Close the School of the Americas

national | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Monday November 01, 2010 16:30 by Mairtin MacMaolain - Grupo Raices/Justice for Colombia

Vigil outside US Embassy Nov 20th 1-3pm

In solidarity with our Latin American sisters and brothers who continue to suffer the deadly wrath of yankie imperialism, there will be a Vigil outside the US Embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on Saturday 20th November from 1pm-3pm to demand the closure of the School of the Americas, a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

This vigil (staying awake) is organised in conjunction with the expected 20,000 or so people who will gather outside this infamous School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia from 19-21 November 2010, to demand its closure and some of them will engage in nonviolent direct action in a spirit of solidarity with those suffering from the results of the training of military and police personnel at the US School of the Americas.

All Latin American solidarity groups and anyone interested in peace/justice issues are encouraged and welcome to attend and bring whatever placards/banners etc they have to make it a colourful demonstration that people in Ireland know what is going on and won't be silent about it.