Monday, January 24, 2000, MIAMI, Fla. – Elian Gonzalez’s grandmothers flew to Washington, D.C., Monday night to press their case, having been unable so far to secure Miami-based relatives’ agreement to their request for a visit with their grandson in a neutral place.
"The grandmothers’ goal continues to be to see Elian," said the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, National Council of Churches General Secretary, who remained in Miami to pursue efforts there on the grandmothers’ behalf. "They are willing to return to Miami or go anywhere else so long as there is agreement on a neutral location for a supervised visit with their grandson," not unusual in a custody dispute.
Dr. Edgar has designated his delegation co-chair, the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, to travel with Raquel Rodriguez and Mariela Quintana, Elian’s grandmothers, to Washington, D.C., the headquarters for the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service and other government bodies.
In Miami, Dr. Edgar will make himself available over the next 24 hours to government officials there and especially to Lazaro Gonzalez, Elian’s great-uncle whose family has temporary custody of Elian, in an effort to come to an agreement for a visit.
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