Press Release
From Nov. 19-21, thousands will gather at the gates of Fort Benning, Ga. to stand up for justice and call for the SOA/WHINSEC to be shut down.
The School of the Americas (SOA), renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Co-operation in 2001, is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers located at Fort Benning.
Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained more than 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counter-insurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence, and interrogation tactics.
These graduates use their skills to wage war against their own people, targeting educators, union organizers, religious workers, and others who work for the rights of the poor.
Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, massacred, and forced into refuge by those trained at the SOA.
SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close this facility, under whatever name it is called, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations, and non-violent protest, as well as media and legislative work.
On Nov. 16, 1989, six Jesuit priests, their co-worker, and her daughter were massacred in El Salvador. Those responsible were trained at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA).
The following year, SOA Watch began in a small apartment outside the gate of Fort Benning. Today, it is a large, diverse, grassroots movement rooted in solidarity with the people of Latin America.
Its goal is to close the SOA and to change U.S. foreign policy in Latin America by educating the public, lobbying Congress, and participating in creative, non-violent resistance.
Its efforts have not been in vain. To date, five countries have withdrawn their soldiers from the SOA.
Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a peace activist, has been involved in the SOA Watch since its beginning. This Friday (Nov. 19), a video featuring Fr. Bourgeois will be shown at St. John’s Anglican Church here in Fort Frances.
This is an educational opportunity as well as a time to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers working for justice, non-violence, and peace.
The video presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by time for reflection and dialogue.
All are invited. This is not an American issue only; it is a humanity issue that affects us all.
More information is available at www.SOAWatch
