MARBLEHEAD — The Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo, minister at Marblehead's Unitarian Universalist Church, pleaded guilty (on Jan. 18) to disobeying a lawful order. It was a case of civil disobedience, and she's back, providing a statement on the case, which began when she joined other Unitarians last July in blocking a Phoenix, Ariz., street to protest that state's law to combat illegal immigration.
In a press release, von Zirpolo linked her actions to those made during the civil rights struggle of the mid-20th century.
"I believe in our judicial system and the laws that protect all people," she reports telling the judge. "But there is a higher law which landed me here today. The law of our collective soul, some call God. It is a law that cherishes all creation's children and insists that each are due respect, safety, justice and love."
The reverend recalled reading the autobiography of Anne Moody, a woman who grew up black in Mississippi during the battle for equal rights.
"(The) story she told mirrored a part of my 14-hour experience in Maricopa County Jail," von Zirpolo said.
She accused law enforcement officials of "beating" one of the protesters, described as "a young Latino man."
She added, "My faith requires I not be silent. My faith calls me to stand with my Latina and Latino sisters and brothers and other people of color who are victimized, scapegoated and hunted by those who deform the laws of our human soul and construct evil legislation."
According to von Zirpolo, Arizona Justice of the Peace Armando Gandarilla (who incidentally died on Tuesday at age 62) called her statement eloquent and noted "more people need to hear that."
What is Marblehead practically surrounded by?
Jen Rodier, marine science teacher at Marblehead High School, is hoping for a good run at the Blue Lobster Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 5, at MIT. It's a competition in an arena where 'Headers ought to have the wind in their sails — ocean science. Rodier, who also coaches girls cross-country, explains that the meet resembles the TV quiz show "Jeopardy."
Long-form questions, however, are judged by actual MIT scientists.
Rodier expresses frustration that the annual competition has been dominated by landlocked Lincoln-Sudbury. Her group has a disadvantage in that there are so many clubs and activities at Marblehead High, it can be difficult to recruit.
On the Marblehead B team is Serena Cataldo, Nina Warner, Colleen Gabel, Rebecca Purchase and captain Molly Nash, and on the A team is club president Wesley Thorne, Natalie Freidin, Melanie Zemel, Alix Isreal and captain Claire Depew.
Depew also competes on the girls cross-country team.
An interest in sports and science isn't an unusual combination in Marblehead, says an amused Rodier. "I'll run with the girls and hear them talking about their physics class as they race." Marblehead kids, she suggests, are a little different than kids in other schools.
Cracking down
State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, has signed onto a law promoted by Attorney General Martha Coakley to eliminate human trafficking.
That term describes a kind of enslavement that often sees immigrants and other vulnerable people forced into "sexual servitude" or other forms of labor.
"This bill takes the steps needed to ensure Massachusetts law cracks down on criminals and protects the victims of human trafficking," Ehrlich said in a press release, which also asserts that only five states have failed to pass laws specifically directed at stopping this sort of thing.
Only five of the 50 states, according to the press release, have so far failed to pass such a law.
Visitor from a war zone
Members of the Marblehead Rotary Club are looking forward to an education today as they host a speaker from one of the most remote, yet most important, corners of the world.
Shogofa Amini, 23, a student from Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, will talk about her experiences here in the U.S. and the impact it's had on her and on her female friends in Afghanistan.
Amini is actually a local resident, living with Paul Crosby of the Marblehead Counseling Center and his wife, Claire.
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