Actions!
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- Subject: Demo. in Solidarity with the Women of Colombia/Wed. Aug.15TH
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 09:28:19 -0700
From: Julia A. Dowd
Tomorrow, Aug.15 at 5:30 PM, there will be a demonstration at the
Colombian Consulate, 595 Market Street (near 2nd) organized by the Committee
for a New Colombia (CNC) The demonstration is in solidarity with
the women of
Colombia, who will march in Colombia during the 14-17 of August to
ask the government for freedom of expression and protection for the women
that are in the middle of the war. The women's groups that are organizing
this mobilization and event in Colombia have been threatened and harrased
by paramilitary forces there.
Sr. Joan Brown who has spent time in Colombia with the groups, Justicia y Paz and Franciscan Justice and Peace, will be one of the speakers at Wednesday's event and will represent SOA Watch West. Please come and demonstrate in solidarity with the women of Colombia.
For more information contact:
Comm. for a New Colombia at 415 821-6545 or
Michael Bass at 510 654-5355
- Subject: Prisoner Addresses
Date: 5/25/01 11:53:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jeff Moebus
Here are the mailing addresses for the three SOA Prisoners of Conscience who were imprisoned immediately after The Trial on Wednesday afternoon. The Muscogee County Jail needs to be inundated with messages of support and solidarity to Josh, Jack, and Karl. It is not known at this time how long they will be here, so start those cards and letters coming in now and keep them coming until you start getting returned mail. Thanks. - Jeff
JOSH RAISLER COHN
c/o Muscogee County Jail
700 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
JACK GILROY
c/o Muscogee County Jail
700 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
KARL MEYER
c/o Muscogee County Jail
700 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
- Subject: MnSOAW local actions
- Subject: 40-Day Fast, Prayer Vigil, Witness Action at Benning Beginning April 6 (S-W)
- Subject: January Vigil at Ft. Benning
- Subject: Action Narrative
- Subject: ACTION ALERT: NATIONAL DAY OF RESISTANCE TO CLOSE THE SOA!
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 16:30:45 -0600
From: Minneapolis SOAW
[A NOTE to No. California SOAW folk: I don't expcect many of you will be in Minneapolis, but I thought you might like to know what's happening elsewhere. –Daniel]
Dear "Close the SOA" friends ~
Thursday night we had our MnSOAWatch meeting at the Resource Center
of the Americas. We were privileged to have Eric LaCompte from the SOAW
office in DC come and share with us the plans for the Days of Resistance
in DC at the end of this month and the beginning of April. Thirty from
the University of St. Thomas will travel to DC for the SOA action. For
a full schedule of events, check online at Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer reported on his impressive weekend in DC for the
SOAW "suits and roots" gathering. Briefly, the 50-60 participants are from
all over the United States representing different groups who are actively
working to close the SOA. Together they all worked towards establishing
goals for the year and prioritizing their strategies:
* continuing legislative work
As a local group, we decided on some events to coincide with the actions
in DC. We sure hope that you can join us for one or some or all of these
events. We are calling it PRAY, PLAY and the SKYWAY!
PRAY, PLAY and the SKYWAY.
Sunday, March 25 - PRAY
Friday, March 30 - PLAY
Monday April 2 - SKYWAY
We are also encouraging people to contact their legislators on Monday,
April 2, at their local office. Thank them for their continued support
to close the SOA clone, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
Remember that Representatives Kennedy and McCollum and Senator Dayton are
new. Legislation will be introduced soon. We would like to make sure everyone
is contacted, so if you connect with someone, please let us know and what
district you are in. For information on the new school go to the SOAW web
site and click on "Talking Points"
For list of Minnesota Representives, Click link below:
Please join us for our next MnSOAWatch meeting which will be Thursday
April 19th at 7 pm at the Resource Center of the Americas, 3019 Minnehaha
Ave. Minneapolis. (1 block south of Lake St.)
My name is Jeff Moebus. On April 6, I will begin a 40-Day Fast,
Prayer Vigil, and Witness Action at Fort Benning to challenge the existence
of the SOA/WHISC and to recruit conscientious objectors from among the
ranks of Ft Benning soldiers.
I am coordinating this action thru SOAW (Eric LeCompte), Gandhian Wave
(Ed Kinane and Ann Tiffany) and CCCO/GI Rights Network (Teresa Panepinto).
Below and attached as a Word document is a draft media advisory on this
event that will fill you in on intentions and motivations plus details.
I know you folks are busy in prep for M29 and the legislative season,
but, if the opportunity presents itself, I would welcome your thoughts
and inputs on this. The document will serve as a basis for the media advisory
and press releases to be going out later this month. I welcome any thoughts
you folks may have on it as to ways to make it more effective.
And, of course, I welcome any input you may have on the Project as a
whole.
Thank you.
Jeff Moebus
draft media advisory follows:
ARMY RETIREE TO DO 40-DAY FAST AND PRAYER VIGIL
A retired US
Army Master Sergeant will conduct a 40-day Fast, Prayer Vigil, and Witness
Action at Fort Benning, Georgia to challenge the existence of the School
of the Americas (SOA), recently renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute
For Security Cooperation (WHISC), and to recruit service members to become
conscientious objectors.
Jeff Moebus,
a two-tour Vietnam veteran, will begin his action on April 6, 2001 and
continue until May 16. He is also planning a civil disobedience action
at Fort Benning on Memorial Day, May 28.
Moebus was inspired
to do this after his visit to Fort Benning on January 31, when he and his
wife Kathy stood in solidarity with Becky Johnson, the 21-year old Oberlin
College senior who was completing her 31-day Fast and Vigil against the
SOA/WHISC that day. “The only thing that could have made Becky’s effort
better,” he said, “was if, on the afternoon of the 31st, there had been
someone for Becky to pass the torch on to, to continue the very next morning
with the Fast and Vigil.”
“The vision,”
he continued, “is that from now until the WHISC is closed, that there is
at least one person involved in an on-going, extended Fast and Vigil outside
the gates of Fort Benning. I volunteer to be the first person to take on
that task and plan to be the first of an unending “Gandhian Wave” of Fasters
and Vigilers.”
Moebus says he
is doing the Fast, Prayer Vigil, and Witness Action because “I want to
put my body where my mouth is. I want to stand in solidarity with the people
of Latin America who have been, are, and will be the victims of the SOA/WHISC
and will never get a chance to stand at Fort Benning Road Gate and tell
the world the truth.”
Moebus will also
be inviting Fort Benning soldiers to consider alternatives to military
service, including seeking conscientious objector status. He will be available
to anyone who needs counseling and advice on ways to become a CO or to
get out of the military altogether.
Stating that
the entire project will be faith-based, Moebus said, “I will be doing this
as a member of Pax Christi and will actively seek participation and support
from faith-based peace and justice organizations all over the country.”
He continued,
“The President of the United States has called for a faith-based perspective
and point of view in dealing with this nation’s social problems. I intend
to bring a faith-based perspective to bear on this nation’s economic, political,
diplomatic, and military policies and actions, specifically in Latin America,
particularly as manifested by the SOA/WHISC.”
Saying that he
looks forward to engaging the WHISC/Fort Benning/Columbus Christian community
in dialogue on this perspective, he says that he will be asking questions
like, “Would Jesus carry an M-16?” and “Would He teach others how to use
one?” and “Would He attend WHISC?” and “Will the Kingdom of Heaven Include
an SOA Clone?”
Elements that
will focus on the faith-based nature of his effort will include: declaring
from the outset that the only solid food that he will be taking during
his Fast will be a daily Communion wafer; specific daily time periods at
the Gate that will be dedicated to prayer, scriptural reading and sharing,
and study and reflection; the public recitation of a Rosary at the conclusion
of each day; and conduct of a Peace and Justice Way of the Cross every
Friday during the 40 day period.
“I plan to spend
forty days digging into and chewing on Archbishop Romero’s THE VIOLENCE
OF LOVE, Ched Meyer’s SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN: Mark’s Story of Discipleship,
and Leonardo Boff’s THE LORD’S PRAYER: The Prayer of Integral Liberation,”
he said.
When asked about
the civil disobedience action being planned for Memorial Day, Moebus chuckled
and said “That’s classified.” When pressed, he said, “Not really. It’s
just that all organizing efforts at the moment are focused on the Fast
and Prayer Vigil, and it’s too soon to speak publicly about Memorial Day.
Once things get a little better organized, we will let the world know what
we are planning to do.”
Moebus, who spent
28 years in the military, including 22 on active duty, is working with
SOA Watch in Washington, DC and “The Gandhian Wave,” in Syracuse, New York
in planning and preparation for his action, as well as the Central Committee
for Conscientious Objectors and the GI Rights Network, in Oakland, California.
“The ultimate
motive behind all this is pretty simple,” he said. “Once upon a time in
another galaxy, I spent two years in Vietnam. While I will never be able
to undo or make up for what I did to those people, to that land, and to
that country way back then, I can and must do whatever I personally can
to ensure that something like Vietnam never, ever, ever happens again.”
“It is beginning
again,” he said. “Right now. In a place called Colombia. Even as we speak.”
“It’s the same
war. I fought in it thirty-something years ago…a bunch of little brown
people hating, harassing, hurting, and ultimately killing each other just
so that a very few rich white guys can get even richer...over and over
and over again...” His voice trailed off.
He continued,
“If I am unable to stop this new Vietnam, then maybe I’ll at least be able
to help convince a few young men and women not to make the same mistakes
that I and a bunch of guys like me did way back then.” Stating that he
“lost part of his soul” when he was in Vietnam, Moebus said, “I am now
given the opportunity to get it back.”
“It isn’t often
that a man gets a chance to be on the right side of something about which
he was dead wrong thirty-five years ago.”
Moebus is 54,
and lives on a sailboat with his wife and two dogs near New Orleans, Louisiana.
He retired in August 1998.
CONTACT INFO: JEFF MOEBUS 504.641.3766 jgmoebus@bellsouth.net 1640 Harbor
Drive #126 Slidell, LA 70458
Vigil Day 1
Today is the
first day of a month-long fast and vigil at the gates of Ft. Benning in
Columbus, GA. I am here, today with Ann Tiffany (she will join me for the
first ten days), to express my utter rejection of this country's military
training and armament of Latin America. The army says that the new School
of Shame will have nothing to do with the old one - it will teach skills
to help fight the outdated and misguided "war on drugs" instead of the
skills to help fight the also outdated and misguided war on Communism.
Somehow it doesn't occur to my government that no matter what terror US
trained troops will instill in Latin American farmers, drugs will continue
to flow into the US until one of two things happens - we get rid of the
demand here (by focusing on drug prevention and rehabilitation, NOT incarceration)
or we give these farmers another viable and economically feasible crop.
Hoy día ya llegamos en un punto críctico donde la violencia
del pasado sigue y ha tomado una forma nueva cubierta. La politica de reformar
la escuela de las américas la cerra en una manera simbólica,
y dice que por darla un nombre nuevo y por enseñar los derechos
humanos corrigirá las atrocidades del pasado. Estos cambiados superficiales
no pueden divorciar la institución de su historia: cada día
que la escuela queda abierta permitimos que sigan estas atrocidades.
The recent assassination of archbishop Juan Gerardi in Guatamala and
the current situation in Columbia and the massacre of Acteal in Mexico
show that U.S. sponsored violence is neither a thing of the past nor a
series of isolated incidents. At the dawn of a new millenium the U.S. has
a choice. Do we support institutions of our own making that contribute
to oppression here and abroad, or do we move forward and leave antiquated
symbols of repression like the SOA behind forever? W are here today to
say leave them behind.
La ascinado recente del arzobispo Juan Gerardi de Guatemala y la situación
corriente en Colombia y la mascre de Acteal, Mexico muestran que la violencia
se perimte por los Estados Unidos no es una cosa del pasado, ni una seria
de incidentes isoladas. Al anamacer del melinio nuevo, los estados unidos
tienen una opción: apoyamos instituciones nuestras que contribuyen
a la tortura y la opresión aquí y en el resto del mundo,
o siguimos adelante y dejamos los simboles de represión como el
SOA detrás por todo el tiempo. Estámos aquí para decir
que dejelos detrás.
WE CRY OUT: No más, no more. We must stop this dirty war. Compañeros,
compañeras, we cry out: no más, no more!
We have a vision of a world where life is valued over profit and power;
a world where the government's responsibility is to provide social programs
like health care, education, and sustainable agriculture and rejects military
oppression and corporate exploitation. We must embark upon a journey towards
a world that is for the people and not for the military. We need to take
steps such as debt relief, an independent human rights truth commission,
nuclear disarmament and other policies that give voice to the integrity
of the Latin American people rather than threaten those who struggle for
a better life.
Tenemos una visión de un mundo donde la vida tenga más
valor que la ganáncia y poder; un mundo donde la responsibilidad
del gobierno es el proveer programas sociales, como la salud, la educación
y la agricultura sostenible, y el rechazar la opresión militaria
y la exploitación de los corporaciones. Tememos que comenzar un
viaje en la dirección que sea para el pueblo no para el militario.
Necesitamos tomar pasos como la aliva de dueda, una comisión independente
para la verdad sobre los derechos humanos y otras politícas que
son para la integridad del pueblo latinoaméricano en vez de amenazar
aquellos que luchan para una vida mejor.
We are at a crossroads: in our world, in our nation and at the SOA.
It is up to the people to decide which way we want to go. We, and all those
who have spoken out before us, are people of conscience who believe strongly
in justice and human rights. Therefore we know that we do not want to continue
on the path of violence. We hope that our representatives and the government
will turn from the path of death and destruction and walk with us down
a new road of peace.
Llegamos en un punto crítico en nuestro mundo, en nuestro país
y en el SOA. Nostros, y todos que han demonstrado antes de nostros, somos
gente de consciencia que creemos fuerte en los derechos humanos y en la
justicia, por eso no queremos seguir en el camino de violencia. Esperamos
que nuestros diplimáticos y el gobierno despedirán del camino
de destrución y la violencia y caminarán con nostros por
un camino de paz.
WE CRY OUT: No más, no more. We must stop this dirty war. Compañeros,
compañeras, we cry out: no más, no more!
We put our bodies on the line to enact this vision.
Ponemos nuestros cuerpos en la linea para realizar esta visión.
WE CRY OUT: No más, no more. We must stop this dirty war. Compañeros,
compañeras, we cry out: no más, no more! We are calling on affinity-groups from all over the country to organize
and act on Wednesday, May 24, the NATIONAL DAY OF RESISTANCE TO CLOSE THE
SOA!
"Nothing but organized nonviolence can check the organized violence"
of the United States Government! -Gandhi
On Thursday, May 18, the U.S. Congress dismissed the Moakley Amendment,
accepted the Pentagon proposal to close the SOA and open an SOA Clone the
very next day. The House opted to change the SOA's name rather than close
its doors. The name is basically all that is changed. The Pentagon's deceptive
proposal is not a move towards responsible policy for Latin America. It
is merely an attempt to silence those working for human rights and justice.
It is an attempt to silence the bloody truth about the School of Assassins,
but THE TRUTH CANNOT BE SILENCED!
Support in the House was strong and the amendment lost by only ten votes!
All week long people fighting to close the SOA lobbied on Capitol Hill,
but human rights activists weren't the only ones lobbying. Secretary of
the Army Caldera, Col. Weidner and Colin Powell were there lobbying to
keep the SOA open at any cost. This shows we are the threat of a good example,
we are winning and now is the time to rise up!
Register your outrage at the congressional vote to accept the Pentagon's
SOA Clone. Let the White House, the Pentagon and Congress know that we
are not falling for the Pentagon deception and we REJECT THE SOA CLONE!
Come to Washington to participate in civil disobedience and demonstrations
at the White House, Pentagon and other locales, hook into organizing in
your own community or organize yourself! Bring your spirit of hope and
resistance, bring your outrage, bring your passion, bring your creativity
and bring your puppets and banners and help send the message that the SCHOOL
OF THE AMERICAS MUST BE CLOSED!
DAY OF ACTION MAY 24th White House ~ Pentagon ~ Capitol and more!
Please contact us and let us know if you will organize an event in your
community.
* showing the connections and relationships between SOA/WHISC and the
Colombian military and paramilitary
* conscientiously trying to broaden the SOA issue to extensive military
trainings worldwide
* linking to the broader globalization issue, i.e., the WTO, FTAA.
etc.
All to close the SOA!
WHAT: 21st Anniversary of the Death of Archbishop Oscar Romero
TIME: 6:30 PM
PLACE: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 East 31st Street, Minneapolis
An SOA Watch brochure lists "2 of the 3 soldiers cited for the assassination
of Archbishop Romero" were SOA graduates.
PROGRAM: Making the Connections - Palestine, a land of forsaken people.
Sponsored by the Community of Saint Martin and Pax Christi.
WHAT: Leafletting at the Guthrie - with the puppets!
TIME: 6:30 to 7:30 PM
PLACE: Outside the Guthire Theatre, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis
Why not the Guthrie? Dress in your formal attire! Tom's wearing his
tux!
We do not plan to disrupt the performance and we will remain outside
the building on public sidewalks.
MEET: 6:15 in the parking lot of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church,
511 Groveland Ave. Cross the road at 6:30 to the Guthrie. Dress: semi-formal
to formal, black tie optional.
WHAT: Leafletting in the Skyways - with the puppets!
TIME: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
PLACE: Minneapolis Skyways at LUNCH time
We had such a great response when we did this January 17 on the Mall.
But at 5:00 in the evening, the skyways were empty. This time we'll do
it while it's packed! Nothing illegal, just walk'n on thru.
MEET: 11:15 AM at 2nd Avenue South and South 4th Street (one block
north of the Federal Building) We'll enter the skyway system there at 11:30
AM.
Questions 612.276.0788 ext 12
Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 05:29:51 -0600
From: Jeff
Moebus
Hello:
(contact info below)
AT FORT BENNING TO CHALLENGE SOA/WHISC
AND RECRUIT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 01:09:14 EST
From: Beth
Lerman
[From Becky Johnson, an Oberlin student from Cincinnati.
–Beth
1 January 2001
The SOA, and
its successor, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
(WHISC), are symbols of my government's ongoing militarization of Latin
America, subjecting its people to endless human rights abuses and restrictions
of freedom in order to satisfy our demand for an "enemy" in the war on
drugs - typical imperialism. I know this system will not cease with the
disestablishment of the WHISC, but once the US acknowledges that we are
wrong to fight the war on drugs against the Latin American people, we will
have taken a great step forward in the struggle for justice.
To whoever said
that nonviolent tactics do not threaten the status quo, our experience
today completely belied your assertion! As it was the first day, we had
much to accomplish organizationally before we actually went out to vigil.
Finishing and faxing the first press release, creating signs and unearthing
others from the SOA Watch media center, and visiting the office supply
store took up most of the day. We didn't manage to get ourselves out to
vigil until midafternoon, but when we did - oh, what a ruckus we caused!
Almost immediately two military police cars pulled up to watch us, followed
soon after by three Columbus city police cars. We were videotaped by the
MPs while the city police made sure that we had a permit. We were encouraged
to leave (for our own safety, mind you) but could not be forced to since
we had the permit. In the midst of all this hullabaloo, a cameraman from
TV Channel 3 arrived to film the event. He interviewed me later, and I
should be on the 11 PM news tonight. But before he could even do the interview,
the city police realized that since today is a holiday they couldn't find
copies of our permit anywhere (apparently every office in the city is closed!).
So the captain had to come down and check the signature on our permit but
by then the MPs were totally confused. Finally the police asked us if they
could borrow our copy of the permit to make more copies for themselves.
At this point there were seven police cars around for just the two of us!
A very nice officer made the copies while we had an intense discussion
with an older officer who had served in Panama when the SOA was there.
When the younger officer came back and most of the police had left, we
decided to call it a day since it was getting cold and dark. We packed
up our signs and gave the officers a friendly "see you later!" and went
back to the office to warm up. Whew! What a first day!
I am very glad
that we got this first wave of police out of the way today. I am excited
for the media coverage we got and happy that we got it so soon. More than
that even, I feel like we are already making a difference. Personally,
after the first day of fasting I am tired and chilly but otherwise feel
great. I am content to be here doing my part and proud to share this experience
with Ann Tiffany. Our talks today in between police interruptions were
fantastic. She helps me focus on why we are here and what is important.
I look forward to another busy day tomorrow, moving into the Southgate
apartments, calling media, and hopefully managing to vigil for more that
a couple hours in the afternoon!
Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 00:08:54 EDT
From: Beth
Lerman
Today we have reached a crossroads where the violence of the past continues
and has taken on a new, more insidious form. The bill to reform the school
symbolically closes the SOA and claims that by giving it a new name and
by teaching human rights it will correct the atrocities of the past. These
superficial changes cannot divorce the institution from its history: everyday
that the school remains open we allow these atrocities to continue.
From the SOAW website:
Date: Sat, 20 May 2000 06:20:04 -0600
From: Richard
John Kinane
Planning Meeting/Non-Violence Training
TUES 6 PM Church of the Brethren 4th and N.C. Ave, SE, Washington,
D.C.
More Details available on the web site Monday
Events will be held in the following Communities and Cities:
~Washington,
D.C. ~ SOAW ~ 202.234.2440 ~ soawatch@knight-hub.com
~Chicago, IL
~ Kathleen Desautels or Dorothy Pagosa ~ 312.641.5151 dpagosa@claret.org
Action: 4pm Federal Plaza, Adams & Dearborne ~Emergency Meeting
Tues May 23 6PM 8th Day Center for Justice, 205 w Monroe
~ Boston, MA
~ Ann Eno ~ 978.692.5483
~St. Louis,
MO ~ Christie Hauck ~ 314.721.2977 ifcla@aol.com
~Syracuse, NY
~ Ed Kinane 315.478.4571 edkinane@a-znet.com
~ Erie, PA ~
Eric LeCompte 814.453.4955
~Philadelphia,
PA ~ Linda Panetta 215.473.2162 or 215.477.5892 soawne@aol.com
~ San Antonio,
TX ~Timon ~ 210.271.3630 ~ Meeting 4pm Alamo
~Norfolk, VA
~ Patrice Schwermer 757.583.0291 or 757.858.8176
~Takoma, WA
~ Bruce Triggs 253.572.6582 guadalope@juno.com
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