A TRIBUTE TO HOWARD ZINN, RSOL SIGNATORY

Howard Zinn, an early RSOL signatory, and a champion of freedom and justice in America and the world, has died at age 87. (See the Boston Globe obituary). Dr. Zinn was known for championing unpopular causes, and for his staunch opposition to U.S. policies that led to wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was a major civil rights activist in the early days of the movement for desegregation. He boldly opposed the anti-communist crusades of the Cold War. He was a historian at Boston University, best known for his monumental "A People's History of the United States," in which he told the 'other side of the story,' from that of the elites. He was especially active in the movement for American Indians and their rights. When Boston activists began the movement to Safeguard Our Children and Our Liberties in the 1990s, Dr. Zinn was an early leader, speaking out publicly against the shaming of sex offenders in the United States. RSOL salutes Dr. Zinn's memory and hopes his life and work will continue to influence the lives of young people in America. We will keep his name on our signatory list - where he is no. 2 after Paul Shannon! He never shied from the struggle to demand rights for sex offenders and their families. Many of us who knew him, will miss him personally. All those who fight for freedom will miss his presence, though his spirit remains as a beacon to us all.

Alex Marbury http://www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org