At the heart of the SOA Watch movement lies a willingness to use our bodies to demonstrate our opposition to the deadly training taught at the SOA.
We use nonviolent direct action because it is necessary and effective. In Argentina, daily demonstrations by the Mothers of the Disappeared caused the fall of the SOA-led dictatorship that claimed 30,000 lives. Today in Bolivia, campesinos and workers are transforming their entire government after the use of strategic nonviolent direct action forced their president to resign.
We cross the line at Ft. Benning to stand in solidarity with activists in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico and all the places where people are putting their bodies on the line to challenge imperialism, neoliberalism and military domination.
For over ten years, people from all walks of life have trespassed onto Ft. Benning at great personal risk to call for the SOA's closure. These peacemakers have built a movement undeterred by harsh prison sentences and the Pentagon's smoke and mirrors campaign. Today over 170 have served or are currently serving prison sentences of up to one year. These « Prisoners of Conscience » use their outrageous sentences to educate and awaken the public to the atrocities committed by SOA graduates.
To read the entire Call to Action and answers to legal questions, the scenario and the decision making process click here:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=678
FRIDAY, November 21 | |
| 9:00-noon | Nonviolence Training (Howard Johnson Inn) |
| 12:30-1:30pm | Enemy Combatant: The Search for Justice in the War on Terrorism (Howard Johnson) |
| 1:00-4:00pm | Nonviolence Training (Heritage Inn) |
| 2:00-5:00pm | Colombia Teach-In (Howard Johnson Inn) |
| 2:30-5:30pm | GI Rights Hotline - Orientation Training |
| 5:15-6:00pm | Voices from the Communal Womb (Howard Johnson Inn) |
| 6:00-8:30pm | Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) Strategy Meeting (Howard Johnson Inn) |
| 7:00-9:30pm | Pax Christi event (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room) |
| 7:00-9:00pm | Witness for Peace Gathering (Heritage Inn, Ballroom) |
| 9:00-10:00pm | Women's Caucus (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room) |
| 9:00-10:00pm | Men's Caucus (Howard Johnson Inn, Carter Room) |
| 10:15-11:15pm | Genderqueer Caucus (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room) |
SATURDAY, November 22 | |
| 11:00-5:00pm | Rally* at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia with lots of music including Pete Seeger, Llajtasuyo, Francisco Herrera, Jon Fromer, Amy Goodman from Democracy Now!, Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking; Bob King, Starhawk, the International Vice President of the United Auto Workers Union, Kathy Kelly from Voices in the Wilderness and many more. |
| 9:00-10:30am | Catholic Worker Caucus (Howard Johnson Inn, Carter Room) |
| 9:00-10:15am, | 6-7:15pm, or 7:45-9pm Logistic and Orientation Session (Columbus Convention Center) |
| 8:00-9:30am | Peacekeeper Training (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room) |
| 1:00-3:00pm | Legislative Skills Training & Strategy Planning (Days Inn, Meeting Room) |
| 6:30pm-8:15pm | Affinity Group Orientation and Formation (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room) |
| 8:30-10:00pm | Spokescouncil meeting/Action planning (Howard Johnson Inn) |
| 3:00-5:00pm | Anti-Oppression Discussion (Days Inn, Meeting Room) |
| 6:00-9:00pm | Veterans for Peace (Howard Johnson-Inn, Carter Room) |
| 9:00-11:00am | High-School and College Student/Youth Caucuses (Heritage Inn, Ballroom) |
| 5:00-8:00pm | Maryknoll Gathering (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room) |
| 5:30-8:30pm | Labor Caucus (Days Inn, Meeting Room) |
| 5:00pm | Religious Caucus (Southern Columbus United Methodist Church) |
| 5:30-7:00pm | Screening of "Hidden in Plain Sight" (Heritage Inn, Ballroom) |
| 7:00-8:00pm | Beehive Collective Presentation |
| 8:00-10:00pm | Screening of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (Heritage Inn, Ballroom) |
| 9:30pm | SOA Watch Benefit Concert (Columbus Convention Center) |
SUNDAY, November 23 | |
| 7:00-8:00am | Dominican liturgy (Days Inn, Meeting Room) |
| 8:30-4:00pm | Vigil and Nonviolent Direct Action at the gates and on the grounds of Fort Benning, Georgia* including musicians from Saturday by Pete Seeger, Sing It Down!, Pat Humphries, Sandy O., Llajtasuyo, Charly King, the Chestnut Brothers, Myshkins, and many others. Solemn funeral procession followed by puppets, and festival of hope and resistance & nonviolent direct action. |
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*Sign language and Spanish interpretation will be available. Addresses
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