------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Nov. 28, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
THOUSANDS RALLY AT "SCHOOL OF ASSASSINS" By Dianne Mathiowetz Columbus, Ga. A colorful, noisy and diverse crowd of 15,000 opponents of the School of the Americas gathered at the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga,. over the week-end of Nov. 16-17. For 13 years, this annual protest has called for the closing of a military training school for Central and South American troops. Known widely as the "School of the Assassins," its graduates have been involved in countless massacres, as well as the torture, "disappearance" and murder of student and peasant leaders, trade unionists and religious figures . Under the pressure of public opinion, the school has changed its name to Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. In past years, thousands participated in civil disobedience by crossing onto the base property with their political protest. This year, like the last, the police erected a high, metal fence blocking the road onto Fort Benning. In a solemn procession, as the names of those killed by SOA graduates was intoned from the stage, the demonstrators came up to the barrier and affixed their signs, pictures of the dead, religious symbols and flowers until it was totally covered. They passed by a representation of a massacre, with people lying crumpled on the ground, covered in blood, evidence of the ongoing work of the school's graduates. Despite all the police efforts, 95 managed to carry the protest onto the grounds of the military facility and were arrested. One person was also arrested for protesting the checkpoint set up to search everyone participating in the demonstration. Although the focus of the annual action is U.S. policy toward Latin America, "No War on Iraq" signs were everywhere. Volunteers with the International ANSWER coalition gathered several thousand signatures on the People's Anti-War Referendum. Many of the activists, young and old, had been at the Oct. 26 demonstration in Washington and responded eagerly when Sarah Sloan, a speaker representing International ANSWER, announced plans for an upcoming Jan 18-19 massive demonstration and People's Peace Congress. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
