News from Lori's Parents

17 February 2000

This is day 1,541 of wrongful incarceration.

In this update:

Rhoda's visit with Lori

Lori wanted to express her thanks for all the prayers and notes you sent during her two-week hunger protest. Although Lori appeared a bit thinner, she seemed to be okay.

Rhoda said Lori was overwhelmed when she learned about the 24-hour fast at Norwell High School, Norwell MA that was organized by the student chapter of Amnesty International in which more than 60 students, staff, and administration (including Principal Steve Mahoney) took part and over 700 signatures were obtained on a "Free Lori" banner sent to President Clinton.

Wisconsin high school Amnesty International club petitions President Clinton to free Lori

Over 300 students and staff at Richland Center High School in Richland Center WI signed an enormous "Free Lori Berenson" banner that was sent to President Clinton along with a petition written by their Amnesty International club. The petition urges the President to use all his powers under Act of Congress 22 U.S.C. Section 1732 to secure Lori's release. Copies were also sent to Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and Congressional Representative Tammy Baldwin.

New Jersey prep school holds candlelight vigil for Lori

Students from the Amnesty International Chapter at Bishop Eustace Prep School in southern New Jersey held a candlelight vigil for Lori to protest her continued wrongful incarceration without due process by the Peruvian government. The students at Bishop Eustace has championed Lori's cause for justice for three years and have been involved in several events both on and off campus.

We know Lori will be extremely grateful and uplifted to learn of these activities on her behalf from the students at Bishop Eustace Prep School and at Richland Center High School.

Stanley H. Kaplan joins Advisory Board

Stanley H. Kaplan, prominent education specialist, human rights activist, and humanitarian, has joined the Advisory Board of the Committee to Free Lori Berenson as its fifteenth member.

Upcoming events - Boulder, CO and Albuquerque, NM

Steering Committee member Kristen Gardner, Lori's college roommate at MIT, will be speaking on "The Lori Berenson Case" on Thursday, 17 February, at the University of Colorado at Boulder (Education Building, Room 220) at 7 p.m.

Kristen Gardner will also be speaking on Tuesday, 22 February, in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Center for Peace and Justice (144 Harvard St. SE at Silver).

Kristen was part of a human rights delegation from the Office of Americas that visited with Lori last March, the only such delegation that has ever been able to meet Lori.

- Rhoda and Mark Berenson