[news] [Fwd: [pga] Twenty- three human rights activists received three to six month sentences in Federal Prison for nonviolent actions to close the SOA/WHISC]

[ron]

*Ministers, Divinity School Student, a Former New York City Firefighter,
and a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee included among 27 Sentenced for
Nonviolent Protest of the School of the Americas/WHISC*

*Twenty- three human rights activists received three to six month
sentences in Federal Prison for nonviolent actions to close the SOA/WHISC*

Columbus, GA - During the last week of January 2004 twenty-seven human
rights advocates from across the country faced trial in Federal court
for civil disobedience to close, what they call a terrorist training
camp on U.S. soil: the School of the Americas renamed Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHISC). Graduates of the
controversial combat training school for Latin American soldiers
continue to be implicated in human rights atrocities throughout Latin
America. The defendants were among 10,000 who gathered in November to
call for the closure of the SOA/WHISC.

The defendants included one Catholic nun, three Jesuit priests and one
Jesuit brother, a Presbyterian minister, a Diocesan priest, a Franciscan
priest, two Quakers, a divinity school student, a former New York City
Firefighter, a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and various human rights
activists.

The defendants testified in court against a double standard in the "war
on terrorism", offering evidence to put the SOA/WHISC and U.S. foreign
policy on trial. Defense Attorney Edward Osowski argued that first
amendment rights of defendants were violated when the military blasted
patriotic music toward the permitted demonstration site on Saturday,
November 22nd.

The trial judge, G. Mallon Faircloth, adhered to his previous sentencing
record, and gave sentences ranging from 12 months probation to six
months in federal prison, with fines ranging from 500 to 1,500 dollars.

The SOA/WHISC is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers.
Its graduates are consistently involved in human rights atrocities and
coups, including the El Mozote Massacre of over 900 civilians and last
year's failed coup in Venezuela. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to
release training manuals used at the school that advocated the use of
torture, extortion and execution.

/Fr. Joe Mulligan began a liquids only fast as he and four other
defendants entered  Muscogee County Jail to begin their prison sentences.
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=727
<http://www.soaw.org/new/%3Ca%20href=>">Statement on Fast/


*Sentences:*

*Elizabeth Bradley*, 49, of Sacramento, CA- 12 months probation, $500 fine

*Leisa Faulkner Barnes*, 49, of Sacramento, CA- three months federal prison,
$500 fine

*Louise Lynch, of Fremont*, CA- 12 months probation, $500 fine

*Faith Fippinger*, 63, of Sarasota, Fl- three months federal prison

*David Corcoran*, 69, of Des Plaines, Ill- six months federal prison

*Scott P. Diehl*, 40, of Burlington, IA- three months federal prison,
$500 fine

*Kathy Kelly*, 51, of Chicago, Ill- three months federal prison

*Craig Adams*, 52, of Glenwood, WI- three months federal prison

*Rich Wekerle*, 67, of Moscow, ID- six months federal prison

*Cynthia Brinkman*, SSND, 67, Ellington, MN-six months federal prison

*Ozone O'Leary*, currently residing in Duluth, MN- three months in federal
prison

*Mary Vaughan*, of White Bear, MN- 24 months probation, $500 fine

*Michael Walli*, 55, of Duluth, MN- three months federal prison, $500 fine

*Gregory Poferl*, 57, of St. Paul, MN- three months federal prison,
$1,000 fine

*Gary Ashbeck*, of Baltimore, MD- six months federal prison, 67 days
credited for time served

*Betsy Lamb*, 65, of Columbia, MD- six months federal prison, $500 fine

*Shirley Way*, 42, of Stanley, NY- three months federal prison

*Alice E. Gerard*, 47, of Buffalo, NY- three months federal prison, $500
fine

*Fr. Joseph E. Mulligan, S.J.*, 60, of Nicaragua- three months federal
prison

*Brother Mike O'Grady, S.J.*, 41, of Cincinnati, OH- 32 days Muscogee
County Jail

*Fr. Ben Jimenez, S.J.*, of Cleveland, OH- released 2 ½ months time served

*Peg Morton*, 73, of Eugene, OR- three months federal prison

*Father Bernie Survil*, 63, of Greenburg, PA, three months federal prison

*Don Beisswenger*, 73, of Nashville, TN- six months federal prison,
$1,000 fine

*Sarah Jobe*, 22, of Nashville, TN- 12 months probation, $1,500 fine

*Eric Robinson*, 23, of Bellingham, WA- six months federal prison,
$1,000 fine

*Father Jerry Zawada*, 66, of Burlington, WI- six months federal prison

Eric LeCompte
SOA Watch Coordinator of Organizing
phone: (202)234-3440
fax: (202)636-4505
elecompte at soaw.org <mailto:elecompte at soaw.org>