Closing
the School of the Americas
Information about the
School of the Americas
How to Help
March on Fort Benning
Videos
Information on The School of the Americas
The School of the Americas is a combat school in Georgia,
run by the United States government. It was founded to teach counterinsurgency
techniques but instead of contributing to the development of democracy, it has undermined
American values by advocating physical abuse, "neutralization" of targets,
blackmail, false imprisonment, use of truth serum, illegal detentions, as well as spying
on civilian groups and opposition political parties. The School of the Americas is
charged with training noted assassins and terrorists responsible for the deaths of
Archbishop Romero, four U.S. churchwomen, and numerous massacres and atrocities in Latin
America.
Each year, a demonstration is held at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning,
Georgia around November 21 to commemorate the assassination of six Jesuit priests, their
housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador. 1999 marked the 10th anniversary of
their deaths. 12,000 people traveled to Fort Benning; 4,500 chose to "cross the
line" in support of closing the School.
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What Can I Do?
What Can I Do?
Don't feel helpless to make changes.
Here are some suggestions for how you and your church can be proactive in seeking justice.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in
Latin America who live in poverty and daily fear as a
result of increasing military
presence.
Organize
a study group in your church to find out about the School of the Americas. The
Conference has three videotapes which can be borrowed: School of Assassins (1994-18
minutes); An Insider Speaks Out (1998-16 minutes); Crossing the Line
(1999-16 minutes). A paper, Infamy: Reflections on the School of the Americas
by Dr. Fred Trost is available from the Conference Office.
Watch
for news and stories about the School of the Americas and bring it to the attention of
your congregation. Contact SOA Watch, P. O. Box 4566, Washington DC 20017 -
202/234-3440 - www.soaw.org
for
updates.
Continue to
write
your legislators asking them to support HR 732 in the House of Representatives and S873 in
the Senate to close the School of the Americas. If your legislator has already voted
in favor, write to thank them. If you are unsure of your representatives name; you
can find that information by linking to www.house.gov
or www.senate.gov
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March on The School of the Americas
Each year, a faith-based march is held at Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the School of the
Americas around November 21 to commemorate the
assassination of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El
Salvador. 1999 marked the 10th anniversary of their deaths. 12,000 people
traveled to Fort Benning; 4,500 chose to "cross the line" in support of closing
the School.
The Wisconsin Conference will provide details on travel arrangements, times and locations.
Watch here for details.
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Videos
Want to know more? The Wisconsin
Conference has several excellent videos which can be used to educate congregations about
The School of the Americas. Each runs about 18 minutes.
An Insider Speaks Out - A
retired major and former instructor tells his story about The School of the Americas
Crossing the Line - features the 1998 march on Fort Benning.
School of Assassins - Cites atrocities of the past 10 years as the work
of School of Americas graduates.
Contact the Wisconsin Conference Office to check
available and reserve.
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Wisconsin
Conference UCC
4459 Gray Rd.