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PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES AT REGIS
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School of The Americas Protest
Students from Regis University have been traveling down to the gates of Ft. Benning GA to non-violently protest the School of the Americas, renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, for over 20 years. We join there with thousands of people from across the country to let the instructors, administration, and politicians that allow the school to continue operating that we with good conscience cannot permit the human rights violations to continue and that we will always remember the men, women, and children who have fallen victim to the school’s graduates.
As a part of the protest students actively take part in the Sunday Morning Vigil and attend the Ignation Family Teach In. At the Vigil the names of thousands of victims are sang aloud to each of which the crowd answers back “presente” stating that we carry the memory of victims with us to the gates and protest there because they cannot. The Ignation Family Teach In is a gathering of all Jesuit institutions that travel down to the gates where speakers are invited to share their unique experience and reflections on faith.
The School of the Americas has been linked to thousands of killings, disappearings, and general intimidation of people in South and Central America. The Jesuits have been extremely involved in calling for the school's closing because of, among many other atrocities, the murder of 6 Jesuits living in El Salvador which was committed and ordered by graduates of the School of Americas. The school has also been linked to the more known murders of Arch Bishop Oscar Romero and Jean Donovan along with three nuns.
This years vigil and non-violent protest will be held on November 21-23. Students are already in the planning stage to travel down to the school once again and take action. Those interested in joining the group should contact Erin Benson in University Ministry.
Updates
203:214 = SOA/WHINSEC Survives Vote in Congress by a 6 Vote Margin
On Thursday, June 21 - at 11:52 PM, Congress defeated the McGovern/Lewis amendment to cut the funding for the SOA/WHINSEC by a margin of six votes.203:214 = SOA/WHINSEC Survives Vote in Congress by a 6 Vote Margin
SOA Watch Victory in Congress!
On Sunday August 5, 2007 the House of Representatives approved a report accompanying the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill that demands the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC) release to the public the names of all students and instructors who attended the school during the fiscal years of 2005 and 2006. The directive also requires that the same information be available to the public in all future fiscal years.SOA/WHINSEC Instructors Jailed for Involvement in Colombian Drug Cartel
A recent criminal investigation into the Colombian Army’s Third Brigade, has prompted the arrest of thirteen high ranking officers accused of providing security and mobilizing troops for Diego Montoya (alias “Don Diego”), the leader of the Norte del Valle Cartel and one of the FBI’s 10 most-wanted criminals. Two former instructors of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC) are among the thirteen. Colonel Quijano, a former commander of Colombia’s Special Forces, and Major Mora Daza, taught “peacekeeping operations” and “democratic sustainment” at WHINSEC in 2003-2004.