SOA 11 Sentenced to Federal Prison

Source: School of the Americas Watch

SOA Watch
News & Updates | www.SOAW.org | 01-28-2008
Trial Update - SOAW 11 Sentenced to Federal Prison

"I crossed the line at WHINSEC and prayed on the grounds to bring attention to the teaching of torture and assassination. When enough people learn the truth about this school and act to end these practices, the healing can begin."
- Diane Lopez-Hughes, one of the SOAW 11
The Eleven courageous souls that willingly put their freedom and bodies at risk to stand in witness against the SOA/WHINSEC during the November 2007 Vigil have been sentenced to federal prison on charges of "trespassing on a military base".
The trial, which began at 9:00 AM this morning in Columbus, Georgia, took place in a courthouse located just a few miles from Fort Benning, the current site of the SOA/WHINSEC. An institute known around the world for its ties to brutal dictatorships and human rights abuses, which continues to operate, unchallenged by our government but not by the people.
The SOAW 11, ranging in ages from 25 to 78 and from very diverse walks of life, testified today before magistrate G. Malon Faircloth. Ed Lewinson, a 78-year old History professor who in November crossed the line for the fourth time, was sentenced to 90 days in federal prison and a $500 fine. This is his first conviction since in previous years the government refused to prosecute due to his blindness. Tiel Rainelli, a 25 year old activist from Canton, OH who was arrested this past November after climbing over the barbed wire fence blocking the main gate of Fort Benning, announced that in spite of the courts decision to sentence her to 90 days in prison, she would return to protest at the gates of Fort Benning in November.
The SOAW 11 are:
- Joan Anderson, 65, Casper, WY - 30 days and a $500 fine
- Ozone Bhaguan, 33, Duluth, MN - 90 days and no fine
- Le Anne Clausen, 29, Chicago, IL. - 30 days and no fine
- Art Landis, 74, Perkasie, PA - 30 days and no fine
- Ed Lewinson, 78, Newark NJ - 90 days and a $500 fine
- Chris Lieberman, 54, Albuquerque, NM - 60 days and no fine
- Diane Lopez Hughes, 58, Springfield, IL - 45 days and a $500 fine
- Tiel Rainelli, 25, Canton, OH. - 90 days and a $500 fine
- Gus Roddy, 45, Chicago, IL - 30 days and a $500 fine
- Stephen Schweitzer, 45, Binghamtom, NY - 60 days and a $500 fine
- Michelle Yipé, 45, of Argonia, KS - 30 days and a $500 fine
Read more about the SOAW 11...


Read more: soaw.org

One man is blind. This is his fifth time tresspassing. Until now, Faircloth refused to give him jail time.

And every one of them will spend more time in jail than Scooter Libby did for exposing an undercover agent during wartime.

and I am proud of her.

To the Greatest page, SOA 11!
:patriot:

Torture on a vast scale, encompassing decades, mass murder, genocide, unbearable persecutions, more death squads, many with members trained right at Ft. Benning, than anyone would believe possible, entire villages erased from the face of the map, cruelty beyond comprehension, all leading right back to this place as a common academy teaching them the advanced techniques of terrorizing their fellow man/woman.

It's so easy to be indifferent and let these yearly arrests go in one ear and out the other without trying to find out what it is they're protesting. I hope someday more people find out. It's being done in their names.