Don White 1937-2008 ¡Presente!

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2008/06/218468_comment.php#218475

http://cispes.org/donpresente/

Sonali Kolhatkar's UPRISING
http://uprisingradio.org/home/?p=2817

Emma Rosenthal, June 23, 2008
¡Don White Presenté!

We were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Don White, revolutionary dreamer and activist. He seemed immortal. What a hole he has left in the Los Angeles Peace and Justice movement. Don was a tireless activist and advocate, an internationalist who understood the connections between racism, imperialism, sexism, and militarism. He was courageous, fearless, and willing to take on all just causes, regardless of the controversy.

So many people love Don, who was admired and adored for his integrity, passion and grace. So often those who are so popular gain favor through people pleasing and "choosing one's battles." Not Don. He was unwavering in his understanding of solidarity and alliance, speaking truth to power regardless of who might not approve. His was a rare grace.

Personally, we are forever in his debt for defending activists who support Palestinian human rights, and Cafe Intifada when we came under attack from the Zionist establishment in collusion with some of the more "progressive" members of United Teachers' Los Angeles, of which hewas a charter member. Don's most recent work has been in the most controversial area of boycott, sanctions and divestiture of Israeli Apartheid, an issue many activists have shied away from, and others have been destroyed over. (But not Don!)

He also became an ally in the struggle for disability rights, setting a policy of only allowing meetings on the first floor of the Peace Center, so that all activists could be included in all events.

Don's tireless work on behalf of CISPES is his most powerful legacy; an organization (and whose activists) were subject to death threats from death squads, and surveillance by the FBI and the ADL (liberal dollars at work!)

Don was always available, in solidarity, in support. He was the pitch guy at almost every fundraiser or event. When Don White got to the podium, checkbooks came out.

Today is the last day of the KPFK fund drive. Sherna Berger Gluck of Radio Intifada (no relation to Cafe Intifada) suggests making a donation in Don's name.

We will. We hope you will too!

Emma Rosenthal
Andy Griggs

Cafe Intifada
The WE Project
The Los Angeles Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee

The Paul Robeson Community Center Honored Don White in 2004 and this obituary is drawn from the bio we put together then. Don will be sorely missed!

Born in Anacortes, Washington, his life was a reflection of the last 60 years of the progressive movement in the United States. From the time that he was a college student in the late 1950's, fighting against the injustice surrounding the House of Representatives' Un-American Activities Committee, Don remained engaged in the struggle for peace and justice for humanity.

As a dynamic speaker, he was a fixture of the left, often serving as Master of Ceremonies or moderator at events sponsored by a wide range of progressive organizations and coalitions. He was regularly the guy who made the pitch for money at demonstrations as well as social and political events -- because he put people at ease, could make them laugh, and made them want to give and be a part of something much larger than themselves. As a result, Don raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for scores of progressive and humanitarian organizations.

Don came to Los Angeles in 1963 and taught history at Irving Junior High School there. As a charter and lifetime member of United Teachers of Los Angeles, he was deeply committed to issues of equity in educational opportunity, especially for children in the inner cities. Don participated in every teachers' union strike from 1963 until his retirement in 1997.

In 1976, Don traveled to Guatemala in response to the devastating earthquake. He called that month-long journey "an epiphany, a life changing experience" which remained a vibrant part of his political psyche and which resulted in his friendship and faithful service to Central America. During the war in El Salvador, Don made 14 trips to that country and to Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Don was a member of the Echo Park Chapter of the Committee in Solidarity with the people of El Salvador, CISPES, since joining the group shortly after its founding convention in 1980. As an organizer, Board Member and leader of CISPES in Los Angeles, Don coordinated and addressed countless rallies, demonstrations, fundraisers, teach-in's, delegations, material aid drives, congressional visits, civil disobedience actions demanding an end to U.S. intervention in El Salvador and Central America to Central America.

In addition, Don was an organizer of scores of city-wide coalitions addressing various other progressive causes including peace in the Middle East and the treatment of immigrants. As a "Legal Observer" working with the National Lawyers Guild, he could be seen wearing the fluorescent Green Hat worn by the NLG Legal Observers at virtually every major – and minor – demonstration in Los Angeles.

Don was a founding member of the Southern California Fair Trade Network which organized for the WTO protests in Seattle and similar actions around the U.S. He served on the Boards of the Coalition in Solidarity with the people of El Salvador, the Office of the Americas and Americans for Democratic Action, as well as the Local Station Board of Los Angeles community radio station KPFK, 90.7 fm and Pacifica Radio's National Board, among others. He was also a lead organizer and coordinator in the recent historic mass demonstrations for peace and pro-immigrant solidarity rallies in Los Angeles.

Jan Goodman: janjerry2@gmail.com
==========================
From: Rosemary Lee
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 10:38 AM Subject: Don White July 1937- June 2008
Compañero Don White, presente!

A founder of CISPES and UTLA, tireless activist for world peace
and justice among so many, many, many other activities.

From: John Johnson/Change-Links
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 10:32 AM
To: actionla@lists.riseup.net
Subject: [actionla] Presente Don White

I just learn that the wonderful activist Don White was found dead in his apartment

All I know is that his family and friends had been trying to reach him for the past few days and someone when by his apartment, in the Los Felix area, and found him dead.

Couldn't be sadder news to the Los Angeles Progressive Community and especially to the El Salvadorian community in which in dedicated much of his last 25 years or so.

John JohnsonI j Change-Links Progressive Newspaper
change-links@change-links.org http://change-links.org
Subscribe to our list server. Email change-links-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
(818) 782-1412 Cell (818) 681-7448.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Lee Siu Hin
June 23, 2008

Oly Mogollon
June 23, 2008
[Venezuelan community activist]

Someone has said now during these bitter hours of pain and sorrow remembering Don White's life that our dearest friend was always there for everyone of us when we called him, and that it was very hard for him to say no each time we were to organize any activity, and wanted him to be part of it. Whether if Don's solidarity was one of his sainthood virtues no doubt that with the time and aging this virtue became an extreme stress for him.

I am sure that many of us have a lot of beautiful things to say about our dearest Don as either I would never forget the day that he accompanied me to the immigration office (CIS) in East L.A. to be my "hearing aid" during my legalization interview for it was him I was able to hear well with such clarity each time he spoke.

As a matter of fact, and besides of the so many wonderful virtues Don had, he also must be remembered as a brilliant an intelligent and well articulated person each time he spoke with such a clear English diction; his words were clear and spotless as a picture of his thoughts and that's why I always used to seat next to him in any meeting.

Don was a board member of our registered non profit organization ?LATE? AMNESTY MOVEMENT IN ACTION? (LAMA), and the late amnesty immigrants owe to him part of our legalization victory in Congress . It was the October of 1998 when a group of immigrants from LAMA together with Don started a strong lobby in Washington D.C for our legalization and after a couple of years of political fight we won.

Don taught us, the late amnesty immigrants how to lobby in Congress. He led a group of us to the offices of Edward Kennedy, Diane Feistein, Barbara Boxer, Xavier Becerra and to others democrats and republicans? in 1998 to discuss part of the "Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ('IIRIRA 96')" president Clinton signed into law, September 1996.

Don was also member of the Bolivarian Circle of Los Angeles "Ezequiel Zamora" and each time we talked about our revolution in Venezuela we discussed his possibility of visiting my country one day in a delegation we were to prepare. Don, was always there at our Venezuelan rallies to call to stop the U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Thanks my dear Don for everything you did for me including the pitching of $ 180 you helped to raise for my hearing aids from only 4-people who attended the screening of the History of the FARC, April 9, 1948 at the Peace Center one month ago.

Thanks Don for our deep talks analysis we used held from time to time about the ongoing socialist revolution in my country Venezuela here at my house chewing those almonds you loved to savour with green tea and; million thanks you for being that magnetic epicenter of love and unity wherever you went.

Like what I am feeling now inside of me such a horrible a deep vacuum when think that you are not there anymore, I am very sure that it is exactly the same feeling they have those comrades who knew you, for you are and means for us such irreparable and horrible loss.

DON WHITE...PRESENTE! PRESENTE! PRESENTE!

Yes, Don, you were present, you always were present and we think you are still present.

You were present to assist in the formation of Medical Aid to El Salvador.

You were present in the formation of CISPES.

At great personal risk, you brought the good news of CISPES to El Salvador in the midst of a bloody conflict.

And you constantly returned to El Salvador during the worst moments of that war.

And you were (are) present in the needs of the millions of refugees in the United States.

You clearly and forcefully denounced the police state tactics of the ICE raids.

You were always there to oppose the rape and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We treasure our days with you in Los Angeles, Central America and also in various jail cells.

Your life was lived to the last moment in full force and bountiful.

For the communication of truth, justice and peace you served as a force of nature as a board member for the

Office of the Americas, the Pacifica National Board and the KPFK Local Board.

How can any person do so much?

In Spanish this is called "entrega total" (total dedication). It is the virtue of a revolutionary.

Don, you were (are) the moral revolution called for by Dr. Martin Luther King.

You were never in an ideological trap but you were flush with the spiritual values that will revolutionize the world. This is the moral revolution fostered by love, joy, justice, peace, courage, endurance & compassion.

These profound spiritual qualities were the very pillars of your magnificent life.

"By their fruits you shall know them."

Adios companero Blanco!

La lucha misma es la victoria, (The struggle itself is the victory).

Theresa and Blase Bonpane

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Don - Your smile, your voice, your buoyant spirit are all around even as we, shocked, mourn their missing. How can this be? If ever anyone graduated to infinite joy it's you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for being here, for generously loving us and teaching us to love by demanding justice - love-in-action!!!!! Con mucho carino -

Don White, Presente. Say hello and thanks to Oscar Romero and so many, many we thought of and did not know, but now perhaps you do....

Love, Mimi Kennedy

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To anyone who is lucky enough to have known him and possibly even to anyone who has met him if only once in their lives, Don will never be gone. For humble and modest that he was, Don was no ordinary man. Don was pure gentleness, pure generosity, pure compassion and all that, with a constant dose of humor and an energy that few people possess. Even though he was involved in so many causes for social justice and human rights, Don was always available if someone called him with a question or a problem to solve. By day and by night and every day of the week, he would always find the time to help and he would always do so with the same kindness and sense of humor. It is not a far cry to say that Don was made of the same stuff as people like Gandhi or Francis di Assisi. He was a Saint and a Holy person in his own right and his unexpected passing-on should only energize us all into relentlessly following the path of caring for and giving to our communities, humanity and to our world in general.

Gerard Ungerman

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Last Sunday my friend Emma called me and said, “Look there’s this nasty rumor going around that Don White was found dead in his apartment.” I was shocked but didn’t believe it for a second. I called Don’s home and heard his answering machine message. I didn’t leave a message. I called around to several friends who knew Don better than I and found that it was true. Our dear friend Don White, whom I had just seen one week earlier, answering phones in KPFK’s phone room, was apparently dead.

The shock was too deep to bear alone. I awoke my sleeping husband, who also knew Don. We hugged and cried together, unable to believe it. We had known Don White since our early days of activism in LA, when we had just moved to the city and were looking for ways to get involved. There was Don, on the streets, in the meeting halls, behind the scenes, and out in front fundraising. He was everywhere, he was always smiling, and yet involved in the serious work. He never complained about anyone or anything. He was a peace maker, a warrior, a worker and a leader. He was my companero. He was my friend. And he was the friend of thousands of you out there. Each one of you who knew Don White has a story to tell about him. In my effort to process my grief, I poured myself into the work of putting together today’s memorial program for Don.

– Sonali Kolhatkar

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To My Dear Friend Don White:

You were one of the first people in Los Angeles who stood PRESENTE at my side in the struggle against the war and military recruitment.

You were always PRESENTE at every event I attended in L.A.

You were always PRESENTE with your big heart, giving me affection when I needed it.

You were PRESENTE in my pilgrimage from Tijuana to San Francisco.

You were PRESENTE in the street crying out against injustice.

You stood PRESENTE against bad policies and in favor of our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, and Oaxaca; always PRESENTE for the common folk.

Don, my brother and friend, today I weep for you and feel your absence but I know you will always be PRESENTE in my heart.

Don, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENTE in my memory. Please forgive me, for you gave me so much and I returned so little. I promise that you will live on in the minds of those young and not so young who today and tomorrow will struggle for peace and justice. Your legacy as an activist and human being is enormous and everlasting. You will always be HERE Don White. Rest in peace.COMPAÑERO!!!

Fernando Suarez del Solar, Founder & Director

Guerrero Azteca Peace Project

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Nine days ago, Don White and about ten others of us sat in a KPFK committee meeting at the Peace Center. Don did what he’s become known for over the past few decades–listening, and absorbing, what everyone else had to say, then adding his remarks which were always tactful and often trimmed with wit. Then Don did something else we’ve all become accustomed to –he excused himself and left to attend another meeting seeking justice for the oppressed. His participation in any activity that made things better for those who didn’t have it so good was as natural to him as breathing in and breathing out. Don White is dead, but Don White will live on in our memories and in the good works he has inspired us to continue.

Don Bustany

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Don White, Presente!

It seems impossible to imagine that Don White isn’t with us any longer. He was a fighter for social justice, and a person of immense personal integrity. That’s why Don was someone who could be called on to chair a meeting where people from otherwise widely-divergent perspectives were discussing and debating how to more effectively united their efforts and forces to bring about more justice in our deeply-troubled world.

We really need to find ways to minimize personal frictions and see one another as friends and companeros in the struggle, regardless of divergent proposals for strategy and tactics in the effort to bring about a better world.

And we need to reach out and maintain contact with one another.

Walter Lippmann

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Don White was a humble yet vigorous and extremely effective LA progressive activist. I remember him mostly from CISPES, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador.

I was 21 years old in 1989 when the Salvadoran Jesuit priests, their household helper and her daughter were found murdered in El Salvador.

I was just a kid, but I will always remember Don White at the center of organizing the Wednesday Morning Coalition that did civil disobedience in front of the downtown Federal Building to stop US Military Aid to the Salvadoran government. I remember him all over that downtown church, organizing, speaking, moving, mobilizing people.

Those were lifechanging experiences for me, getting arrested to stop a murderous US foreign policy and immoral war, sitting handcuffed in a room in the basement of the Federal Building with dozens of other people, quietly, one by one, sharing why we were there…

I can honestly say that Don White, therefore, changed my life, steered my life for what it has been for the last 20 years. If it weren’t for Don White, and tireless ORGANIZERS like him who set those actions up, I might have been alone with my grief for El Salvador and Central America, and my powerlessness to do anything. And I might not have gone on to a lifelong involvement in justice and sovereignty for Latin America. For those of us coming of age in the 1908’s Central America was our Vietnam, and bold humanitarians like Don White our clarion callers.

His passing is so sad, however we know that his work has had untold multiplying effect, as the thousands he directly touched and empowered have gone on to directly affect and teach others, and in the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “and so on and so on…”

Don White’s power and influence cannot ever truely die because of this, and we recommit ourselves to peace and justice work every day, in any way we can, especially to create spaces and empower the youth of today to follow their most human and humane instincts to save the world, one person at a time, together.

!Don White, Presente!

Rachel Bruhnke
CUSSP (Cuba-US Sutainability Project)

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It is with a heavy heart that I write that Don White has left us. This is one of the saddest days ever -- for all who knew Don and all that benefited from his commitment to people and the planet. He was a mentor, an example of who we can be for others, a shining example of what it means to be the best human that you can be. He was a dear friend to me and a partner in many causes.

Don White gave me faith in humanity. He was one of the greatest human beings that ever lived and most certainly the kindest, most compassionate, generous and gracious person I've ever met. He embodied the quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world" (Gandhi). I am devastated by his having left the building. But I know that I am a better person for having known Don White, as is everyone with whom he made contact and even millions who never had the privilege of meeting this saint of a man.
I miss you already, Don. Rest in Peace, my friend. You'll always be my chair & I'll always be your vice (chair)!

Maria Armoudian

Commissioner
Environmental Affairs Commission
City of Los Angeles
Producer & On-Air Host
KPFK

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How we will miss Don. I can hear his voice, his laugh, and his shout at rallies, and marches. In meetings he was so politically astute, and gentle but direct. I loved him.

Pat Krommer

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Dear Don White,

I know that you are in a place sacred that only men like you can reach. You devoted your life to the struggle of all people, but more importantly, to the struggle of the Salvadoran people. When I learned that you had left us, I truly felt devastated. I did not know if I should believe what was recorded on my answering machine. However, every human being one day has to face that reality. To me you have not left. I hear your voice resounding out loud on every peace movement and on every march. I don’t know where you got all the strength to be everywhere. You did what you had to do. You did what a real human being should do. Nobody can replace you my friend. You were unique. I am sure that in heaven you will be next to all these other great men and women who have devoted their lives to defend the cause of the oppressed. One last thing, surely humanity has lost a great man. As a Salvadoran that I am, I would like to thank you for all the work that you did to defend our people. Thank you very much.

Hasta la Victoria Viempre, Companero Don White!!

Francisco R. Martinez Co-Producer, Centroamerica Sin Censura - KPFK Radio, 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am away visiting friends in Seattle, but I was devastated to learn of the sudden death of Don White. He, as I'm sure you know, was one of my closest friends in the Movement, as well as an activist mentor, brother, and guide to me. He was the first person to take me to jail, and someone who I would have followed into the front lines of peace movement struggle simply because I trusted him completely. His warmth, humor, wisdom and compassion have touched us all, and I truly loved him. I think he was the first person I met in the peace community when I moved out here in 1986. I was a member of CISPES in New York already, but quicky joined in L.A. as well. I actually met him through SCITCA, and became most active with him beginning with the CAL STATE Northridge chapter of CISPES. This letter comes just a few days after Don sent my dad and me a lovely condolence card for the shocking loss of my mom early Memorial Day, and two beautiful sympathy calls as well. I didn't get a chance to call him back yet, and now I'll never be able to tell him how much his friendship meant to me. We have to continue the fight in his honor; let's split a hotel room for the DNC together, and certainly Fort Benning. This is the year we're gonna shut down the School of Assassins! Don would want us to keep it going. Please let me know all details, especially for the memorial service. I would love to help organize that; my dad is too angry and distraught to have one for my mom yet, so helping with Don's would help me, in a way.

Henry Howard

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I'll add my voice to the litany of appreciation of Don's life and sorrow at his death. Don was one of the first movement people I met in L.A. when I arrived here in 1982, and always one of the most open, caring, approachable and committed, an inspiration to solidarity, humanity and consistency. Like many others, I worked with him in countless coalitions, projects and formations, notably CISPES, the "Winds of Change" effort that gave birth to "Change-Links," the Crack the CIA Coalition that held the only mass demonstration in US history calling for the abolition of the CIA (along with reparations for Central America and the African community in the U.S.), and of course at KPFK. Don will live on in all his good works and in the work we all do in his spirit.

--Michael Novick

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Hello Brothers and sisters!

I'm still here in DC, but I'm going back to California, to be present in any memorial of Don's Life.

I came to DC to conmemorate the Torture Survivor's week with TASSC International, but I'm shocked with the bad news from LA. and I decided to cancel my participation in the torture survivor's week.

Last night CISPES and friends of Don, made a vigil in his honor here in DC, Everbody share testimonies how Don impact aour life; we know that Don is not dead, he still living with us......He was my guardian angel, he help me when I need him...

So please include me in the coalition to honor him, in any memorial, in any event for him.

See you soon..

In Justice and Peace,

Frankie Flores

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Our sweet Don White, ever positive, ever engaged, articulate and caring has passed on to more peaceful environs.
Suddenly, unexpectedly Don White is no longer among the walking.

A strong and steady light in the peace movement, especially in the struggle for justice in Central America, has gone out.

He will continue to live in my heart and mind.

Elke Heitmeyer
Don White - PRESENTE!

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Knowing Don White and claiming him as a friend has been one of my many special rewards of being a participant in the Los Angeles Peace and Justice movement. Your spirit will always be here with us dear Don. A life well lived.

Rest in Peace,

Ceil Sorensen

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On behalf of everyone in Neighbors for Peace and Justice, San Fernando Valley who ever had the pleasure to work with Don, most recently at our event with Dahr Jamail and Jeremy Scahill, I would like to express our shock at this terrible news. As others have commented, it is near impossible to imagine anyone so alive in every way (and funny, too, a pleasure to be around) to be so abruptly taken from us. With sadness,

Steve Fine

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A distinctive voice of deeply committed activism for justice and peace is now silent. It echoes through the present and future of all the lives he touched. Let the reverberations give us strength to carry on the mantle of his legacy.

Rest In Peace Don

Dennis Davis

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I want this not to be so. And yet I know he's surely done "a job well done" here. Don was (and for each of us will likely always be) the absolute embodiment of goodness, kindness, love, caring, warmth, wit, decency, impish utter dignity, good-spiritedness, full-of-life-fun-and-humor,a and how that was wedded to the deepest caring for all that demanded justice and integrity. No march will ever be the same for me without his wonderful welcoming smiling face...a twinkling love light shone so brightly from his eyes, illuminating his face and our lives. I know I will 'see' him every time: that we will all still be 'seeing' him at every march, and for as long as we are still there carrying on, Don will be there still.... in our hearts and in our vision,...inspiring us still. I can't quite bring myself to feel he is gone, but when I let myself consider it, I miss him already. In thinking now of a quote from Stephen Levine in my "Guidelines For Honoring Grief"* it hit me how it is not only what will help us through, but is what he and his very life embodied and had to teach us, "Fear creates the abyss. Love crosses it." Don White was the very model of that love. And now that love has crossed the abyss. I am happy for him. And so grateful for the privilege, the utter privilege, of getting to know him. As I write this now the sun is just rising straight across from me, a passionate fireball burning brightly: fitting as Don was such a glowing sun rising. And we will feel its glow, feel its warmth, feel its rising, crossing away from fear triumphing over the abyss every time we think of him, every time we act in dignity and follow in his model of hopeful, kind, determined, joyous love. Don, thank you for touching my life and being the angel on this earth that you were. Affirming my belief that heaven on earth is possible and worth working and living for. I know what you want us to do.

Susan M. Satya

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I wish to add my tribute to Don White to the collected tribute of others.

My memories of Don White are very special to me; I met him in late 2000 in Los Angeles when a group of activists were preparing a demonstration against the inauguration of Bush. Very quickly I was enmeshed in a multitude of issues and groups such as the Pacifica Campaign and the Green Party that were all intertwined, and one of the primary things they all had in common was Don. The Peace Center was such a gathering place for the progressive community in Los
Angeles, and Don was so pivotal to it. His office was so like him, warm and full of information and empowering.

When I came down with cancer in 2001, Don was supportive and so kind to me. I still have the card that Don and a group of other friends signed for me in the hospital. Don was at home anywhere and so ready to embrace the plight of others. As important as the insight and experience he showed in a variety of causes was the positivity and friendliness that drew others to him. Along with many others, I will miss Don for the light he brought to us all. He was a very special
person from a very special part of my life and I want to add my memories to those of all the other people he has touched. It is a bittersweet joy that in remembering Don White, I see many of the people I used to know among these tributes. That goes to show how he brought so many people together committed to the goal of community.

Donald Brooks
SF, CA

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We'll be there in droves!! Don was great. Poignant that he and Carlin were announced on the same day. Two giants!!

Thanks, Frank, for keeping me/us up to date on Don's memorial!

Linda Milazzo

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Wow, we lost a major warrior for peace and social justice. I don’t know how many times I have been organizing (or being arrested for non-violent CD) with Don, but I surely with everyone else will miss his calming presence and voice in the so many things he’s been a part of with me. Don, we will miss you but we shall always continue the good fight because we know you would want us to. !Don White, Presente!

Robert Dhondrup

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In 2004 I traveled to El Salvador with Don in a CISPES delegation to observe the presidential elections. I had met Don before in the streets at many demonstration he had helped lead to end the wars and injustices in Central America.

When we got to El Salvador to avoid deportation we had to lie low for three days until waiting for credentials as Official Observers. The US-backed government was excluding arrivals who came as election observers. Like in the streets of LA, Don helped lead the delegation to prevent an unjust consequence.

While the delegation visited the San Salvador offices of the Social Security Workers Union office, Arena Party supporters drove by in trucks tossing powerful fireworks simulating an attack. Don helped keep things cool. He had known worse.

His since of humor is well known in demonstrations, fundraisers and board meetings. One night part of the delegation was in rural Usulután. Several of us slept in hammocks in a small barn while the evicted animals roamed noisily outside. Don did not hear any of the bleating and woke surprised and laughed in his comradely way at those who lost sleep.

Whatever it was, Don found ways to make for commonality of action among people, and did so with a sense humor that reflected that he knew we are all in this together, even with our differences.

Jim Odling

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Companero Don White, Presente!
June 24, 2008

I just got word that Don White, a much-beloved, longtime companero in the movement for peace and justice in El Salvador, passed away. People of many walks of life, many movements - women's, GLBT, Middle East peace, labor, immigrant rights, education, Venezuela solidarity and others- around the planet mourn his passing as they celebrate his life. Though he fought many battles in many wars, none moved Don like that of his beloved El Salvador.

Were we, as a society, better able to measure commitment to social justice as we measure baseball, basketball or American Idol stats, Don would surely have won many laurels and trophies for many accomplishments. Without a doubt, Don, a teacher who lived, loved and worked in Los Angeles, holds the U.S. record for organizing marches in a single lifetime. Because the movement in solidarity with El Salvador staged so, so many marches, protests and other events for so many years, Don, the dean of logistics, probably had more experience than anyone I'm ever likely to meet again. And, if I know Don, he's likely already conspiring to set records for organizing in the Struggle of the Great Beyond.

His bubbly, kitschy humor was also unmatched when it came to raising money, something many of us first learned about from watching Don. It still brings a smile to remember how he made money glide magically into the hats, bags or other makeshift receptacles for cash, checks and other donations to any of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of large and small events he pitched at in English- and in his broken Spanish, which included the word "Companero" in every other sentence.

But more important than any logistical or fundraising capabilities, was Don's possession of the one quality that has distinguished and will continue to distinguish the true revolutionary from the rest: that essential combination of unconditional love backed by incessant action. I've met many in the U.S. who've given heart and soul to distant causes in tropical lands, but none like Don. Long after many "in solidarity" people have left the Salvadoran people as a memory, many of us will remember Don as a light reminding us that we were never alone before, during and after that long, dark night of war. He was a friend I will mourn for many nights.

In his honor, please take a moment to look and meditate on this pic of Don (last man on the right, former member of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), for it is indeed how our friend, our companero, Don White, would like us to remember him. And as you do so, you too will remember one of those who fit the description of a Bertolt Brecht poem Don loved deeply,

Hay hombres que luchan un dia y son buenos
Hay otros luchan un ano y son mejores
Hay quienes luchan muchos anos y son muy buenos.
Pero Hay quienes luchan toda la vida: esos son los imprescindibles
There are men who struggle for a day and they are good.
There are men who struggle for a year and they are better.
There are men who struggle many years, and they are better still.
But there are those who struggle all their lives:

These are the indispensable ones.
Gracias

Roberto Lovato

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Don was such an unusual guy, politically and personally. His sense of humor was such a part of him. I never heard a harsh word from him. He was truly one of the great one

Elaine Budin

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"Dear Vigilers:

You may have already heard that teacher and indefatigable activist Don White died. If you have had anything at all to do with peace movements, solidarity with Latin American progressives and especially with Salvadorans, the pro-immigrant rights movement, the support for Cuba movement, and so forth and so on, you have probably met Don White and worked with him during the past 30 years.

About two years ago, Don participated in the SGV Neighbors benefit party for the Pastors for Peace Caravan that takes supplies to Cuba. He co-hosted the party and gave a brief talk on the importance of Pastors for Peace and of pressuring the U.S. government to lift the embargo against Cuba. He was in a partying mood that night, which was emblematic of his "always merry and bright" persona, which is pretty amazing, given the grim facts he often dealt with in his Central American solidarity work.

Don had known intimately about a lot of brutality and viciousness committed by U.S. sponsored terror states like the Salvadoran Govt. during the 1980's, but he never became bitter, depressed, or fatalistic about what we progressives could accomplish. Like you, many times I saw and heard him in his role as a featured speaker on stage at peace demonstrations: He was energetic, positive, and dedicated to working toward a better day in U.S foreign policy. He often closed his speeches with his trademark gringo- accented "...La lucha continua." which invoked affectionate grins from his many bilingual and Spanish-speaking friends.

Que descanse en paz, companero. La lucha de veras continua!

Cliff Olin

P.S.

This Phil Ochs tune sums up Don pretty well:

There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone

And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone

And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone