Wheels of Justice

The Wheels of Justice visit to Grand Rapids happened as planned, even though the four days from Oct 1 to 4 were rather tightly packed. The Institute for Global Education sponsored the event, which presented information about what is happening to people in Iraq and Palestine.

The tour was managed by Leah Patraivco while Bill Hill drove the colorful, decorated former school bus. Bill McGrath and Ceylon Mooney shared the time presenting about life in Palestine, Bill, the first day, and Ceylon replaced him during the second day. Dan Pierson, who spent 5 months with Iraqis in a refuge camp in Syria, and now works with Iraqi refugees in Chicago, told about their lives. Normally presenters serve two weeks at a time.

The first meeting was a luncheon in the headquarters of the Christian Reformed denomination, and included several staff members. On the same day, Oct.1, the team presented at an afternoon and then an evening class at Grand Rapids Community college, with approximately 25 students in each.

The second day began with an 8 AM political science class at Aquinas college, again with about 25 students., and then a class at the Allendale Grand Valley State University class with about 30 students. The evening was rounded off with a meeting of the Social Justice Coalition of about 12 students at Calvin College in the evening.

Oct 3, the 3rd day, began with a presentation to 100 students at Grand Rapids Christian High, then the group retuned to Aquinas college to meet with a World in Crisis class of about 35 students, and finished the day with a presentation to about 20 senior citizens at the Raybrook retirement community..

The final event took place at the veteran’s park in downtown Grand Rapids, where the Dan and Ceylon repeated much of their presentations (without their slides) into Corrine Carey’s video camera and to bystanders.

Bringing the vitally important messages to at least 250 people, in an area of more than a million people, may seem insignificant. But truth can take on a life of its own and spread. We believe we saw that happening here. In addition, others are telling similar stories, and the WoJ can be expected to continue to carry the message throughout the country, as it has been doing for eight years.

Betty Ford and Jake Terpstra, Grand Rapids coordinators, Oct. 2008