[PAA-Discuss] Nov. 16-18: Actions to Close the SOA in Chile, Canada, Arizona, California and G

Juli3 at aol.com Juli3 at aol.com
Wed Nov 14 08:25:23 EST 2007 

         

School of the Americas Watch

_www.SOAW.org_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7L/wB5aTpjxWoo7p2mHstCSKYkL5zU1j)   | 202-234-3440 | _Click  to subscribe_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rwEyhsjrEh9bamU17PkO8iut2TfVOaZ5
)  
November  13, 2007

Hemisphere Wide Actions to Close the  SOA!  
During the  weekend of _November  16-18, 2007_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=PAwmBmOfQBtuI/T0ilGrXCSKYkL5zU1j)  thousands will 
converge at the gates of Fort  Benning for a weekend of workshops, benefit 
concerts, film  screenings, puppet shows, a presence at the gates of Fort  Benning 
and non violent direct action. 

We are thrilled  to announce that once again, simultaneous actions calling 
for  the closing of the SOA/WHINSEC and a drastic change in U.S.  foreign policy 
will be held in Santiago, Chile; Tucson, Arizona;  Berkeley, California; 
Monterey, California; and Toronto, Canada.  

- See an updated _Schedule  of Events_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nBPOIVx10j5mKniFA5S9VCSKYkL5zU1j) , _Directions_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2Gle9jXvZMVM2O5u/AxC1ySKYkL5zU1j) 
,  the _November  Organizing Packet_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=qWEeXkR1lvME2cPU22hVRCSKYkL5zU1j)  and _Resources_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1YwJ18znQunzPXFTqkLn9iSKYkL5zU1j) 
  for the _November  16-18 Vigil to Close the SOA/WHINSEC_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=maA2wiYyl7zxLZeQ1RqBQCut2TfVOaZ5) . 

- _Videos  about the SOA and SOA Watch_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3N2dfOfm7XoESWObpK9tJCSKYkL5zU1j)  - updated with a video 
of the  Prince Myshkins song "Me, Mimi and 100 Nuns," a clip of  Salvadoran 
torture survivor Carlos Mauricio in Austin, TX last  Sunday; and a clip about the 
SOA/WHINSEC from John Pilgers'  documentary "The War on Democracy". Watch the 
short films and  pass them on to family and friends.

We encourage all of  those who will not be able to attend the Vigil at Fort 
Benning  to attend similar events in their communities or organize their  own 
event. No matter how small and how simple, coming together  with your community 
to celebrate the struggle and lives of those  who have suffered under 
SOA/WHINSEC sponsored violence in Latin  America and work towards a change in U.S. 
foreign policy can be  an effective way to raise awareness and create a stronger 
bond  amongst fellow peace and justice advocates in your area. Film  
screenings, workshops, roundtable discussions, candlelight  vigils, fasts, benefit 
concerts, street theater, and creative  forms of protest and non violent direct 
action are all great  ways to reach out and make your voice be heard!  

SANTIAGO, CHILE:

November 13 -  17: Chile-based human rights organizations and _SOA  Watch 
Latina_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=zq6xbNrBeuSelIJDocOXtySKYkL5zU1j)  have come together and will be hosting a series  of events 
during November 13, 16 and 17 to create awareness  about the SOA/WHINSEC and 
demand that Chile cease to send troops  to the notorious school. 

The events include a film  screening, roundtable discussion, delivering a 
letter to  President Michelle Bachelet requesting that Chile cease to send  
troops to the SOA/WHINSEC, and a walk for Peace & Justice in  downtown Santiago. 

- _Find  out more about this event..._ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=fJLRquLYPOn45opxJizq3iSKYkL5zU1j) 

- _Visit  SOA Watch Latina (in Spanish)_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=eJNb92h8odJSooDd6apg7CSKYkL5zU1j) 

- _Watch  a Video of the November 2006 Action to Close the SOA in  Chile_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=cxxGBlXPcuXPrxDqSqOPECSKYk
L5zU1j)  

TORONTO,  CANADA

Sunday, November 18 - 1pm: Come remember  the victims of the School of the 
Americas through image and  dance and call for a close to the SOA/WHINSEC and 
for Canada to  pull out of the school. Please bring a symbol (photo, book,  
banner) of a person, a movement or a country that's suffered at  the hands of SOA 
graduates that you'd like us all to remember -  PRESENTE! 

After a litany of remembrance, we'll do a  simple powerful circle dance 
called the Elm Dance together. (See  the history of this dance at the end of the 
e-mail.) - Meet at  Canada Life building on west side of University north of 
Queen  and south of the US Consulate at 1:00. 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA

November 17-18: Over the last couple of  years, there has been a small but 
growing demonstration in front  of Ft. Huachuca to protest our country's 
slipping standards on  torture. This year, the witness will be dramatically expanded 
to  include a "Teach-in" against Torture on Saturday, November 17th,  a 
showing of the powerful movie "The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" and a  procession and 
witness to end the War in Iraq on Saturday night  (all to be held in Tucson), and 
the events at the main gate of  Ft. Huachuca in Sierra Vista on Sunday from 11 
a.m. to 3 p.m.  

- _Find  out more about the Southwest Weekend Against Torture at Fort  
Huachuca_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=sBVvjxjjHOi2FnlrwimJfiSKYkL5zU1j)  

MONTEREY,  CALIFORNIA

Friday, November 16 - 12:00 noon  through Sunday Nov. 18 - 5:00 pm
Location: Outside the lower  gate to the Presidio of Monterey
Lighthouse Ave. and Pvt.  Bolio Rd., Monterey, CA

The Direct Action Task Force  Against Torture will be holding its second 
annual vigil against  torture outside the Presidio of Monterey. This year's event 
will  focus on education and awareness in calling for a total  cessation of 
the use of torture by any country, and closure of  the School of the Americas in 
Ft. Benning, Georgia. The Quit  Torture Teach-In & Vigil is ongoing from 
Friday, Nov. 16 at  12:00 noon through Sunday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 pm outside the 
gates  to the Presidio, at Pvt. Bolio Rd. and Lighthouse Ave. 

-  _Find  out more about this event_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Kb7mDmVpEmSMsh389xQ6Uyut2TfVOaZ5) 

SAN FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA

Wednesday, November 14: 6pm to 8pm  Richmond High students with the support 
of Buzz Sherwood will  conduct their own ceremony honoring those killed and 
abused by  the SOA graduates. Their litany will be made up of their own  family 
members who have been tortured and lost. We are all  invited to join with these 
remarkable young people. To get there  from the south, go up 80 to Mac Donald 
exit, head left to 23rd,  turn right on 23rd and the school will be on your 
right some  blocks down. 

Sunday, November 18: at 5pm friends will  gather on the steps of St. Joseph's 
Church at 1640 Addison,  Berkeley, CA. You are encouraged to bring a candle 
and the Bill  O'Donnell Social Justice Committee will lead a vigil of  
solidarity with the SOA Watch movement throughout the  Hemisphere. 

 
____________________________________

Repeal  the U.S. Torture Law 

The Military Commissions Act,  which torture survivors have renamed "the 
torture law", allows  the President and Pentagon to:
* Sexually assault  detainees
* Introduce evidence acquired by torture
*  Disappear non-US Citizens indefinitely
* Conduct unfair and  arbitrary trials
* Deny Geneva Conventions protections
*  Kill anyone they determine to be guilty

- _TAKE  ACTION NOW to Repeal the Military Commissions Act of  2006_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=LDDmJ0ehGv+uGVYcBbDhXCSKYkL5zU1
j) 

- _Learn  more about the survivors of torture who created  torturelaw.org_ 
(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tE8kUJWPAseFfy2kjsoWSCSKY
kL5zU1j) 

 
____________________________________

Attend  the Research Working Group Planning Session  

We need  skilled researchers! The Research Working Group of SOA Watch has  
scheduled a strategy and planning session at this year's Vigil  in Columbus, GA. 
Join us if you're interested in participating  in upcoming research projects! 

Friday, November 16th  - 3:00pm-4:30pm at the Days Inn on 3170 Victory Dr, 
Columbus,  GA.

Please contact the Research Working Group  coordinator at: 
_pbowman(at)soaw(dot)org_ (mailto:pbowman at soaw.org)   




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