SOA Watch Vigil today in Columbus, GA

[roody]

www.soaw.org

[Judi Lynn]

1. 26 Arrested at SOA Watch Protest

26 Arrested at SOA Watch Protest
Posted: Nov 20, 2010 10:18 PM CST
Updated: Nov 20, 2010 10:25 PM CST
By Andrew Wittenberg

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - The protest group 'SOA Watch' says 26 people were arrested, including a television crew, during Saturday's protest near the gates of Fort Benning.

The arrests occurred during the first day of that group's protest of WHINSEC, or the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Operation, formally known as the School of the Americas.

Each year since 1990 the 'SOA Watch' group has protested just outside the gates of Fort Benning.

The television crew arrested was from RT America TV.

All those arrested are currently being held in the Muscogee County Jail for up to a $5,500 bond, according to the organization.

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13543963

[Judi Lynn]

2. SOA Watch demonstrators begin annual protest

SOA Watch demonstrators begin annual protest
PRESS RELEASE
Story Created: Nov 19, 2010 at 7:54 AM CST

(Story Updated: Nov 21, 2010 at 8:26 AM CST )

Thousands from across the Americas, including United Autoworker president Bob King and Bishop Tom Gumbleton will converge from November 19-21 at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia for the 20th anniversary of the vigil to close the School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation).

On Saturday, November 20, following a massive rally at the gates of Fort Benning, human rights activists will engage in civil disobedience to draw attention to the accelerating U.S. militarization in the Americas.

A solemn funeral procession on Sunday, November, 21 at the main gates of Fort Benning will commemorate those who were killed by graduates of the SOA/ WHINSEC.

The 2009 SOA graduate-led military coup in Honduras and the increasing U.S. military involvement in Colombia put a renewed focus on the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) and the policies it represents. These recent events exposed the destabilizing and deadly effects that the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) has on Latin America. Torture survivors and human rights activists from across the Americas, including Father Jesus Alberto Franco, a leader of the Inter-church Justice and Peace Commission in Colombia, and members of the pro-democracy movement in Honduras will travel to Fort Benning, Georgia to participate in the mobilization.

More:
http://www.wltz.com/news/local/SOA-Watch-demonstrators-begin-weekend-protest-109194269.html

[EFerrari]

3. SOA Watch is asking for help with bail money. n/t