41 Arrested Protesting Army School in Ga.

[cal04]

The Rev. Jerry Zawada has already served a federal prison term for trespassing on government property to protest a Fort Benning school he blames for human rights abuses in Latin America. On Sunday, the 68-year-old Catholic priest risked another one. Zawada was among at least 41 protesters arrested during an annual protest calling for the closing of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Corporation, formerly known as the Army's School of the Americas, organizers said Sunday.

School of the Americas Watch, the group that sponsors the annual rally, alleges the school's graduates have committed murders, rapes and tortures in Latin America. Military officials deny the charges. "We want to stop this," said Zawada, who was released from a seven-month sentence in November. Another prison sentence would be "nothing compared to the suffering of torture survivors and war victims," he said.

Citing growing concerns about the war in Iraq and reports of torture by U.S. soldiers, organizers predicted a record turnout of 19,000 - 2,000 more than last year. The protest has been held every year since 1990. Protesters are typically arrested each year when they enter the west-central Georgia military reservation. The Army added a second fence topped by razor wire last year, and erected a third fence this year, but the protesters - even the older ones like Zawada - seem to find a way to scale or get past them.

The protests are timed to coincide with the anniversary of the November 1989 murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador. A congressional panel concluded that some of the killers were SOA graduates. "We feel this school is connected to suffering and death for the people of Latin America - a school that is paid for with our tax money," said SOA Watch founder Roy Bourgeois, a Catholic priest. "We are saying, 'Not in our name.'"

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MILITARY_SCHOOL_PROTEST?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[alphafemale]

1. One of those "41" sprang from a coffin carried in the Puppetista program

I was there and witnessed it.

It was very dramatic.

[MountainLaurel]

2. How many arrests compared with last year?

The article notes that more protesters were there, but I'm curious about the extent to which the military is cracking down.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

3. Those 41 were the ones that chose to be arrested

Those 41 made a decision to cross the line and get arrested. I think that number is comparable to previous years. I just heard from my mother who was there and called me on her way home today that the police seemed a bit more laid back this year than last year. For example, they paid less attention to the people entering the protest area. We'll have to wait until tomorrow for the stories of those arrested.

To me, the real difference will be in how the sentencing goes, but that won't happen until early next year. Three years ago when my mother was arrested, they were giving out the maximum sentence to a lot of the trespassers (3 months in prison and a couple thousand dollar fine). I don't know about the last couple of years.

[f-bush]

5. I was there in spirit

In 1989 I had just finished a successful initiative campaign in the city of Tacoma. We had asked for a reduction of 10 percent of military spending and apply it evenly to deficit reduction and social services. Tacoma being a very military town, we were given no chance of getting on the ballot. Not only did we get on the ballot, but we won with 64 percent of the vote. Our town went on record against excess military spending. A few days later the Jesuits were assassinated. Our congressman who is a hawk, came to the Jesuit memorial Mass and basically said...too bad, they are in a war zone and should know better. The next day, I was approached and asked to run against him. I accepted and we forced him to spend several hundred thousand dollars to defeat me. The bigger accomplishment was that we got him to change his vote on funding the SOA. This is a cause deep to my heart. If I had enough money, I would have been there. One of these days it is my wish to do so, to commemorate and grieve with others on this anniversary at the site of inception of such evil. I know this is long, but thanks for letting me add my two cents worth and thanks to those who stood up for the cause and the rest who helped!-In Peace TacomaMikeC

[Zhade]

7. Way to go, f-bush!

That's awesome!

:yourock:

[MountainLaurel]

11. Thanks!

n/t

[alphafemale]

13. About the police....they were actually helpful!

We took in this HUGE Peace Dove Puppet. (25ft wing span)

Part of how it functioned was being held up by PVC pipe.

PVC pipe was one of the items that they couldn't let in.

They directed us to the side entrance where we could enter and join up with the Puppetistas who had bamboo to replace the PVC.

[MarsThe Cat]

4. why was g.h.w. bush protesting an army school in georgia...?

i mean, i'd expect that kind of thing from 42, but not 41...

[raysr]

8. That's what I

thought for second, 41?

[burrowowl]

6. These people are heros!

[izzie]

9. Gee I thought we needed that school to save Central Am. counties

I think it was set up years ago to train police in how we work.:dunce:

[JNelson6563]

10. But many DUers have said the SOA is a good thing now

.....:shrug:...........

[classysassy]

12. Ft Huachuca

down here in Arizona there was also a protest at the main gate of Ft Huachuca.Some or most of the brain dead citizens of Sierra Vista(the watering hole outside the main gate were upset that anyone would protest against the war,(they depend on the post for their livelihood)and they love those blood stained bucks.