Protesters Call for Closing of GA Military School

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated press

Protesters call for closing of Ga. military school

By ELLIOTT MINOR
Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Demonstrators renewed their call Sunday to shutter a school on a Georgia Army base for Latin American military and government officials and say they're optimistic the new president or a more sympathetic Congress will act within the next year.

School of Americas Watch protests each November outside Fort Benning to mark the 1989 killings of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador. A United Nations panel concluded that some of the killers had attended the School of Americas, now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest who has been leading the demonstrations since 1990, said his supporters view President-elect Barack Obama as the "president who stands for peace." "Our movement has worked hard to get him into the White House," Bourgeois said. "We think it is very reasonable to have a meeting with President Obama."

Protesters also blame the school for human rights abuses in Latin America. Obama could close the school by executive order or Congress could deny funding, a proposal that was narrowly defeated earlier this year, Bourgeois said. "There is a good possibility we'll shut the school," Bourgeois said. "If we do, we're going to gather here next year for a fiesta."

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

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. For the uninitiated....

www.soaw.org


11am: A solemn funeral procession, commemorating those who suffered and were martyred by the graduates of the School of the Americas, made its way towards the gates of Fort Benning. The names of the martyrs are being sung out from the stage to bring their spirits and witness before us as and 20,000 voices respond: "¡Presente!" You are here with us, you are not forgotten, and we continue the struggle in your name. ¡Presente! literally means "here" or "present" in Spanish. There is a long tradition in Latin American movements for justice of invoking the memory of those who have lost their lives in the struggle.



Some of the more dangerous protesters shown here:

[Judi Lynn]

2. Sure hope the terrifying, deadly over 80 year old nun they threw in jail a few years ago doesn't

show up. She's apparently a deadly political threat they need to track at all times.

I believe they've also imprisoned twin nuns, older women. Poor overworked torture-training School of Assassins workers. It must be so taxing trying to drive off the people who come to beg them to have mercy on the human race.

[a la izquierda]

3. CLOSE IT NOW!

I study what the disgusting PIGS from this school have done to their own people. It some of the most depressing history, period. And the US is culpable for many reasons, including the mere existence of this horrible place.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. And don't forget kids.... "they hate us for our freedom".... the

freedom to make some of their lives a living hell.

[Dystopian]

4. KandR

School of the Assassins.

peace~

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. how many nuns and priest did they sent to prison this year?...close the School of Assassins!!!

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[bluesmail]

7. School of the Assassins.

[pberq]

8. Thanks for posting - Close the School of Assassins

[EFerrari]

9. Asesinos!

:kick:

[EFerrari]

10. DUer struggle4progress posted this link to photos:

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/328/gallery/519280.html

[Hissyspit]

11. Great photos. Thanks.

[maryf]

13. Great Photos!!

Great people, great action. hope they close the soa soon!!

[midnight]

14. Thank you for sharing these photos of the most amazing people.

Shut that precursor to all the hell unleashed here on the world.

[Pastiche423]

15. Shut. It. Down. Now!

And pour salt over the entire area.

[EFerrari]

16. Kick

[hedgehog]

17. A little added info about Father Roy Bourgeios:

Earlier this year, the Rev. Roy Bourgeois traveled from his home in Columbus to Lexington, Ky., to take part in an ordination ceremony. Bourgeois, a Roman Catholic priest for 36 years, gave the sermon during the rite. And that’s when his troubles began. The ordination was for a woman, and the Catholic Church doesn’t allow women to be priests. Now, Bourgeois is set to be excommunicated as early as this week, unless he repudiates his actions, according to a letter he received from the Vatican in October. If the excommunication happens, the Maryknoll priest could be the first U.S. priest to receive this penalty for participating in such an ordination.

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/11/23/priest.html


Now, that's a priest!