Shut down the School of the Americas

November 20-22, 2009 – Converge on Fort Benning, Georgia

Mass Mobilization to Shut Down the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC)!

The military coup by SOA graduates in Honduras has once again exposed the destabilizing and deadly effects that the School of the Americas has on Latin America. The actions of the school’s graduates are unmasking the Pentagon rhetoric and reveal the anti-democratic results of U.S. policies. It is time for a change towards justice.

From November 20-22, 2009, thousands will vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, to stand up for justice, to shut down the School of the Americas and to end the oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the school represents.

The campaign to close the SOA is in a crucial phase right now. Despite promising comments from President Obama during his election campaign, the SOA/ WHINSEC is still in operation and the Pentagon is moving forward with plans for new U.S. military bases in Colombia. With a Democratic administration in the White House, it appears that some Democrats in Congress are becoming timid when it comes to opposing the Pentagon.

It is up to us to keep up the pressure and to hold them accountable. People power is going to win over Pentagon lobbying!

It is tremendously important that we have a strong showing at the gates of Fort Benning for the annual vigil and nonviolent direct action, in order to demonstrate that we won’t go away until the SOA is shut down and the U.S. government has stopped turning to “military solutions” (or political-economic interventions) to enforce its oppressive foreign policy in Latin America. Too many people have suffered and died at the hands of SOA graduates.

You can take a stand for solidarity and justice now! Join hundreds of organizers around the country and start planning for the November vigil. Contact your local unions, universities, workers centers, social justice organizations and faith communities and ask them to re-commit to the struggle to close the School of the Americas.

To download the SOA Watch November organizing packet, for a travel guide and a hotel listing, as well as information about accessibility and information for people without U.S. citizenship and more, visit www.SOAW.org/november

Here's hoping Obama will. K&R.

:rofl:

:kick:

I wish you guys could have known him. He was a big man with an even bigger heart. Kind and decent and would fight his ass off for the little guy. SOA was a particular thorn in his craw among several.

He was husband, father, UAW local president, worked for Gov Roy Barnes for a short time getting legislation passed for the little people.

Bo we miss you terrible.

O8)
in honor of your great spirit.

In 1990 I ran against my DINO US Rep. from the left got 42% of the primary vote and moved him to vote to discontinue funding the SOA

Started with the Six Jesuit priests being murdered in El Salvador and our congressman came to the Jesuit memorial service in our town and told the congregation "tough luck, they knew it was a war zone and they shouldn't have been there" at that point half the congregation walked out and looked for a candidate to run from the left. I had just ran an initiative (advisory) that asked for a 10% reduction of military spending and apply it to deficit reduction and social services. We live in a heavy military area and nobody thought we would get on the ballot...we got on and won with 64% of the voteand at that point of commitee of those folks asked me if I would run. Interesting campaign..I had a yard sign case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, they kicked it back to the Washington State Supreme Court where we won it 9-0 and it is a part of a set of text cases that they teach about electoral yard sign law in law schools.

BTW: I spent six days in Ukiah...summer of 1969 and it was VERY hot! But I was little and had a great time!!!

Useless drains on our budget, the cause of much of the blowback against our country. SOA's is another cause, and another drain.

It wasn't a useless drain on the budget.

However, that kind of separtism that occurs when you create an enclave, does create issues, eventually. When you have Americans growing up on foreign soil for four generations, interesting social interactions crop up. An almost schizophrenic personality develops, one side embraces the culture of the host country, but at the same time, a super-patriotism develops with the American, dominant side. It's bound to create issues when you begin to associate the land you live on as America. And they do. Civilians have been known to take an aggressive, protective stance which has brought on the end of the symbiotic relationship between the two countries. Of course, history isn't written that way.

presente'. Recently the Church tried to have SOAW founder Father Roy Bourgeois removed unless he recanted his belief that women should be priests. It happened to coincide with SOAW actions, of course. Last vote in congress was very close. Thanks for posting the reminder!

presente'. Recently the Church tried to have SOAW founder Father Roy Bourgeois removed unless he recanted his belief that women should be priests. It happened to coincide with SOAW actions, of course. Last vote in congress was very close. Thanks for posting the reminder!

edit: recd