October 8, 2010

Sawyer Plotz

Sawyer Plotz has been a member of the Anti-War Committee in Minneapolis since early 2006. That summer, he traveled to Colombia on a two-week delegation to meet with trade unionists, farmers, student activists, and human rights workers to learn about the impact of U.S. military aid on the Colombian people. In 2008, he was part of a coalition that organized a major demonstration on the first day of the Republican National Convention, and also helped organize an anti-war protest on the last day of the RNC. In 2009, he was supposed to be part of a delegation to Palestine, but was detained at the airport and denied entry to Israel for unnamed “security reasons.” He is confident that the only security threat involved was his intention to meet with Palestinians and share their stories about life under Israeli occuaption with people in the U.S. He and fellow activist were jailed overnight for refusing the initial deportation order. Sawyer continues to organize for justice at home and abroad, as well as to ensure safety and equality for LGBT students in school and in the community. He lives with his partner Jon, and works as a substitute teacher and a server at a local restaurant.