Update from School of the Americas Watch

From: "SOA Watch" <cpardew [at] soaw.org>
Subject: Vigil reportback - Legislative action - Upcoming trial - In
remembrance

SOA Watch Update
December 4, 2004

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1. VIGIL REPORTBACK: MEDIA COVERAGE, SOLIDARITY ACTIONS, PHOTOS AND BUILDING
ON OUR MOMENTUM

This year’s vigil and direct action at the gates of Fort Benning received
excellent media coverage, with an Associated Press article running in
numerous national outlets including USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, the
Boston Globe and the Washington Post. Additionally, The Nation and the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran stories on the vigil, as well as many local
media outlets around the country.

The gathering received national Spanish-language media coverage, including
Univision and CNN en Español, and international coverage as well. Newspapers
such as Mexico’s La Jornada and El Universal, Panama’s La Prensa, Guatemala’
s Prensa Libre, Colombia’s El Tiempo and many others ran stories on the
gathering.

In the article “Seven days for consideration,” La Jornada of Mexico places
the Vigil to Close the SOA in a broad context of anti-militarist actions
that took place throughout the Americas the week of November 16-22. Read the
article here: http://www.soaw.org/new/newswire_detail.php?id=624 .

Contributing to the excellent media coverage were solidarity actions calling
for the closure of WHINSEC that took place across the Americas and in
Europe: in Montpellier, France; Dublin, Ireland; Santiago, Chile; Salmon
Arm, British Columbia, Canada; Las Vegas, Nevada; Tacoma, Washington; Fort
Huachuca, Arizona; and Sacramento, California. In Sacramento, 11 people were
arrested at the federal building on Friday, November 19 calling for the end
of training for repressive forces at WHINSEC. Visit
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=911 for more information on
solidarity actions, and please let us know of other gatherings that took
place in conjunction with the Ft. Benning vigil.

Check out much more coverage of the vigil in the SOA Watch newsroom:
http://www.soaw.org/new/newswire_detail.php?all=1

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SEE PHOTOS OF THE VIGIL AND CONVERGANCE

~ View Linda Panetta’s photos at SOA Watch Northeast:
http://www.soawne.org/04SOAPhotos/04SOAVigilPhotos.html

~ Check out the Atlanta Independent Media Center’s coverage:
http://atlanta.indymedia.org

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BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM OF THE VIGIL:
CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE TO CLOSE THE SOA/ WHINSEC IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Regroup with people from your area who you met at the vigil or who took part
in a solidarity action in your community. Get together for a reportback, to
share experiences and to discuss next steps that you can take to close the
SOA/ WHINSEC and to change US foreign policy. We need your creativity, your
ideas and energy to create the world we want to live in!

Visit the local groups page for organizing contacts in your area:
http://www.soaw.org/new/groups.php

Contact the SOA Watch office at 202-234-3440 or at info [at] soaw.org for more
information.

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2. PLANNING FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN THE NEW CONGRESS

Now that the vigil is over, what are you doing to close the SOA/WHINSEC?

SOA Watch has led a thriving legislative campaign since 1993, a campaign
that forced a “closure” of the SOA in 2000. The opening of WHINSEC was
indeed a slick public relations move that did cause some Members of Congress
to wait and see if this “new” institution could reform. But we are gaining
momentum again and we will soon see the day when the majority of Congress
will see that you could never reform without full accountability, and you
cannot teach democracy or human rights at an institution that is synonymous
with torture. There will be a vote in the 109th and a victory is possible,
but not without you!

~~ COLLECT POST CARDS IN YOUR AREA
Over 2000 post cards were mailed to Congress from Columbus, Georgia, but the
action isn’t over yet. You can purchase 20 full color post cards for only $1
to use for local action. They are a great way to educate more people about
efforts to close the SOA/WHINSEC and an easy way to lobby Congress.

~~ COME TO THE 2005 LOBBY DAY
Plan to come to Washington, DC Feb 21-22 for the 2005 Lobby Day and Action
on Capitol Hill. This is a very important event, as we will be introducing
new legislation and want to come out quick and powerful in the 109th
Congress.

Email info [at] soaw.org for an organizing packet including info on getting to
DC, where to stay and resources to take action. (A $3 donation to cover
costs would be appreciated.) We also have 4x6 palm cards advertising this
event you can use locally: 20 for $1.

~~ LOBBY, LOBBY, LOBBY
Though Congress is technically finished, they work all year round. Now is
the time to get commitments from your Reps that they will co-sponsor
legislation. If you do get a promise of co-sponsorship or a vote please let
the SOA Watch office know, 202-234-3440. If your Rep is on board, start
working on your Senator—they can sponsor a companion bill. (The new Reps
officially begin on Jan 4.)

Visit http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96 for all the resources you’ll
need to lobby Congress like tips, sample letters, and talking points. Visit
http://www.congress.org to find out who your Reps and Senators are. Congressional
Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

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3. THIRTEEN ANTI-SOA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PREPARE FOR JANUARY 24 TRIALS

Thirteen people arrested at Fort Benning, Georgia on November 21, 2004
calling for the closure of the SOA/ WHINSEC will face trials in federal
court on January 24, 2004. Ten arrestees were released from custody after a
night in jail on $1,000 bond; one, a Georgia resident, was released on $500
bond; one, Ed Lewinson, was not charged; and one, 79-year-old Tom MacLean,
initially refused to pay bond but was released on his own recognizance this
week and will appear in court on January 24. Two minors arrested on the base
were not charged.

Check the SOA Watch website at http://www.SOAW.org for updates on the status of
these defendants.

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4. THE HOTTEST READ IN TOWN: THE SOA WATCH NEWSLETTER

In the SOA Watch DC office, Sarah Mertz is already hard at work on the next
edition of the “SOA Watch Update,” the newsletter of the SOA Watch movement.
Are you subscribed to this free quarterly newsletter? If you’re not but you’
d like to be, let us know! Send us an email at info [at] soaw.org, call us at
202-234-3440 or drop us a line at PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017. Let us
know your name and contact info and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

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5. IN REMEMBRANCE OF SUE DANIELS AND NIKLAN JONES-LEZAMA

Last weekend SOA Watch received news of the tragic deaths of Sue Daniels and
Niklan Jones-Lezama, both of Blacksburg, Virginia. Sue’s remains were found
in her burned-down cabin on Thursday, November 18, and Niklan was found
nearby on Saturday, November 20, dead of self-inflicted knife wounds, in
what police are investigating as a murder-suicide.

Sue and Niklan were active in the campaign to close the SOA, and both served
time in prison for “crossing the line” at Fort Benning in November of 2001.
Sue, a biologist, worked actively to combat violence against women.

Claudia Jones-Lezama, Niklan’s wife and his family released a statement last
week: "Our beloved Nik is gone. We are suffering in our loss, and we are
struggling to comprehend the tragedy. Nik had a gentle and compassionate
nature and felt a strong responsibility to fight injustice in the world. In
the end he became overwhelmed by his own despair. We offer our deepest
sympathy to the family and friends of Sue Daniels."

Several memorial services have been held for Sue, and one is planned for
Niklan tomorrow, December 3. Sue's family has requested that gifts in Sue's
honor be made to the following organizations: Women’s Resource Center of the
New River Valley (http://www.wrcnrv.org), PO Box 477, Radford, VA 24143; and
Mountain Justice Summer, c/o Abigail Singer, 2131 Riverside Dr., Knoxville,
TN 37915. Memorial contributions for Niklan may be made to his family in
care of Glade Church, 1600 Glade Rd., Blacksburg, VA 24060 (Attn.
Jones-Lezama).

The Roanoke Times ran a story focusing on Sue and violence against women
this week. Read it here: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke%5C14696.html .

SOA Watch sends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sue and
Niklan, who both brought a passion for justice and social change to their
work to close the SOA/ WHINSEC.


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SOA Watch ~ PO Box 4566 ~ Washington DC 20017 ~ (202)234-3440 ~
http://www.soaw.org