Fw: [shadow_group] Fw: What to expect at Ft Benning this November - Que pueden esperar en el Fuerte Benning este noviembre

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Subject: [shadow_group] Fw: What to expect at Ft Benning this November - Que pueden esperar en el Fuerte Benning este noviembre



Subject: What to expect at Ft Benning this November - Que pueden esperar en el Fuerte Benning este noviembre


Para leer y bajar este artículo en español, visite a:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=808<http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=808>

To download this article visit: http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=821<http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=821>

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AT THIS YEAR'S VIGIL AND NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TO
CLOSE THE SOA/WHINSEC THIS NOVEMBER?

I. What can we expect?
II. Decision-making
III. Affinity groups and consensus decision-making
IV. Nonviolence trainings and logistics/orientation

I. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT FT. BENNING IN NOVEMBER?
November marks the anniversary of the assassination of two women and six
Jesuit priests in El Salvador in 1989. Nineteen of the twenty-six
Salvadoran army officers cited by a UN Truth Commission for this atrocity
were trained at the School of the Americas. Each year at this time,
thousands gather at the gates of Ft. Benning to memorialize those who have
died at the hands of soldiers trained at this school as well as to take
action in opposition to this training and the U.S. foreign policy it
represents. A more detailed schedule will be available in early fall, but
here is a brief look at the weekend's events:

Friday and Saturday: trainings and orientation sessions; women's, men's,
gender queer caucuses; labor and student caucuses; the Colombia teach-in
hosted by the national Mobilization on Colombia; meetings of groups like
Veterans for Peace, Witness for Peace, Pax Christi, Latin America
Solidarity Coaltion, SOA Watch former prisoners and probationers of
conscience, Catholic Worker Communities, and more

Saturday: rally at the gate during the day; cultural event/ concert at night

Saturday night: Spokes council meeting for affinity groups

Sunday: memorial service and solemn funeral procession followed by puppets
and festival of resistance

WHAT IS THE SCENARIO FOR THE CIVIL RESISTANCE?
Early Sunday morning, a memorial service will be held for the Jesuit
martyrs and for all of the victims of SOA violence in Latin America. It
will be immediately followed by an orderly, solemn procession led by
coffin bearers. Each coffin will have the name of one of the martyrs.
Thousands of mourners, lined up beforehand several abreast, will follow
the coffins. Each person will carry a white wooden cross, a Star of David,
flowers or other memorial symbols of their choosing (please bring your
own.)

The funeral procession will be part of a massive nonviolent direct action
of civil resistance. Affinity groups are invited to implement creative
nonviolent actions of their own as part of the scenario at the main gate,
on the military base or at other places. Each affinity group is encouraged
to express their resistance, as they feel called. Some of these actions
may be reverent in tone, similar to the traditional funeral procession,
while others will have a spirit that is more celebratory. We ask only that
actions planned remain within the SOA Watch nonviolent action guidelines
(see the guidelines in this packet.) Affinity group representatives at a
spokes council meeting on Saturday night will finalize the scenario and
coordinate how and when the actions occur.

WILL THIS SCENARIO MAINTAIN THE SPIRIT OF REVERANCE AND UNITY AS IN
PREVIOUS YEARS?
We will process into Ft. Benning this year with the same spirit of
reverence for those who have gone before us and have inspired so many to
deepen their resistance to the violence of the SOA. The funeral procession
will provide the same opportunity for people to come together to express
their grief and their outrage, and to feel the hope that comes from
sharing that experience with so many.

Within our movement, many have felt the need to express resistance in new
ways, ways that may involve higher levels of risk. We have heard the call
for an opportunity to do that as part of the November vigil, in solidarity
with sisters and brothers from all over the country and beyond our
borders. The scenario for this year's vigil allows for this to happen in a
way that does not interfere with the traditional funeral procession; but
is an extension of it. Though our resistance may take different forms this
year, it will all be part of the same unified presence.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS IF I CROSS THE LINE?
For more detailed legal information, check out the Legal Briefing for
People Considering Civil Disobedience at SOA Protest here:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=845<http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=845>

Anyone crossing the line is technically at risk for arrest, prosecution
and imprisonment. We cannot predict with certainty how the police, MP's
and courts will react to the scenario this year. In the past some people
thought that first-time crossers were rarely prosecuted. That has changed.
You should not cross the line unless you are prepared for the possibility
of prosecution.

Though we cannot predict what will happen this year, we can tell you our
assessments of the risk levels based on ten years of experience with
nonviolent direct action at Fort Benning:

-- The fence and gates are across the Ft. Benning property line. Anyone
who approaches the fence has technically crossed the line onto base
property. In the last two years that the fence has been erected, no one
was arrested during the funeral procession who did not go around, under,
or through the fence. Those who adorned the fence with their memorial
symbols or participated in a die-in in front of the gates were not
arrested.

-- Until 2001, there was no fence or gates at the main entrance and
thousands of people crossed the line as part of the funeral procession.
Police responses varied from year to year, but in general, all who crossed
the line were arrested and either processed at the MP station and
released, or simply driven off of the base and released. When processed at
the MP station, first-time crossers were given a ban and bar letter
prohibiting them from entering the base again under threat of imprisonment
and prosecution. Repeat crossers were released and later notified to
appear in federal court on trespassing charges. More than 70 people have
been prosecuted this way and received sentences ranging from one year of
supervised probation to one year in prison and sometimes a fine of up to
$5000.

-- In the past three years, people who have gone around, under, or through
the fence have generally been prosecuted and almost all sentenced to
probation or prison, and some received fines. In November 2001, more than
80 people went around or under the fence and were arrested on base
property. 43 people were prosecuted, including some first-timers, repeat
crossers and people who did not intend to risk arrest at all. Some had
entered the base to attend a publicly advertised human rights presentation
at the school, others simply made a wrong turn onto the base and were
arrested. In November 2002 over 90 people crossed the line and were
arrested on the grounds of Ft. Benning. This was the first year that the
federal magistrate set a bond of $5,000 for the 86 who were arrested. This
group also included first-timers and repeat crossers. It is difficult to
predict what will happen this year. Again, everyone entering the Ft.
Benning property for any reason, whether or not they have a ban and bar,
should be prepared to face arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.

WILL LEGAL REPRESENTATION BE PROVIDED?
In previous years, pro-bono legal representation has been provided to
those arrested at the November action. Organizing of a legal collective
for next November is beginning now. Information will be available in the
early fall as to exactly what level of legal support will be provided,
both on-site during the event and through any arrests, prosecution and
imprisonment that will follow.

II. DECISION-MAKING

HOW ARE DECISIONS MADE FOR THE NOVEMBER VIGIL ACTION?
Each year, SOA Watch holds a strategy meeting. Activists representing
groups from around the country come to Washington, DC to discuss issues
that will affect the movement over the coming year. A significant amount
of the meeting is devoted to evaluating the November action and
strategizing for the following year. The next strategy meeting will be in
February 2005. Please contact the SOA Watch office for more information on
attending.

The SOA Watch staff and the SOA Watch grassroots council meet over the
ensuing months to incorporate that input into a broad scenario for the
vigil action in November. Then the vigil is organized by the November
Coordinating Team that includes a representative from each November
Working group. Working groups form to make the scenario more specific and
to implement it. Working groups include: puppets/street theater,
stage/program, peacekeepers, scenario/direct action, legal, medics,
logistics, media and others. These groups are open to new members.

HOW WILL ON-SITE OR CRISIS DECISIONS BE MADE THIS NOVEMBER?
Decisions about how to coordinate the nonviolent direct actions within the
framework of the overall gathering will be made by the affinity group
spokes council. Crisis decisions affecting the gathering as a whole will
be made by the coordinating team.

III. AFFINITY GROUPS AND CONSENSUS DECISION-MAKING

ARE AFFINITY GROUPS ONLY FOR THOSE RISKING ARREST?
We encourage everyone to come to Ft. Benning as part of an affinity group.
There are roles within an affinity group for those risking arrest and for
their support people. The group will agree upon roles in advance. These
roles include, but are not limited to: media coordinator, medic,
vibes-watcher (someone to keep tabs on the overall mood, morale and well
being of the group) and support people. Each affinity group determines
their own roles and responsibilities.

The role of the support person is crucial. This is someone who will track
those arrested through the entire process. The support person will have
all relevant contact information for those arrested and will keep their
loved ones informed throughout. Also, the support person will be aware of
the responsibilities of those arrested and if the process takes longer
than expected, will see that those responsibilities are attended to. This
person will be aware of any medical needs among those arrested and will
advocate with the authorities to see that those needs are met.

WHY ARE AFFINITY GROUPS BEING ENCOURAGED AT FT. BENNING?
Affinity groups give a sense of solidarity. There is great diversity in
this movement to close the SOA. People from all walks of life gather at
the entrance to Ft. Benning each year. The affinity group structure
provides a way to participate in a large-scale vigil like this one while
maintaining cohesion within a smaller, more focused group. Affinity groups
can carry flags or banners to let everyone know that your city, state,
school, religious group or other affiliation is represented there.

The decision-making process is very empowering. Affinity groups provide
the basis for decision-making. Most affinity groups use the consensus
process, to ensure that everyone's voice is represented. With thousands of
people crossing the line, there is no way to include everyone in a
discussion about unexpected events. If the police or MP's surprise us with
their response, those in affinity groups will have a small, trusted group
to process things with and decide what to do.

Through the affinity group structure, there is an opportunity for your
voice to be represented to the entire group. Each affinity group will
empower a spokesperson to represent them at a meeting with representatives
from all of the other affinity groups. This group would be represented in
any crisis decisions that affect the vigil as a whole. (See section on
decision-making process.)

Affinity groups provide invaluable support. When approached alone, the
process of arrest, prosecution and imprisonment can be overwhelming.
Affinity groups provide invaluable support through every step of that
process. Also, in such a large action, there is no way that the organizers
can provide adequate support to those arrested. Only someone from their
affinity group can really be aware of all of the needs that should be
followed up on.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT AFFINITY GROUPS AND CONSENSUS PROCESS?
Local nonviolence training teams can help affinity groups to form and
information on affinity groups and consensus will be available at the
trainings. (See section on nonviolence training.)

The Gandhian Wave is an excellent manual designed to aid affinity groups
planning actions at Ft. Benning. For information on how to order on, see
the resource page of this packet or by contact Ed Kinane and Ann Tiffany,
who compiled the manual. (315) 478-4571 or edkinane(at)znet.com

IV. NONVIOLENCE TRAININGS AND LOGISTICS/ OREINTATION

It is important that everyone participating in the vigil and action be
well prepared. We ask that all participants attend a local nonviolence
training session before coming to Ft. Benning (see below.) In addition it
is important that everyone attend one of the logistics and orientation
sessions in Columbus. Each will be offered at more than one time. One
session will be for those crossing the line with the traditional funeral
procession, another will be for those planning or wanting to join an
affinity group action. These sessions will be offered on Saturday. A
detailed schedule is available on our webpage. Contact the SOA Watch
office if you are unsure of which session to attend.

DO I NEED TO ATTEND A NONVIOLENCE TRAINING SESSION?
Everyone planning to cross the line or engage in any form of nonviolent
direct action should attend a nonviolence training session. Everyone
attending the vigil is also encouraged to attend a session. The skills
learned are useful for everyone participating in any vigil, demonstration
or public witness event. However, it is specific to doing nonviolence
civil resistance at Ft. Benning; the training sessions will include
specific information about this year's scenario because the nonviolence
training teams have been oriented to issues that are particular to this
year's action. It is better to begin thinking through and discussing these
things now than when you arrive in Columbus.

I'VE BEEN TO NONVIOLENCE TRAININGS BEFORE, WHY SHOULD I GO AGAIN?
Nonviolence training is an ongoing process that, hopefully, continues
throughout our lives. We can't go to a few sessions and consider ourselves
"trained". Every nonviolence training session is different. Each
combination of facilitators and participants produces different
discussions, different insights.

These sessions are good opportunities to strengthen your local community.
Your input into the discussions will be helpful to some less experienced
members of the group. You may be refreshed by new perspectives on issues
you've been dealing with for a long time.

WILL THERE BE NONVIOLENCE TRAINING SESSIONS OFFERED IN COLUMBUS?
A collective is forming which may be able to offer nonviolence training
sessions in Columbus this year. If these trainings occur, they will likely
be held earlier in the week. For people arriving Friday or later, we
recommend attending a nonviolence training session in your local community
before coming to town. Contact our national office with questions.

WILL THE LOGISTICS AND OREINTATION SESSIONS SUBSTITUTE FOR NONVIOLENCE
TRAINING?
No. The logistics and orientation sessions are large group gatherings that
provide important information about the scenario, including possible last
minute changes. While they will include a review of the nonviolent action
guidelines and the opportunity to ask questions about the scenario, the
guidelines and legal issues, it is not a substitute for a nonviolent
training.

** Para leer y bajar este artículo en español, visite a:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=808<http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=808>
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