade