Saint Mary's `Peacemakers' to rally, march against SOA
By COURTNEY BOYLE
News Writer
Represenatives from the Saint Mary's human rights group, Peacemakers, is taking a stand against the School of the Americas (SOA) by participating in a protest march later this week.
The group from Saint Mary's will hold a sign endorsed by Board of Governance (BOG) during the protest march Saturday in Fort Benning. This sign will be presented while speakers and bands sit in front of Fort Benning.
"A very large number of people will be beginning early Sunday morning to process in a very peaceful but deliberate manner towards Fort Benning, carrying crosses and tombs holding the names of the thousands killed," Peacemaker representative Maureen Capillo said. "A leader will be reciting names and the group will respond with `presente' to symbolize that those dead are present with us."
After the march people will then proceed to cross the borders to the base.
"Fort Benning is a military fort — citizens are not allowed on the property without prior permission. The group will hopefully be entering the fort through its front gates," said Capillo.
"It will represent the support of the Saint Mary's student body in the closing of the SOA," said Capillo.
Students will have an opportunity to sign this banner and a petition this week. On Nov. 18, there will be a prayer service held to remember the victims killed by SOA graduates and for those making the trip to the annual protest. There will also be a bulletin board in Le Mans Hall and Madeleva Hall with information concerning SOA.
A military school on the Benning Military base in Georgia, SOA specializes in teaching torture techniques to Latin American leaders. All the classes are taught in Spanish, and many of the graduate officers from SOA led death squads and village genocides. The U.S. reportedly spends $3.9 billion annually to fund SOA.
There will be approximately 10,000 people at the protest in hopes to make more people aware of the problems with keeping the school open.
The representatives from Saint Mary's include students and faculty: Maureen Capillo, Katie Sand, Nicole Hurstell, Brook Warner, Kelly Ignatoski, Sister Linda Kors and Jan Pilarski.
The protest lasts from Nov. 19 to Nov. 22.
All News Stories for Monday, November 15, 1999
