| Converge on Fort Benning
November 21-23, 2008
Vigil and Direct Action to Close the School of the Americas
![]() Join thousands at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, this November. Speak out for justice and take a stand against the School of the Americas and the foreign policy that this shameful institution represents. The vigil will take place just two weeks after the presidential elections. It will be an opportunity for the progressive movement to set our agenda for justice and peace, whatever the results of that election will be.
Visit the SOA Watch webpage at www.soaw.org for updates about the organizing and for the latest information about hotel availability, transportation, accessibility issues, translation, the schedule of events, and more...![]()
This year, there will also be regional actions in the lead-up to the November Vigil:
November 9, 2008
March on the U.S. Southern Command
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, human rights activists from SOA Watch South Florida will march on the United States Southern Command (U.S. SOUTHCOM) Headquarters of the US military. SOUTHCOM is located in Miami/Doral, Florida. It is responsible for all U.S. military activities in South America and Central America (including Guantanamo).For more information on this action, call Linda at 305-801-0245 or Ray at 754-423-0051 and visit www.soaw.org/southcom
November 15 & 16, 2008
Southwest Weekend of Witness
For several years, in solidarity with the Vigil and Action at Fort Benning, there has been a growing grassroots demonstration at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Fort Huachuca is the home of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School (USAICS), and has a long history of complicity in U.S. crimes of torture. The torture manuals used at the SOA came from Ft. Huachuca.
On Saturday, November 15, there will be a variety of events in Tucson, AZ, followed on Sunday by a rally in Sierra Vista, ending with a procession to and presence at the gate of Fort Huachuca.
For more information visit www.SouthWestWitness.org
November 20, 2008
Protest at Drummond Inc.
Drummond in Birmingham, Alabama, is a major supplier of U.S. coal, the majority of which comes from one of the world's largest mines in Colombia. The corporation has been accused of serious human rights abuses of Colombian workers, including the deaths of three union leaders. Join the protest to hold Drummond accountable for its crimes. Contact Ken at Witness for Peace: 202-547-6112
November 20, 2008
SOA Watch Benefit Concert in Atlanta
Join the Benefit Concert on Thursday evening at the Eyedrum Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit SOAW.org for the line-up or call Elise at 404- 297-8398.
Anti-Militarization Gathering in Honduras
![]() The Second Hemispheric Meeting Against Militarization will take place in Honduras, from October 2-6, 2008. Delegates of over twenty countries confirmed their participation. Pablo Espinosa Ruiz from Chile, who has been part of the campaign to close the SOA/WHINSEC for many years, will represent SOA Watch at the gathering.
For more information, visit http://www.antimilitarizacion.blogspot.com/
Speaking Tours
Invite a speaker to talk to your community
Patricia Isasa
![]() From October 7-15, 2008, Argentinean torture survivor Patricia Isasa will be in Michigan. She will engage in multiple speaking engagements in metro Detroit, Ann Arbor and Adrian, ranging from community talks to university classes to religious congregations to law schools. For more information, contact Mary Anne Perone at maperrone@ameritech.net
![]() Father Roy Bourgeois
Purple Heart Vietnam Veteran, Maryknoll Missionary Priest, Torture Survivor and SOA Watch Founder, Fr. Roy Bourgeois will be touring the country in the lead-up to the November vigil to talk about why the School of the Americas needs to be shut down. See his speaking schedule here: http://soaw.org/article.php?id=412
![]() Hector Aristizabal
Hector is a native from Medellin Colombia and currently lives in Pasadena CA. Hector's commitment to the human rights work forced him to leave his country due to death threats.
Hector's main work has been on the use of Theater of The Oppressed techniques, traditional myths and story telling as a way to combine theater, drumming, and dance with psychotherapy in the creation of "modern rituals" as a way to address the healing needs of many of our communities. To invite Hector to present a workshop in your community, visit http://imaginaction.org/contact
![]() Simón Sedillo
Sedillo is a community based human rights film-maker whose work has centered on placing skills, cameras and editing equipment in the hands of communities in resistance so that they may be able to document their own histories and human rights situation. He is currently on tour screening films from maldeojotv.net and presenting workshops. To invite Simon to present a workshop in your community, email solidarity@elenemigocomun.net
![]() Father Louie Vitale
Franciscan priest, Father Louie Vitale, is conducting nationwide speaking tour this fall and into next year. Father Louie was released this past March after serving 5 months for his nonviolent action crossing the line at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, training center for Army Intelligence Officers in "Enhanced Interrogation" techniques, where the SOA torture manuals were written. Father Louie served 3 months and 6 months for crossing the line twice at in Columbus, GA at the School of Americas. If you would like to organize a speaking event for Father Louie , contact Ken Preston, at 510-268-8765, kenpreston@paceebene.org.
Pace e Bene
Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service is available to conduct nonviolence trainings for any groups or schools across the US interested in preparing for its trip to Fort Benning to the SOA vigil this November, or for local actions in your own community. www.paceebene.org/engage-program If you would like to host a nonviolence training, contact Ken Preston, at 510-268-8765, kenpreston@paceebene.org.
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Help to pay for the Vigil and Action
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We depend on your financial support to make the vigil happen. We need to raise $50,000 to pay for high-quality stage and sound equipment, for the rental of the Columbus Convention Center, to set up a media office on site, to pay for the printing of outreach materials and more.Click here to make a donation.
Order Vigil Palm Cards - Organize for Justice!
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Advertise the November 21st-23rd Vigil in your Church, School, Union Local or meeting with the new SOA Watch Bilingual Palm Card. This colorful, glossy, save-the-date card can be ordered in packs of 120 for $6 including shipping and handling.
To order, send a $6 check or cash to
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017
Click here to order the palm cards online.
SOA Watch on YouTube
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Watch video clips from past vigils and other SOA related films here: www.soaw.org/videos
Order SOA Watch's new compilation DVD
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Order SOA Watch's newest and most comprehensive resource. Now for the price of one DVD, $25 (including shipping and handling), you will receive 12 different SOA Watch and Latin American films on one compilation DVD. When you order "Shut Down The School of the Americas; A Compilation of Films" you will receive the following: Guns and Greed, Nightwind, The New Patriots, The School of Assassins, Journey to Awareness, An Insider Speaks Out, Prisoners of Conscience, Protesta En Colombia, Armas y Avaricia, Un Instructo Denuncia and Escuela De Asesinos. Please use this resource to host showing s and spread the word!
To order, send a $25 check or cash to
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017
Click here to order the DVD online.
Work at SOA Watch in Washington, DC!
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Check out the job openings at the SOA Watch office in Washington, DC. We are hiring a Communications Coordinator. For more information and to apply, contact Eric.
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