| Closing the School of the Americas |
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| Written by Administrator | |||
| Wednesday, 05 October 2005 00:00 | |||
 The militarization of the world continues without disruption -- except that which ordinary people cause. A 79-year-old retiree, a Maryknoll nun, and a Jesuit priest are some of those who have stood against the spread of persuasion at the point of a gun barrel. Will you join them? Carolina Peace Resource Center will organize a trip to Fort Benning, Georgia, to rally for the closing of the dictater training school. The mobilization is planned for November 18 through 20, with Nov. 18 planned as a non-violent protest training day. Read on for information on why the School of the Americas should be closed, and for a schedule of weekend events Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians. For more information, click here: http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=205. In an attempt to deflect public criticism and disassociate the school from its dubious reputation, the SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) in 2001. The name change was a result of a Department of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001, at a time when SOA opponents were poised to win a congressional vote on legislation that would have dismantled the school. The name-change measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bi-partisan amendment to close the SOA and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten-vote margin. (Click here for Talking Points, http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=115, here for a critique of the new school http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=110, and here for a Vote Roll Call http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=116.) In a media interview, Georgia Senator and SOA supporter the late Paul Coverdell characterized the DOD proposal as a "cosmetic" change that would ensure that the SOA could continue its mission and operation. Critics of the SOA concur. SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent. WEEKEND SCHEDULE Saturday, November 19th: 8:30-11:30am: Sing Along for children: "Close the SOA" songs. CC 104 Add your comment
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