[mobglob-discuss] Fw: SOA Watch Info

[Lydia Sayle]

Hello "mobglob wilderness"  I get your messages, and find most of them very
valuable.
The message below comes from friends, peace and justice workers in Nelson.
I wonder if anyone out there would be interested in taking some action to
help the
women who committed civil disobedience at Fort Bennington S.O.A.
Let me know if you are interested.  In solidarity.  Lydia Sayle
---- Original Message -----
From: Ann / Bud Godderis <godderis at netidea.com>
To: <lydiasayle at telus.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 9:38 PM
Subject: SOA Watch Info


> Dear Lydia;
> Great to talk with you ....here's the material from Laurel Albina I
> promised to send.. Hope to stay in touch.
> In peace,
> Bud
>
> PS> The Christian Task Force office (contact Tania at 604-875-9218) has
> several good 20 minute to 1/2 hour videos about SOA Watch that they'll
lend
> out free of charge...
>
>
> December, 2002
>
> Dear Friends;
> As some of you may or may not know I was arrested in November for
> participating in civil disobedience at the gates of Fort Benning.  Myself
> and two friends crossed the line in order to bring attention to the
> atrocities committed by the US funded terrorist training camp School of
the
> Americas, now known as WHISC.(western Hemisphere Institute for Security
> Cooperation).  I have included my personal account of the event and arrest
> below.  All 86 of us arrested are facing up to six months in federal
prison
> and up to $5000 in court imposed fines.
>
> Some of you have expressed interest in support so I have outlined a few
> different ways below.  If you would like to join a support email list
> please reply with "SOA" in the subject line.
>
> Thanks for everything,
> Laurel
>
> "Laurel Albina" <laurelalbina at hotmail.com>
> Cell # (857) 891 6557
> Work # (617) 948 4629
>
> Ways to support us...
> Outreach:
> With less than three weeks to go we desperately need your help getting the
> word out.  The more folks that know about what is happening the better.
> Copy and paste my personal account, send it to your friends and families,
> tell them you know me, that I am not a criminal, that these are the
> consequences we face for speaking the truth.  Organize a fundraiser, host
a
> discussion group, have a letter writing party, come to Georgia for the
> trials.  Speak your truth.  If you live in the Boston area and would like
> to help organize a Mid January vigil let me know.
>
> Financial:
> We need money to cover our travel and living expenses while in Georgia as
> well as possible court fines up to $5000.  If you would like to donate to
> us please make checks payable to "SOA Watch"
> Mail to: UU SOA Support
> #1 Peabody Place
> Jamaica Plain MA 02130.
>
> Education:
> The most important thing for all of us to do is educate our friends,
> families co-workers and colleagues about School of the Americas/WHISC.
> Organize an educational opportunity for people to learn why shutting down
> the SOA/WHISC is so important.  www.soaw.org has lots of resources to
help.
>
> What we are doing...
> Organizing with other Massachusetts arrestees so that we can build
regional
> solidarity, share strategies and support each other in our work
>
> Organizing a SOA vigil to take place in mid January in Boston MA to raise
> awareness about the SOA and the upcoming trials.
>
> Considering starting a SOA watch chapter in Boston, MA.
>
>
> **********************
>
> November 25th 2002
>
> Personal Account of SOA Vigil
> by Laurel Albina
>
> From November 15th through 17th I helped facilitate a UU (Unitarian
> Universalist) convergence in Columbus, Georgia.  My primary role in this
> event was to act as a liaison between the Columbus UU Fellowship and the
> guests staying at the church.  As part of this event worship, information
> meetings, affinity group planning and several group meals were
> coordinated.  Over the course of the weekend we had the opportunity to
meet
> and interact with several of the church members, including Fellowship
> President Norm Horofker. This gathering was a loose convergence and not an
> officially sponsored UU event.
>
> On Sunday November 17th we participated in the SOA vigil.  At
approximately
> 1:00pm that day Mimi LaValley, Jason Lydon and myself (Laurel Albina)
> crossed through the gates of Fort Benning and were arrested under a Class
B
> Federal Misdemeanor charge.  The remaining members of our affinity group,
> Megan Tideman and Helen Harris remained on the other side of the line to
> participate in the rest of the vigil and await the outcome of our arrest.
>
> Located in Fort Benning, Georgia the School of the Americas (SOA), now
> renamed the "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation," or
> WHISC is a training school for Latin American soldiers. Initially
> established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of the country in 1984
> under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. For 56 years, the SOA has
> trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency
> techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military
> intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently
> used their skills to wage a war against their own people.  Hundreds of
> thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated,
> "disappeared", massacred, and forced into refuge by those trained at the
> SOA.
>
> For five hours the names of the massacred and disappeared were read aloud.
> Children, mothers, grandparents, priests, union organizers, student
leaders
> and teachers, all murdered at the hands of SOA/WHISC graduates.  This is
> the heart of the SOA vigil, it is not an angry protest, it is a somber and
> sad affair.  It is a time to hear the names of those no longer with us and
> bear witness to their lives and deaths.
>
> Now, more than ever we are challenged to name the hypocrisy we are living
> within.  What is the "War on Terrorism" and why does this war not apply to
> training camps on our own soil?   I am convinced that the key to creating
> change is the ability to see your small individual actions as important
and
> imperative.  It is easy to distance myself from those who take direct
> action, especially those who risk arrest by participating in civil
> disobedience.  It is easy for me to think that somehow those people are
> different from myself, that they are more dedicated or have fewer
> responsibilities or can risk jail time in a way that I cannot.  I know
that
> this is not true.We all have responsibilities and commitments; we all have
> friends and families that are affected by our decisions.  That day I took
> action because there was no better day to take action.  That day I was
> guided by my heart, and ready to align my actions with my truth.  SOA
> graduates have perpetrated terror and fear throughout Latin America for
> over 50 years.  Unlike others who have stood up for justice I knew I did
> not risk torture or death.  As a person of faith who is committed to
> justice I felt it was my obligation to stand up as I was able.
>
> Since September 11th a chain link metal fence has been put up across the
> gates of Fort Benning.  In order to cross onto the fort we had to walk
> approximately 100 yards down the fence to a small opening where we slide
> through.  As we crossed we were informed by the Military Police that we
had
> trespassed onto federal property and were going to be placed under arrest.
> We continued walking down the line of soldiers until we were apprehended
> and handcuffed.  We were then placed on a bus and driven onto the base.
> After waiting on the bus for approximately half an hour and then outside
> for another half hour we were lead inside the warehouse and instructed to
> stand in rows facing the wall while waiting for our turn to be processed.
> Our processing began with the MPs removing all of our outer clothing,
going
> through our bags, removing any sharp objects and all political materials.
> We also had to remove all personal effects such as jewelry and piercings.
> Our belongings were given back to us taped closed in a paper bag.  We were
> then instructed to wait on bleachers at the other end of the warehouse,
> once again facing the wall.
>
> After approximately two hours we were lead into another room where we were
> photographed and given our ban and bar letters by military police.  After
> another period of waiting we were individually handed over to US Federal
> Marshals to be questioned, processed, photographed and fingerprinted.
Once
> our custody was handed over from the Military to the Federal Marshals our
> feet were shackled and wrists were handcuffed to a chain around our waist.
> At around 7pm we were transported from the Fort Benning military base to
> the Muscogee County Jail.
>
> In county jail the men and women were separated, stripped and ordered to
> wear county issued jail clothes.  We were then processed, photographed and
> fingerprinted once again and placed in holding cells until the next
> morning. The next day we were separated according to our last name and
> arraigned by  Federal Court Judge Faircloth.  With the exception of one
> person no one was let out on their own recognizance, each person was
> required to pay from $500 to $1000 bail and instructed to return on
January
> 27th for the trial.
>
> This has never happened before.  In previous years only a select few were
> forced to remain in jail for the evening and likewise only a select few
> were prosecuted.  This year all 86 of the people who crossed the line
spent
> at least one night in jail, and every single person is being prosecuted.
>
> Clearly this crackdown is because of our political opinions not the crime
> committed.  In light of this crackdown it is becoming a very real
> possibility that all of us arrested may well face prison time as well.
The
> maximum sentence for a federal misdemeanor is 6 months in federal prison
> and a $5000 fine.  I believe that this year we are being made an example
> of, not only to scare future SOA protestors but also for every person that
> engages in civil disobedience.
>
> I have some personal concerns related to my family and my work if I am
> given prison time.  None the less I am honored to be part of this movement
> and especially grateful that I have a faith that supports my actions and
> holds me strong during this time.
>
> Thank you for your time, your concern and your support.  If you have any
> questions or comments please feel free to call or write me.
>
> Laurel Albina
> Dec 20th - Jan 2nd (604)-874-3536
> Boston cell # (857) 891 6557
> laurelalbina at hotmail.com
>
>