Close the SOA!
Call to Action, Schedule of Events

  1. Call for Nonviolent Direct Action at the SOA
  2. Nov.21-23 - Schedule of Events

CALL FOR NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION

At the heart of the SOA Watch movement lies a willingness to use our bodies to demonstrate our opposition to the deadly training taught at the SOA.

We use nonviolent direct action because it is necessary and effective. In Argentina, daily demonstrations by the Mothers of the Disappeared caused the fall of the SOA-led dictatorship that claimed 30,000 lives. Today in Bolivia, campesinos and workers are transforming their entire government after the use of strategic nonviolent direct action forced their president to resign.

We cross the line at Ft. Benning to stand in solidarity with activists in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico and all the places where people are putting their bodies on the line to challenge imperialism, neoliberalism and military domination.

For over ten years, people from all walks of life have trespassed onto Ft. Benning at great personal risk to call for the SOA's closure. These peacemakers have built a movement undeterred by harsh prison sentences and the Pentagon's smoke and mirrors campaign. Today over 170 have served or are currently serving prison sentences of up to one year. These « Prisoners of Conscience » use their outrageous sentences to educate and awaken the public to the atrocities committed by SOA graduates.

To read the entire Call to Action and answers to legal questions, the scenario and the decision making process click here:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=678

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (November 21-23, 2003)
(addresses of the locations below - for the updated online calendar with
more information about the scheduled events click:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=670)

FRIDAY, November 21

9:00-noon Nonviolence Training (Howard Johnson Inn)
12:30-1:30pm Enemy Combatant: The Search for Justice in the War on Terrorism (Howard Johnson)
1:00-4:00pm Nonviolence Training (Heritage Inn)
2:00-5:00pm Colombia Teach-In (Howard Johnson Inn)
2:30-5:30pm GI Rights Hotline - Orientation Training
5:15-6:00pm Voices from the Communal Womb (Howard Johnson Inn)
6:00-8:30pm Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) Strategy Meeting (Howard Johnson Inn)
7:00-9:30pm Pax Christi event (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room)
7:00-9:00pm Witness for Peace Gathering (Heritage Inn, Ballroom)
9:00-10:00pm Women's Caucus (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room)
9:00-10:00pm Men's Caucus (Howard Johnson Inn, Carter Room)
10:15-11:15pm Genderqueer Caucus (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room)

SATURDAY, November 22

11:00-5:00pm Rally* at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia with lots of music including Pete Seeger, Llajtasuyo, Francisco Herrera, Jon Fromer, Amy Goodman from Democracy Now!, Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking; Bob King, Starhawk, the International Vice President of the United Auto Workers Union, Kathy Kelly from Voices in the Wilderness and many more.
9:00-10:30am Catholic Worker Caucus (Howard Johnson Inn, Carter Room)
9:00-10:15am, 6-7:15pm, or 7:45-9pm Logistic and Orientation Session (Columbus Convention Center)
8:00-9:30am Peacekeeper Training (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room)
1:00-3:00pm Legislative Skills Training & Strategy Planning (Days Inn, Meeting Room)
6:30pm-8:15pm Affinity Group Orientation and Formation (Howard Johnson Inn, Presidential Room)
8:30-10:00pm Spokescouncil meeting/Action planning (Howard Johnson Inn)
3:00-5:00pm Anti-Oppression Discussion (Days Inn, Meeting Room)
6:00-9:00pm Veterans for Peace (Howard Johnson-Inn, Carter Room)
9:00-11:00am High-School and College Student/Youth Caucuses (Heritage Inn, Ballroom)
5:00-8:00pm Maryknoll Gathering (Heritage Inn, Heritage Room)
5:30-8:30pm Labor Caucus (Days Inn, Meeting Room)
5:00pm Religious Caucus (Southern Columbus United Methodist Church)
5:30-7:00pm Screening of "Hidden in Plain Sight" (Heritage Inn, Ballroom)
7:00-8:00pm Beehive Collective Presentation
8:00-10:00pm Screening of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (Heritage Inn, Ballroom)
9:30pm SOA Watch Benefit Concert (Columbus Convention Center)

SUNDAY, November 23

7:00-8:00am Dominican liturgy (Days Inn, Meeting Room)
8:30-4:00pm Vigil and Nonviolent Direct Action at the gates and on the grounds of Fort Benning, Georgia* including musicians from Saturday by Pete Seeger, Sing It Down!, Pat Humphries, Sandy O., Llajtasuyo, Charly King, the Chestnut Brothers, Myshkins, and many others. Solemn funeral procession followed by puppets, and festival of hope and resistance & nonviolent direct action.

*Sign language and Spanish interpretation will be available.

Addresses
Days Inn: 3170 Victory Drive
Howard Johnson Inn: 1011 Veterans Parkway
Heritage Inn: 1325 Veterans Parkway
Convention Center: 801 Front Ave
Southern Columbus United Methodist Church: 1213 Benning Drive
*All locations are in the city of Columbus

ftaa miami 2003 | ftaa | www.agp.org