Peace activists to speak at Benedictine University

Two longtime peace activists will talk about their efforts over the past 40 years during an appearance Oct. 24 at Benedictine University in Lisle.

Tom Melville and George Mische, who have worked to change U.S. foreign policy in Vietnam, the Middle East, South America and Iraq, will speak at 12:20 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Krasa Center on campus, 5700 College Road.

Sponsored by the department of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, the presentation is part of a tour promoting Melville's book, "Through a Glass Darkly: The U.S. Holocaust in Central America," which claims U.S. foreign policy in Guatemala and elsewhere contributed to the deaths of more than 300,000 people since the Eisenhower administration.

Melville and Mische first came to prominence in 1968 when they participated in burning draft files in Catonsville, Md. Each of the "Catonsville Nine" was sentenced to federal prison. Melville served 18 months and Mische served 25 months.

Melville was ordained as a Maryknoll priest in 1957 and sent to Guatemala. He and a number of other Maryknollers were expelled for their opposition to the U.S.-backed government in 1967.

Melville earned a doctorate from American University, spent a number of years living in Chile and currently lives in Mexico.

Mische has been active politically on the local, state and national level; has worked as a labor organizer, negotiator and arbitrator; has lectured extensively in North and Central America on U.S. foreign policy; and is working on a book about the history of the Catholic peace movement since Vietnam.

For details, call (630) 829-6250.