Thousands demand School of the Americas’ closing

Thousands, mostly youth, amassed at the gates of Ft. Benning, Ga., on Nov. 20 and 21, to demand the closing of the School of the Americas, known throughout Latin America as the School of the Assassins. Activists briefly blocked the road with a sign that read, “Stop: This is the End of the Road for the SOA.”

Delegation of Coalition of Immokolee workers speak at anti-SOA rally Nov. 20.

Twenty-six activists were arrested and face multiple charges. Police followed rally participants leaving the area, indiscriminately arresting people who had committed no crime nor engaged in civil disobedience. Three journalists filming the police abuse were also arrested. Two activists who crossed onto the fort were charged with federal trespass and face up to six months in prison and fines up to $5,000.

Over the decades of its existence, scores of military personnel trained by the U.S. at the SOA have been involved in numerous coups, massacres and assassinations. Charges of torture, false imprisonment and other forms of repression continue to be leveled against SOA graduates.

The recent overthrow of the democratically elected president of Honduras and the attempted coup against the president of Ecuador are linked to U.S.-trained military members.

The movement to close the SOA has grown over the years to include major unions such as the United Auto Workers, whose president, Bob King, spoke at Saturday’s rally. The presence of faith-based organizations, Palestine supporters, anti-war activists, veterans’ groups, immigrants, artists, musicians and students from dozens of campuses characterizes the broad support for this demand. Solidarity actions took place in cities across the U.S. and around the world in response to a call from the School of the Americas Watch, organizers of this campaign.

For more information, go to www.soaw.org