Non-violence
Civil Disobedience
Social Change
School of the Americas protest
by Peg Morton, CISCAP and Michael Carrigan, Oregon PeaceWorks
The spirit of resistance has never been
stronger at the entrance to Ft.
Benning than it was on November 18 and 19. Despite a cold, steady rain, more
than 10,000 people stood vigil to close the U.S. Army School of the Americas,
in solidarity with those who continue to suffer and die at the hands of SOA
graduates. Among them were 12 from the Eugene area, including Sr. John
Backenstos, SNJM, age 79, from McKenzie Bridge, Donna Frazier, Coordinator of
Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation, Michael Carrigan, Director of Oregon
Peaceworks, Peg Morton, local activist, Kurt Jenson, photo-journalist, and 7
UO undergraduate students. Speakers from Colombia and Chiapas set the tone
with first hand accounts of repression in their communities. The voices of
Pete Seeger and acclaimed musician Bruce Cockburn amplified this cry for
justice. 3,400 risked arrest by crossing the line onto the Ft. Benning
property as part of the solemn funeral procession. 200 more followed in a in
a second wave of affinity group and high risk actions including an 80 person
parade of giant puppets. Over 2,100 were arrested and given ban and bar
letters, including 11 of the 12 from the Eugene area. These letters order
that the person not enter the Ft. Benning property for 5 years, or risk up to
$5000 fine or up to 6 months imprisonment.
This year 21 demonstrators violated previous ban and bar orders and will
probably face trial. Among them is Ann Huntwork of Portland, who entered for
the fifth time and is already awaiting trial on prior charges. 50 people
nationally have served 30 years in prison for actions at Ft. Benning. Three
from the Northwest each have completed 6 months to a year in the Federal
Correctional Institution in Sheridan.
Prior to the demonstration, police expressed anxiety that there would be
violence. Many who were present at WTO and World Bank actions were among us.
Riot squads were prepared, watching the football games in a nearby apartment.
They were never needed. The commitment to active nonviolence was strong.
Closed on December 17, the SOA is scheduled to re-open its doors on
January 17 under a different name. The "Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation" is still the same old School of Assassins, and we will
work even harder to shut it down.
There was a report with slides about this experience, sponsored
by CISCAP (Committee in solidarity with the Central America People), Oregon
PeaceWorks, UO Survival Center and OU Women's Center, in the latter part of
January.
Quotes from the personal experiences of Eugene area participants:
Sister John Backenstos, SNJM: "I was marching with heroes, everybody,
from college students to Martin Sheen, from Father Roy Bourgeois to little
children and people in wheelchairs, to those risking imprisonment. It was
such a privilege to be with them, to walk with them."
Sr. Janet Ryan, SNJM: "For me, the most powerful part of the time at Fort
Benning was being with thousands of people who stand for the dignity of life,
who care about how human beings are treated, who risk their own lives for the
sake of others, and who voice their beliefs in a nonviolent manner even when
times are strained."
Heather Mitchell, Women's Center, UO: "A really beautiful thing was to
see so many different kinds of people with so many differing ideologies, all
coming together to fight one common injustice."
Michael Carrigan, OPW Director: "I was arrested with OPW's teen staffer
Chani Geigle-Teller. The fearlessness and spirit she exhibited when arrested
and which she maintained throughout the hours we spent being processed was
inspiring. And she was only one of hundreds of youth exhibiting a similar
spirit at Fort Benning. I'm impressed and encouraged by the commitment and
courage of so many high school and college-aged activists. It gives me hope
for the future."
Peg Morton, activist: "My affinity group of 6 stood, shrouded in black,
and holding dolls that were dressed for burial, each representing a massacred
child. I clutched a family of little rag dolls, the siblings and mother of a
friend who is a survivor of a Guatemala massacre. Never have I felt so bonded
to dolls. We crossed over the line together, walking until we reached a
grassy patch. There we used spades to bury our dolls, wailing loudly from the
deepest places of our hearts. Many joined us in our wailing. We were arrested
for ‘criminal trespass' and ‘destroying property.' Yet the dictators and
generals, graduates of the SOA and perpetrators of massacres, go uncharged,
untried."
This report first appeared in the Other Newspaper.
See Peg Morton's Letter to the Editor