Thousands expected at Benning protest

Thousands of people gather outside the gates of Fort Benning in 2005 during the annual protest against the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the Army's School of the Americas, which is housed on the base.


Thousands expected at Benning protest
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 14, 2007 18:38:20 EST

The annual protest against the Fort Benning, Ga., school that trains officers from Latin American countries will take place this weekend in Columbus, Ga.

The demonstration and vigil is in its 18th year and is aimed at ultimately closing down the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, which until 2001 was known as the School of the Americas.

The protesters from a group called School of the Americas Watch complain that many of the foreign military members trained at the school return home to oppress the public as tools of corrupt governments.

Thousands of protesters have been arrested for civil disobedience since the demonstrations began in 1990, contending that the school teaches torture tactics and breeds dictators.

Protesters in recent years have scaled back that tone, however, as many governments in Latin America since the 1990s have changed from military to civilian.

The protest, which draws as many as 20,000 people, will take place at Fort Benning’s front gate beginning Saturday morning, lasting until 5 p.m. and continuing most of the day Sunday.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_benningprotest_071113w/