Ezell on Death Squads

Harold Ezell’s suggestion that the acts and threats of L.A. death squads are a result of an “orchestrated PR campaign” (Part I, July 28) on the part of the religious sanctuary movement might be taken humorously were it not for the source of the comment.

As the Western regional commissioner for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Ezell symbolizes that aspect of government charged with implementing the new immigration law enacted by Congress and signed by the President last November. If Ezell wonders why Central American refugees in general, and Salvadorans in particular, are staying away in droves from the neat, new, polished INS offices to apply for “amnesty,” he need only ponder the insensitive words which emanate from his mouth.

We in the religious community obviously did not create the death squads, either in Los Angeles or in El Salvador. Nevertheless the death squads are all too real. Fact: Some 60,000 Salvadoran civilians have been killed by death squads since 1980. Fact: Two Central American women were kidnaped, assaulted and threatened by death squads here in Los Angeles. Fact: Death threats have been received by Father Luis Olivares (pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angeles Catholic Church) and several others from the same source.

For our part, we of the Southern California Interfaith Task Force on Central America have no choice but to take these incidents and threats with utmost seriousness and respond with love and compassion to those who are being victimized by intimidation. We are opening up our homes as safe havens; we are volunteering to stay overnight in the homes of those who have been threatened; we are providing transportation to work and essential services when needed.

RICHARD HADDON

Chairperson

SCITCA