Former Director of Episcopal Peace Fellowship Visits War Deserters
Diocesan Press Service. January 23, 1970 [83-5]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- American war protesters who have taken political asylum in Sweden have "deserted from madness to sanity, " according to the Rev. Thomas Hayes who recently returned to the United States after 10 months ministering to the "deserter" community in Stockholm.
The former director of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship was in Stockholm under the sponsorship of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam.
In a press conference held after his return, Mr. Hayes said that, despite common impressions, the deserters are not trouble-making drop-outs or criminals.
He explained that 350 men have been granted official political asylum by Sweden, and 400 more have applied for such status.
Of those in Sweden, he said, only 22 have been indicted for any misdemeanor or felony and only seven are in prison.
At least 104 of the men are working; 103 are attending Swedish language classes, and others are in high schools and universities.
During his 10 months in Sweden Mr. Hayes helped deserters get in touch with sympathetic elements of Swedish society, counseled them, and upon his return is interpreting the deserter movement to the American public and contacting those whose sons are in Sweden.