East Bay SOAW ~ News for November, 2002

1) November 14: Last minute update, meeting info, etc.

 


East Bay SOAW ~ November 14, 2002
E-mail: SOAWEB
San Jose Website - http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro
Los Angeles Website - www.soaw-la.org
National Website - www.soaw.org
Hey folks-

I realize a lot of you may be packing and getting ready to leave for Georgia to close the U.S. terrorist school that is the SOA/WHISC, but I wanted to get off one last e-mail for all of you either going to Fort Benning, or wanting to be in solidarity with those at the vigil while you stay in the Bay Area... and to let you know about our meeting NEXT WEEK!

Best wishes for a safe trip for all of you journeying to Columbus, Georgia.  And thanks to all of you who will be staying home but who gave us all a wonderful sendoff in so many ways!!  We'll see you next week!

Peace-

Rachel Montgomery & SOAW- East Bay

[Webscribe's note: A couple of these items are also on the main SOAW-W news page; I have linked to them.  To return to this page, simply click on your "back" button. --Daniel]

1) SOAW East Bay meeting info
2)  Video on Youth resistance in COLOMBIA-- Thursday, Nov. 14th
3)  Panel Discussion with the Plaintiffs in the Torture Survivors'  Succesful Trial -- Friday,
Nov. 15th
4) A Greeting from POC Father Louis Vitale, OFM
5) A song from singer-songwriter Dave Rovics to send us off in a spirited way to CLOSE THE SOA!!!
6) A ditty for Fr. Bill by Your Webscribe

East Bay SOAW meeting
Wednesday, November 20  7-9pm

World Ground Cafe, 3726 MacArthur Blvd.
(about 1-1/2 blocks south of 35th Ave. next to KFC)

Contact Bob Nixon at robertnixon@mindspring.com 510-533-3120  or Rachel Montgomery
510-205-3956

Unless there are other things people would like to add to the agenda, this is what we will probably focus on:

  1. 1)     Sharing with each other about our experiences at Fort Benning.  I'm sure we will have many stories to tell, and we will hopefully have an update on those who decided to cross onto the base. (hopefully there will be LOTS this year!!!),
  2. 2)     Talking about doing more to support Prisoner of Conscience Chani Geigle.  Chani is from Salem , Oregon, but is serving a 6 month sentence at a women's prison very nearby in Dublin.  This week about 8 of us had a peaceful vigil for her outside the gates of the military base where the prison is located, and had great signs as well.  Some of us feel it would be good to do this on a regular basis, depending on how many people can do this, and how often.
  3. 3)     And maybe some time talking about how we would like to reach out to the community in the East Bay after returning from the vigil. 


Youth Resistance in Colombia
Video : "Soldiers of Peace : A Children's Crusade"
Thursday, Nov.14
6pm
122 Wheeler Hall 
UC Berkeley

This video examines the children's peace movement of Colombia. Their 
courageous work has been recognized internationally with a Nobel Peace Prize
nomination. A discussion will follow the video.

Song for the SOA #2
David Rovics

Well I pulled up there at the gate
Had to come and keep a date
With ten thousand of my friends
Here to right some wrongs and make amends
Folks came in buses, bikes and cars
With voices, fiddles and guitars
And all kinds of people, shapes and styles
Burned those frequent flyer miles

First thing I see's a singing nun
At the frisky age of 91
She's here fresh out of jail
Told the judge "I ain't got no bail
"I'm bearing witness right here and now
'Cause we've got to change the world somehow
So with you all right here I pray
WE'LL SHUT DOWN THE SOA

There's this year's crop from Oberlin
And there's the folks from Warren-Wilson
But they're not all eighteen to twenty-two
They brought along their neighbors too
There's grandpa, baby, mom and dad
An ARA kid, fighting mad
What are we gonna do today?
WE'LL SHUT DOWN THE SOA

There's some in pink, some in black
There's one wrapped in a coffee sack
There's t-shirts, stickers, pins and more
Saying we don't want your oil war
There's a labor lawyer from Walla Walla
With some Mayan folks from Guatemala
See, north and south the people say
WE'LL SHUT DOWN THE SOA

Pouring blood, crossing lines
Holding crosses, making signs
There's priests and punks in groups and pairs
Along with a gang in wheelchairs
There's Josh and Abi, Bill and Sue
Charlie, Tao and you know who
Giant puppets, paper mache
Saying WE'LL SHUT DOWN THE SOA

Yes, we'll keep coming to this town
Til this torture school's shut down
Then we'll march as we intone
You do not walk alone
To the next symbol in our sights
In the global fight for human rights
But for now we're here in this Georgia clay
Saying WE'LL SHUT DOWN THE SOA

[Not to be outdone, YT would like to contribute his little lyric to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic -- dedicated to Fr. Bill --Daniel]
 
Halleluia, We've Been Busted!
 (Our Convictions Make Us Strong!)
to: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
 lyrics by Daniel Ben Avram

From the streets of San Francisco
      To Ft. Benning's nasty school,
We have fought the military
      Who use Faircloth as their tool.
We will keep on getting busted
      'Til compassion is the rule.
Our convictions make us strong!

[CHORUS]:

Halleluia, We've Been Busted!
Halleluia, We've Been Busted! 
Halleluia, We've Been Busted!
Our Convictions Make Us Strong!
From the words of Henry David
      To the acts of Gandhi Ji,
We have taken all their beatings
      For the whole wide world to see.
We will fill up all their jails
      Until they have to set us free.
Our convictions make us strong!
[CHORUS]
They have bound and gagged us
      Trying to stop us in our fight;
They have used their cops and judges
      Who refuse to see the light
We will change their hearts and minds
      With every peaceful means in sight.
Our convictions make us strong!
[CHORUS]
In the vineyards of the Valley
      Bombs designed by Teller’s kin
Midst the madness of the Cold War
      Nearly did the planet in.
As we conquer all injustice
      Let the Age of Peace begin!
Our convictions make us strong!
[Chorus]
 "

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