Another Hero! A civil rights warrior!

May 17, 2018

Another Hero! A civil rights warrior!

In the year 2000, a book titled Speak Truth to Power: Human Right Defenders Who are Changing the World was published by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation. The book is described this way, "Through photographs and interviews, gripping stories are revealed of 51 men and women around the globe who put their lives on the line, surviving imprisonment, torture, and death threats, because of hope for and dedication to a future where equality is common and oppression rare." You can find the book on Amazon.

We met one of these 51 people today.

His name is Samuel Kofi Woods. He is a human rights lawyer who runs the Liberian Law Society. We spent two hours in his office this afternoon listening to his first-hand accounts of brave confrontations with cruel presidents, numerous stays in prison for false accusations, avoiding fraudulent sentences of execution, and, most importantly, defiant stands for human rights despite grave dangers to life and liberty. Like Jay, Woods is dedicated to uplifting Liberia, no matter the odds, no matter how long it will take. He is never giving up. He was warm and insightful. He told his stories with equal measures of passion and laughter. It was a powerful experience.

Jay, Samuel, LouElla, Tim, Colin

The meeting with Mr. Woods was one of six such visits today. By the end of the day, we'd come to know some of the friends and allies in Jay's world who are working to paint a brighter future for this small West African country.

The first order of business was buying supplies at a paper shop. Most noteworthy on this brief visit was the bathroom. Restrooms here are full of surprises. Today's surprise, the entrance to this bathroom: A) it had no door, B) the doorway was blocked by a beam at face height. I stood guard for LouElla.

Doorless bathroom

Doorless bathroom from the inside

Next stop, the US Embassy. It is prudent for Americans visiting a small foreign country like Liberia to make your presence known to the embassy. You never know when you may need the embassy's aid. Tim smartly left a letter of introduction and Applied Scholastics material for the Political Economic Officer for the embassy. LouElla practiced reciting the Pledge of Allegiance over and over prior to our arrival to the embassy. Just in case she was asked to say it. You never know. Cameras are not allowed at or anywhere near the US embassy.

US Embassy

Monrovia

The next stop was the Brussels Airlines office where we met one Ama Harris. Ama, in addition to her position at Brussels Airlines, runs an after-school center out of her home, and works with a teacher training group. She was delightful and wants to partner with us in the future.

The radiant Ms. Harris

After leaving Ms. Harris and heading for the truck, LouElla let Jay know she was embarrassed by his fashion sense. For one, his white shoes did not match his black outfit. Two, he needed to fold up his pants cuffs. You can judge Jay's fashionableness in some of the pictures below. Jay took no exception to LouElla's opinions but instead settled the matter by asking the next young man that walked by if he looked like a player. The man said yes. With a hearty laugh, Jay proclaimed the argument settled. Case closed.

Our next stop was the Total Oil company and another friend of Jay's, Naree Bartee. The Total building was the most modern one we have visited yet. Its mirrored exterior made for a very good photo opportunity. Naree is certainly an ally and now a future donor to the cause.

Reflection: Naree, Jay, LouElla, Colin, Tim

Mirrored self-portrait

Total Oil featured a very nice bathroom with running water. However, it also included a full bathing barrel located next to the sink. Water can be scooped from such barrels as needed for the sink or toilet.

Next stop, one of the tallest buildings in all of Monrovia, the National Bank of Liberia. We proceeded through security ("Your passports are in the car? No problem. Go in."). To the seventh floor we went to meet Mrs. Winifred Nyemah, another charming citizen and friend of Jay's. One result of this meeting was a pledge from her to contribute to our project. We also got some good bird's eye views of the city.

Colin, Winifred, LouElla, Jay, Tim

View from up high

Water view

Next, we headed for the United Nations building to meet with Mrs. Ghoma Karloweah who works with UN Women. This was a short and pleasant meeting of kindred spirits, filling in each other with what projects we're doing in the area. This building provided another high view.

Tim, Ghoma, Colin, LouElla

UN view

Front page of newspaper found in UN

Final stop for the day, the Rice and Rights Foundation, run by Mr. James Yarsiah, Jay's father. LouElla and I spent much of our time outside of this building. Lou played soccer with James' youngest son Willie and an older boy. There were a few boys sitting nearby who hooted every time LouElla kicked the ball hard or well.