[HNA] Protest Federal Prison Sentences for SOA Watch Activists

[Sergio Reyes]

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Speaking Truth to Power Prison Sentences for SOA Watch Activists.






Speaking Truth to Power
Human Rights Advocates Given Maximum Federal Prison Sentences of Six Months for Direct Action Opposing the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC)

Judge Finds SOA Watch Activists Guilty for Carrying Protest against the SOA/WHINSEC onto Fort Benning, Issues Arrest Warrant for Michael Walli for Refusing to Appear for the Trial. Father Louie in Georgia Jail.On Monday, January 25, 2010, U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth sentenced three human rights advocates to six months in federal prison for carrying a protest against the School of the Americas onto the Fort Benning military base in Georgia. This school, re-named the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, is a controversial U.S. Army training school for Latin American soldiers.

Father Roy Bourgeois, a Roman Catholic priest and the founder of SOA Watch, the organization that works to close the School of the Americas said "Judge Faircloth has sentenced our sister and brothers to 6 months in federal prison for speaking the truth about the SOA/WHINSEC. We are saddened by the court's continued blindness and hardness of heart, but we are stronger than ever in solidarity. These sentences are symbolic of our nation's misdirection, but they are also great steps forward for our resistance movement. It is truer today, than ever before, that although they jail the resisters they have not, and cannot, jail the resistance!"

The "SOA 4" are:

Nancy Gwin, long-time activist from Syracuse, New York - sentenced to six months in prison

Father Louie Vitale, veteran and priest from Oakland, CA - sentenced to six months in prison

Ken Hayes, SOA Watch Council member from Austin, TX - sentenced to six months in prison

Michael Walli, a member of the Catholic Worker movement from Washington, DC refused to appear for the trial in Georgia. Walli had told the court during his November arraignment that he would not pay any bail and that he would not voluntarily return for the trial. "I walk out and it's goodbye" Walli told Judge Mallon Faircloth. Michael Walli made good on his promise and on Monday, Judge Mallon Faircloth issued a warrant for Michael Walli's arrest.

The "SOA 4" were among the tens of thousands who gathered on November 20-22, 2009 outside the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia to demand a change in U.S. policy in Latin America and the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC. The group peacefully crossed onto Fort Benning while thousands stood vigil at the gates of the base in memory of those killed by graduates of the institution.

The SOA/WHINSEC, a military training facility for Latin American security personnel, made headlines in 1996 when the Pentagon released training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution.



Read a trial report back in the upcoming Spring 2010 issue of Presente, the newspaper of the movement to close the SOA. 

Support the SOA Watch Prisoner of Conscience. Call Congress Now: 
1-800-473-6711 

One way you can support the prisoners of conscience and their message of the importance of closing and investigating the SOA/ WHINSEC is to take an easy legislative action at home. Please take the time to make a quick call to Congress and to send an automatic email and fax to your House Rep!

You can contact the DC office of your Representative by calling the Capitol Hill Switchboard toll free at 1-800-473-6711, (or 202-224-3121). Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant and here is a suggested message for you to convey:

"As a constituent living in _________, I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to contact Rep. McGovern and ask to be a cosponsor of the Latin America Military Training Review Act, also known as HR 2567. This legislation would suspend operations at the School of the Americas, renamed WHINSEC, and investigate the history of human rights abuses and failed policies of the institution. Yesterday, three activists were sentenced to 6 months in prison for speaking out against the injustices of the SOA/ WHINSEC and now it is more important than ever that you join the others in Congress in opposing this school.

The recent coup in Honduras was led by graduates of the SOA/ WHINSEC, research confirms that the school has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training, and five countries have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school citing the negative image and history of this institution.

I urge you to contact Cindy Buhl in Representative McGovern's office and ask that your boss join 97 other Representatives and be added as a cosponsor HR 2567. I hope you will represent my views in Washington and cosponsor this bill immediately."


Trial photos by Mike Haskey, Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

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Contact us. 

Our mailing address is:
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA

Our telephone: (202) 234 3440

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