'Voices of the Silenced' on display May 20-June 1

The exhibit “Remember Me: Voices of the Silenced” will be on display May 20 to June 1 at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn.

Visitors to the traveling exhibit will be able to see, hear, and touch artifacts, recordings and other items associated with Colombian violence including video testimonies of mothers who have lost their children to war, the pictures and an account of the life of a slain church leader, and a quilt made by a mother of clothes belonging to her missing daughters who were abducted by the Colombian paramilitary. Visitors will also have a chance to take action in support of the people of Colombia.

“Colombia's 50-year conflict has touched people of every social and economic class, every village and city. One would be hard-pressed to find a family who does not have a story to tell — yet we seldom hear those voices,” says Mary Duvall, LWR's Grassroots Outreach Coordinator. “The ‘Remember Me' exhibit honors those brave men and women who fought, and continue to fight, for peace and justice.”

Tensions between the government, guerilla forces and paramilitary groups continue to fuel the decades-long conflict that has displaced four million people, many of whom are children and single mothers.

Meanwhile 50 percent of Colombia's displaced are unemployed, and those who find work usually obtain only poorly paid day labor. Faced with few options, some displaced - including children as young as ten –are recruited into armed groups or join voluntarily to escape poverty. U.S. policy in Colombia, including funds for military aid and the practice of aerial fumigation, also contribute to the continuing conflict.

“As Americans we have the power to raise our voices, change our policies, and see a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. This exhibit will bring to life how that conflict has impacted lives and, I hope, serve as a call to action,” says Duvall.

Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, is hosting the free exhibit, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on the Remember Me Exhibit, including other exhibit locations, dates, and information on showcased items, contact Marilyn McKenna at the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America at (773) 293-2964 or mmckenna@crln.org.