20,000+ Gather to Shut Down the School of Americas at Ft Benning Georgia, USA

by Update Fri Jun 18, 2010 23:12

Today, only three days after he was sentenced to six months of federal
prison for carrying the protest against the School of the Americas
onto Fort Benning, Michael Walli was released from jail.

Early Thursday, Michael was ordered to pack up his belongings from his
jail cell. He expected that he would be transferred to a federal
facility but was then told by the wardens that he is free to go,
without any further explanation.

From the jail, Michael managed to get to Father Roy Bourgeois'
apartment at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. The two celebrated
his release and Michael is now on a bus headed to his home in
Washington, DC.

According to the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon
Faircloth, who had only days ago handed down the maximum sentence to
Michael, reduced Michael's sentence to time served.

We are full of joy that Michael is out and that he will soon be
reunited with the great folks at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House
in DC. Michael can be reached at 503 Rock Creek Church Road
Northwest, Washington, DC 20010-1612. Phone: (202) 882-9649

At the same time, the human rights defenders Ken Hayes, Father Louis
Vitale and Nancy Gwin, all of whom were arrested with Michael during
the 2009 vigil at the SOA/WHINSEC, remain in federal prison where they
serve their harsh prison sentences.

Please contact Judge G. Mallon Faircloth to commend him for doing the
right thing in Michael Walli's case and to also demand the release of
ALL Prisoners of Conscience that he incarcerated. There is no
justification that our friends Nancy, Ken, and Louis are spending
their days and nights in prison for speaking out against the SOA,
while those responsible for the training of human rights abusers and
for the use of torture manuals at the SOA have never even been
investigated:

G. Mallon Faircloth
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Post Office Box 117
Columbus, GA 31902-0117

Courtroom Clerk:
Terrie Smith - (706) 653-2942

Please also send messages of support to the Prisoners of Conscience
who are still incarcerated in federal prisons across the United States
and let them know that you are keeping up the work to close the School
of the Americas and to change U.S. foreign policy! You can find their
prison addresses here:
http://soaw.org/about-us/pocs/150-articles/3421-write-t...ience

by Sentenced 6 Months Mon Jun 14, 2010 21:03

Human rights advocate sentenced to six months in federal prison for civil disobedience at the School of the Americas

Washington, DC resident Michael Walli was one of four human rights advocates who were arrested during the annual November Vigil to close the School of the Americas / Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/ WHINSEC). Michael Walli was sentenced on Monday, June 14, 2010 to six months in federal prison.

During his November arraignment, Michael told judge Malon Faircloth that he would not pay any bail and that he would not voluntarily return for the trial. Michael Walli made good on his promise and Faircloth issued a warrant for Michael's arrest. Federal marshals arrested Michael in March 2010 at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington, DC.

Ken Hayes, Father Louis Vitale and Nancy Gwin, the three human rights advocates who were arrested together with Michael Walli, were each sentenced in January 2010 to six months in prison as well - the maximum allowed for the charge of tresspass. The extremely harsh sentences are intended to deter others from following the example of the 'SOAW 4.'

"Those who speak out for justice are facing prison time while SOA-trained torturers and assassins are operating with impunity," said SOA Watch founder Father Roy Bourgeois.

The SOA/WHINSEC 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 in El Salvador and last year's military coup in Honduras. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated the use of torture, extortion and execution.

SOA Watch works to stand in solidarity with people of Latin America, to change oppressive US foreign policy, and to close the SOA/WHINSEC. In November 2010, thousands will return to the gates of Fort Benning to call for justice and accountability.

Send a message of solidarity to the prisoners:
www.SOAW.org/about-us/pocs/150-articles/3421-write-to-the-soa-watch-prisoners-of-conscience

Make plans to join the November Vigil at the gates of Fort Benning:
oaw.org/take-action/november-vigil

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker Tue Nov 24, 2009 14:26

(In the early '90's) Charlie Litkey left his medal and the Vietnam Memorial and refused his military pension in protest at U.S. wars on Central America, he has served a number of prison sentences for nonviolent resistance - the medal was picked up and now resides in the Smithsonian. Pat Litkey passed away a couple of years ago, he too served several years in prison for nonviolent resistance. Fr. Roy Bourgeois has been recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his sustained organising and resistance to the School of Americas, he has also served several years in prison as consequence.

Last weekend, Sunday, November 22, :thousands gathered at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, standing up against oppressive U.S. foreign policy and speaking out in defense of real and direct democracy, for life, justice, liberty, dignity and peace.

Four veteran human rights defenders crossed the line Sunday morning to carry their witness against the School of Assassins towards where it is located inside Ft. Benning, GA:
Nancy Gwin of Syracuse, NY
Ken Hayes of Austin, TX
Fr. Louis Vitale, former provincial of the Franciscans on the west coast U.S. of Oakland, CA
Michael Walli, Vietnam Veteran and Catholic Worker, of Washington, DC
Michael Walli remains in jail, the others have been released on bail.

None of those responsible for SOA crimes have ever been investigated or held accountable, while 286 peace and justice activists have served prison and probation sentences of up to two years for their acts of nonviolent civil disobedience.

The civil disobedience at Ft. Benning on November 22 follows the arrest of five peace and justice activists at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, where the torture manuals used at the SOA were created. The Ft. Huachuca Five are:
Fr. Bob Carney of Tucson, AZ
Joshua C. Harris of Santa Barbara, CA
John Heid of Tucson, AZ
Mariah Klusmire of Albuquerque, NM
Fr. Jerry Zawada of Tucson, AZ
Four of the five received 1-year ban and bar letters, while Josh Harris awaits word on a trial date. Harris refused to cooperate with the military police, and when asked for his name said he was there representing a victim of torture.

Several hundred demonstrators marched together on Ft. Benning Rd on Sunday, November 22, risking arrest, and pushed through the police protest confines this year, led by puppetistas and drummers including Cakalak Thunder.

This exuberant, rebellious expression of the Return to Life honored the work and spirit of those who have fallen in the struggle for justice all across the Americas.

Check this site for photos by Linda Panetta of the manifestation at the School of the Americas
http://www.opticalrealities.org/United-States/Protest/N...TLqPg

by Andy Sun Nov 22, 2009 18:55

Litkey's heroism speaks for itself:

This is the official citation which led to his CMOH award

"Chaplain Liteky distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to within 15 meters of an enemy machine gun position to reach them, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. When there was a brief respite in the fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy's positions. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man, Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to push himself along. Pausing for breath momentarily, he returned to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him, but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and inspiring the men. Upon the unit's relief on the morning of 7 December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain Liteky's actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army."

by Background Sun Nov 22, 2009 16:17

Background on the El Salvador martyrs Nov. 16th. 1989

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMini....html