Prison Holds no Boundaries for Luis Barrios: Profile By Amanda Aponte [unedited]

Prison Holds No Boundaries for Luis Barrios: by Amanda Aponte

“You could incarcerate my body, but you would never imprison my love for peace and justice, because my conviction has made me free,” said Luis Barrios as he reenacted his appearance in the United States District Court of Georgia.


Luis Barrios is apart of the SOA Watch, a grassroots activist movement, against the School of the Americas. Barrios along with six other SOA members were arrested for trespassing on Fort Benning, a United States Military base, in which the School of the Americas is located. This school is infamous for its military training of Latin soldiers in torturous methods and killings.
Luis Barrios is a Professor at John Jay College, Chair of the Department of Latin American and Latina/o Studies, and a Priest at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. All of these occupations are only a small part of Luis Barrios character. He is an easy going guy with a Puerto Rican accent and a constant grin across his face. Dressed in business attire and cell phone in hand, Father Barrios appears to be worn out as he sits in his office within the Latin American Studies Department.


“We had a lot of fun that day,” Father Barrios said with a smirk as he took out a stack of court papers. Flipping through pages of court proceedings, charges, and letters from the archdiocese, Father Barrios’ expression was not of fear but pride. “I combined my academic activism and religious activism to impact society in positive way,” he said.


It was a Sunny day in Georgia, the weather was warm with a cool breeze, the type of weather that entices a person to go out and take a walk. This was exactly what Father Barrios and his friends did. They took a one mile walk straight into the military base of Fort Benning. Strangely his entrance was nothing short of a walk in the park, as he pushed his veteran friend, Al Simmons, in his wheelchair. Father Barrios explained that the lack of security was nothing but carelessness on the military’s part, since they were only guarding the fences in fear that protesters might break in. “Once you get in, you have good fun there until they arrest you,” he said smiling and then continued, “This is the purpose of the civil disobedience, and you do something with all the intention to violate the law, because you want to be arrested.”


Father Barrios spoke passionately about his mission. Everything he had ever believed in brought him to that moment. “I accept that I am a transgressor, with all intention,” he said proudly and then continued, “a transgressor of violating any unjust law, any unjust law is not a law and you have to disobey it.” He then began to describe his annoyance with the judge. He could not believe that someone of such authority remained indifferent. In Father Barrios’ eyes indifference or being “neutral” was a contribution towards the crimes commited by the School of the Americas. He then became angry and said “So when it comes to arresting people, torturing people, and killing a person; No that is not acceptable,” he clenched his jaw and continued, “I have a moral obligation to God and to society to go against that.”


Instead of having fear when he was arrested he was joking around with the MPS, who were both Puerto Rican. Both men where 18 years old and as soon as Father Barrios found out they were Puerto Rican he started to tease them “ I am going to call your father when I get out of here,” the MP eyes were wide and he turned to his partner and said “He’s going to tell my daddy!” His partner rolled his eyes and responded, “He doesn’t even know who the hell you are, he’s joking!” He was laughing hysterically as he climbed into the correctional bus. “I am going to call your daddy and tell him what you did to me, you arrested me, you’re not supposed to do that, I’m a prince,” he said as he sniggered at the memory of the MPs facial expression.


The trial did not have the atmosphere of lightheartedness. Although they were treated respectfully, the tensions could be felt within the court hearing. Each had to pay a $500 fine and a trial citation for January 26. Their actions led to federal offence, but within federal court this protest was considered a misdemeanor and they were given a trial without a jury. Honorary Faircloth was the judge, seen as a strict protector of the law, rather than a judge of moral obligation. All six members including Barrios were found guilty and were sent to a specific prison in their hometowns. On March 9th Father Barrios reported himself to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. A few days before his imprisonment, Father Barrios sat back with little worry in his office. He looked around the room and said “It doesn’t matter the consequences. So if the consequence is going to be prison, then I am going to go to prison, but we need to stop this.”


Arriving to New York he was hit with the realization of his job and how far the administration would go to take it away. To his surprise the students, faculty, and administration were very supportive. Although his students were angry he took that moment to tell them, “do something if you don’t like it.” Father Barrios believes in the John Jay slogan, educating for justice, and that is what his actions follow. Many were a tad bit peeved at Father Barrios; the administration let him keep his job but is not going to pay him during his prison stay. The archdiocese, in which Father Barrio’s radical beliefs constantly conflict, sent him a letter not condone his actions but showing their moral support.


When asked about his intensions in prison, Father Barrios smiles and lays out his two month plan. “I want close the school, and I am not going to pray, I am going to do something. I am going to organize people and give the prison system hell,” he said leaning over his seat, “I see myself doing volunteer jobs in the chapel and give a radical mass. I want them to understand that the prison is a business, and they each have a price on their head.”


Father Barrios did not do chose civil disobedience as a life lesson, but as an action for change. His response towards ignorance and indifference is the same response he gave to Judge Faircloth, “I came here because I wanted to be arrested; what I am trying to do, with my intention to violate the law, is to bring the system on trial,” he said as he motioned with his hands and continued, “So we go on record that there is something called the school of the Americas, and what they are doing is wrong and I have a morally responsibility to go against it.” Father Barrios want the students to take his actions, not as a lesson of theory, but as an example of “taking the street.”

Luis Barrios #93613-020
MCC New York
Metropolitan Correctional Center
150 Park RowNew York, NY 10007
"Peace with justice,
Luis Barrios"