Blackwater blocked: Small town keeps mercenaries out of California
Send a message of congratulations to the people of Potrero
After a long battle to block the building of Blackwater's mercenary training base, the people of Potrero (population: 899) are rejoicing. Blackwater is gone. Gone from this pristine area of East San Diego County. Gone from California.This is a modern-day story of David vs. Goliath -- a grassroots victory of monumental proportions. And Jan Hedlun is one of many amazing "accidental activists" who made this victory possible -- the community members of Potrero who never expected to devote over a year of their lives to battling Blackwater.
Jan has written a heartfelt letter of thanks to Courage Campaign members, posted below. Please read Jan's letter, watch the short YouTube video about Carl Meyer -- one of her fellow community leaders battling Blackwater -- and write a note of congratulations to the people of Potrero.
FROM: Jan HedlunYou can write a response to Jan and the people of Potrero in the box below. We will deliver your letters as soon as possible.
TO: Courage Campaign members and supporters
I'm sure you've already heard the good news: that Blackwater is leaving Potrero! Woo Hooo!
When I first heard the news, I was stunned, wondering if someone was going to be jumping out from behind a bush yelling April Fool's! I think I'm experiencing a sort of shock, as I haven't been this happy since October 2006 when Blackwater's Brian Bonfiglio made his first pitch to the Potrero community.
Although Bonfiglio insists that the opposition in Potrero had nothing to do with their decision to pull the project, it was obviously a factor. Without the "opposition" here, in San Diego, in California and nationwide, they could have walked right in and gained a foothold that would have been tenacious and difficult to defeat.
It's still difficult to grasp the magnitude of this success. How does one encapsulate gratitude for so much from so many? So many people were involved in a myriad of ways, it is difficult to know how to say thank you other than to do just that. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your assistance during this very long year (plus). Thank you for your petition. Thank you for sending us those wonderful letters of comfort during the Harris Fire. Thank you for offering to support "Save Potrero" during the recall election but standing by to let the people of Potrero handle our own campaign. Thank you all very much for helping us prove that the American way still exists.
Thank you to everyone for your letters, your thoughts, your prayers, your efforts to support us. You're awesome!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Jan M. Hedlun
Potrero resident