As I share this story, the world feels as though it has shifted again, perhaps more profoundly than ever. With Donald Trump's re-election, policies that strain the fabric of communities and press down on the marginalized are bound to intensify. This story resonates even more now, as it reflects not only the suffering caused by dictators but also a universal struggle for dignity in a world that sometimes seems determined to strip it away.
In Death & Deportation, I share a journey where borders, bureaucracy, and man will collide—echoing the struggles of Lithuania under the Soviet Union’s oppressive rule. In a place where freedom was stifled, even something as simple as a bicycle becomes a path to independence, a lifeline for friendship, and a quiet act of rebellion.
1. Saulius beside one of the monumental wood carvings in the gardens of sculptor Vilnius Orvidas.
2. We bathed in rivers or ponds on our bicycle tour of Lithuania. Saulius pictured here flexing.
3. Saulius Kunigenas riding across Lithuania on the bicycle I gave him in Russia.
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