News from Lori's Parents

30 November 2005

In this update:

Lori completes 10 years of wrongful incarceration

It is hard to believe that Lori has completed 10 years of unjust imprisonment - 3, 653 days of her life. In the worst-case scenario she has served half her 20 year sentence.

Lori's statement aired on radio

To commemorate this tenth anniversary Lori wrote a statement that has been broadcast in both English and Spanish and is expected to be aired today on Democracy Now (www.democracynow.org) and on Free Speech Radio News (www.fsrn.org) on independent radio stations across the country.

Special thanks to Noelle Hanrahan of www.prisonradio.org and to the Northern California coordinators of the Committee to Free Lori Berenson for making this possible.

A copy of the press release along with Lori's written statement as well as the links to the broadcasts in English and Spanish are available online.

We mourn the loss of Maruice S. Paprin

Yesterday the New York Times reported on the death of Maurice S. Paprin, New York City real estate developer and strong advocate of numerous humanitarian and social justice causes. He was 85 years old. As Director for the Fund for New Priorities in America, Maurice reached out to us soon after Lori's arrest. In June 1996, he organized a Congressional Colloquy on Lori's case that included discussants from prominent human rights organizations as well as several members of the United States Congress. Maurice served on the Advisory Board of the Committee to Free Lori Berenson and was a tireless worker on her behalf all through these ten years of imprisonment.

Maurice and Lori unfortunately never met. They communicated by mail and Lori sent Maurice a letter just two weeks ago. As of this writing Lori does not know of Maurice's passing - he was someone she really wanted to meet. He fought passionately for what he believed in. It was largely due to Maurice's efforts that we were able to secure meetings with key members of the United States Senate and highest ranking officials in the State Department and in the National Security Council.

We want to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Jacqueline and to his family. We were fortunate to have known him and we will miss him dearly.

- Rhoda and Mark Berenson