Unforgettable Scott

by Erin Thompson

I first saw Scott and learned of CAJA at a presentation they hosted on Colombia by Katie Knight. I knew immediately I wanted to be involved, but when I reached about meetings, it was summer.  Scott responded to let me know that CAJA didn’t meet much in Summer, but he encouraged me to come to a meeting in the fall. It turned out that my first meeting was on September 11, 2001. A ton of people showed up, but Scott remembered that I had emailed him in the summer. He took care to say, hey, you reached out earlier this year, I’m glad you came. From then on, he took me under his wing, mentoring me in my activism, and supporting me into leadership. He always let me lead, careful to guide but not direct. When the time came to hire a coordinator for CAJA, Scott suggested it be me. This was how he operated. He was dedicated to inclusion, and to supporting women, and young people, in this work. He always highlighted women’s organizations, brought women leaders to the U.S.to speak, and called out men in Colombia who failed to support women’s role in the struggle. He was a feminist, and I hadn’t seen that before from a lot of men around me.

Only once did I go for a hike with Scott. It turned out to be 10 miles straight up, in the Mission Mountains – it was brutal! Towards the top of the peak, we encountered a raging river. I thought – well, I guess we’re turning around. But before I could finish my thought, Scott was stripping down to his boxer shorts and wading thigh deep into the icy waters. I opted to balance precariously on fallen trees, at risk of washing out at any moment. We celebrated our successful crossing, both laughing. In retrospect, maybe not the smartest idea. But that river wouldn’t stop us. We would get to the top. And that is how Scott approached everything in life. If an obstacle was presented to him, he found a way around it, or literally through it. He was determined.

Scott was powered by a conviction so deep, he could transcend fear. Scott was the driving force behind the CAJA delegation to Colombia in 2005. This wasn’t your ordinary delegation. We went places most people don’t go. Once we slept in a union office, which was protected with bullet-proof glass. Some of the people we were accompanying had body guards. We went where people needed us. For me, this was a glimpse into Scott’s life – his truest calling. He was a witness, putting his life on the line for others, because he believed in justice for all.

He had an immense love for life. He almost always wore a smile, and I can still hear his contagious laugh — a loud, air-catching laugh. In the toughest of times, this laugh had a calming effect. (Like the time we ran out of gas in Colombia, in the middle of an oil field, at dusk, in a dangerous area.)

There are simply too many stories to share. The one thing I know, is that Scott literally changed my life. Without him, I would not be the person I am today. I feel immense gratitude for the time I spent with him, and for the lessons he taught me. He was truly one of a kind. I will sorely miss you my dear friend.

Scott asked us to continue the struggle for peace and justice. I pledge to do that. And to take care of myself, in service to my mission for social justice. With the deepest respect, love, and admiration, Scott Nicholson, ¡Presente!

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