WAMM Activist: Susan Giesen

by Marie Simpson, WAMM

Born and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Susan Giesen came to Minnesota at age 17, married Bob Giesen at 18, and, with Bob, raised six children. From the beginning of their life together, they have worked for social justice, first within their church community, and later within a larger spiritual community. After experiencing disappointment at her church's lack of action or reaction to the civil rights movement, Susan shifted her energies toward teaching children, whom she found more open to learning and thinking about social justice issues.

A few years later, Susan listened with horror to the reports of the Mai Lai massacre on the evening news. Susan recalls sitting in her house with four small children, realizing that she could not count on her government to do the right thing, either. In her first act of public activism, Susan called a radio station and stated publicly that she would raise her children to be conscientious objectors because she never wanted them to serve a government that could take away their conscience -- their sense of right and wrong.

Susan first heard about Women Against Military Madness from a co-worker who would talk to her about WAMM's freeway bannering. The friend encouraged Susan to go to a Honeywell demonstration. Never one to take baby steps, Susan went to her first demonstration and was arrested. Among her sister detainees was Marie Braun and several other WAMM women. Thus began Susan's activism with WAMM.

With great courage, Susan overcame her initial panic and joined Polly Mann and others at a mass demonstration at Hormel in Austin. She recalls getting out of the car one cold, dark, early morning in Austin and looking up to see a line of National Guard men in full winter riot gear. Instead of retreating to their car, Susan followed Polly Mann up to the line of soldiers. Susan then watched Polly approach each individual soldier, touch his arm or shoulder, and say, "I know you don't want to be here. My friends and I are going to do everything we can to see that our government doesn't send you to Central America." Without resistance, the women walked past the Guards.

I asked Susan what social justice issue is closest to her heart. With little hesitation she responded: Native American concerns. Susan founded and operated Native Routes, a participatory, educational bus tour that traveled through Minnesota, allowing "student travelers" to learn about native sovereignty, treaty rights, and our government's shameful history toward those whose country we forcefully occupied.

Over 1000 people, primarily educators, went on the tour. The educational opportunities Susan facilitated while operating Native Routes were activism at its best. The experience not only brought change to those who participated, but will continue to beget change as they pass their knowledge on to another generation. Susan attributes her activist spirit and quest for social justice to her Native Canadian grandfather. Susan says he allowed her to make her own choices, form her own values, then honored those choices.

More than 20 years ago, Susan and Bob decided to join ritual and social justice issues by holding annual Seder dinners, each year commemorating an oppressed group in need of deliverance. Susan rewrites the Seder each year and has observed that the reflective process she follows to write each Seder provides her real insight into her progress on her own spiritual journey.

A few years ago, her interests in spiritual belief systems and the leaders within those systems led her to the teachings of the Dalai Lama. Susan was impressed by the Dalai Lama and saw him as a leader who taught and lived the values of inclusiveness, nonviolence, and peace. In view of the Dalai Lama's planned visit to Minnesota in May, Susan made the decision to create a Seder this year for the people of Tibet. Thanks to Susan Giesen and her educational activism, participants will once again have an opportunity to learn about a group of people who have lost their sovereignty, their country, their culture, and their homeland.