Nov. 18-20: Vigil and Direct Action to Close the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC)

The U.S. Army School of Americas (SOA), based in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American security personnel in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians.Together We'll Shut it Down!

At the gate (No photo credit available)

Nov. 18 - 20

Vigil and Direct Action to Close the SOA/ WHINSEC
Together We'll Shut it Down!

Converge on Fort Benning: Nov. 18-20
Speak Out for Justice, Peace and Accountability.
Take a Stand Against The Racist System of Military Repression, Violence and Domination

On Nov. 18-20, thousands will gather at Fort Benning, Georgia -- one of the largest military bases in the world and home of the notorious School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC) -- to confront injustice, to speak out for truth and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy.

This is a very important year to come to the vigil and this year is different than other years. Due to the fact that we will have a vote [in Congress] this spring or summer to close the school, we need to have a stronger presence at the gates of Fort
Benning to send a powerful message to Congress to close the school. This is the year we need you to be with us.

We are in a period of great change. We are going to close this school that continues to create death and suffering. Justice is within our reach when we stand up in numbers too big to be ignored -- turning the tide by putting our bodies on the line.

SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent. We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout Latin America for their inspiration and the invitation to join them in their struggle for economic and social justice.