Howard Zinn

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network is saddened by the death of historian and activist Howard Zinn. He was and remains an inspiration to many of us. He was a valued supporter of ETAN. He not only chronicled the actions of the "ordinary" people who make change from the grass roots, but was a participant in key movements in our time.

In 2002, he endorsed ETAN's work in our annual appeal he wrote:

I think you'll agree with me that the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) not only proved that independence for East Timor was possible but helped make it happen. ETAN harnessed the power of ordinary people in the United States -- people like you and me -- to redirect the policy of the most powerful government in the world. I can't think of a better recent example of grassroots action changing U.S. foreign policy.

In the Boston Globe today, Noam Chomsky says

"He's changed the conscience of America in a highly constructive way. I really can't think of anyone I can compare him to in this respect....Both by his actions, and his writings for 50 years, he played a powerful role in helping and in many ways inspiring the Civil rights movement and the anti-war movement."

Watch , listen or read Democracy Now! on Zinn with Chomsky, Naomi Klein and others.