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Press Release

Mas de 10.000 Personas Se Reunen para Cerrar la SOA - 11/17/02

Over 10,000 Peacefully Converge at Ft. Benning to Expose Double Standard in War on Terrorism and Close School of Americas - 11/16/02

Thousands to Expose Double Standard / ACLU & SOA Watch in Court Today - 11/15/02

Miles de personas denunciaran la doble moral de la Guerra contra el Terrorismo - 11/15/02

more>>    
In the News

Keeping an Eye on the SOA - 1/16/03

School of Americas garners more protests - 12/12/02

U.S. terrorism must end - 12/9/02

Protest at U.S. base 'joyous'; Local students among 10,000 demonstrators at military school - 11/23/02

    

Close the School of Assassins/WHISC!

November 15-17, 2002: 10,000 Voices Call: SHUT IT DOWN!

Click here for photos, detailed reports and updated information from the Atlanta Independent Media Center

For a short video of some of the crossings, visit Snowshoe Films

For pictures of the vigil action visit the SOA Watch/NE webpage

PRESENTE - VENCEREMOS!

Media work for you when you get home

Over 10,000 people from far and wide gathered at the gates of Ft. Benning to speak truth to power, calling for the closure of the School of the Americas (renamed: the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation). Our movement continues to grow ? for many it was the first time that they joined the annual vigil action at Fort Benning and stood together with thousands to demand a fundamental change in US foreign policy. It was a spirited weekend filled with hope, joy, courage and solidarity. Thousands engaged in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience as they crossed en masse onto Fort Benning and transformed the main gate into a memorial wall for the countless victims of the SOA/WHISC. 95 people were arrested as they attempted to continue to process to the SOA, by either going over, around or through the fence. 85 were arraigned before a federal magistrate and their trial is scheduled to take place on January 27, 2003. The defendants are facing up to six month in prison and $5000 fine for their courageous witness that exposed the issue of SOA violence in Latin America to the public. One person was arrested and has to go on trial in Columbus for refusing being searched at the police check-point as he entered the permitted vigil site. The weekend's events and the case against the SOA were covered in many media outlets throughout Latin America, in newspapers in Europe and on cable channels, radio stations and newspapers such as the New York Times, USA Today, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and many others.

Donations are urgently needed to help cover legal expenses, to get ready for trial, and to continue our work to close down the SOA and to work for justice and peace throughout the Americas. If you are able to contribute financially, please give generously now. We deeply appreciate all that you do to close down the School of Americas.

You can donate by making a check out to SOA Watch and sending it to
SOA Watch
PO Box 4566
Washington DC 20017

In Solidarity, SOA Watch

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