friendsoflatinamerica

No to Torture !

SPEAKER: Fr.Louie Vitale

Monday, June 15, 2009
7:00 – 7:30 PM Refreshments
7:30 – 9:00 PM Program
Owen Brown Community Center
6800 Cradlerock Way , Columbia ,MD21045

How do we relate to individuals and countries that believe differently than we do? How do we deal with our so-called enemies? Is torture ever morally acceptable? How do we respond to terrorism?

Father Louie Vitale has been grappling with these and related questions for nearly half a century - ever since he converted to nonviolence after leaving the air force. He has served a 3 and a 6-month sentence for crossing the line twice at the School of Americas in Fort Benning ,GA. That is where the US trains Latin American soldiers in torture techniques. Then Louie served another 5 months for crossing the line and praying at Fort Huachuca (the military installation in Arizona where the U.S. trains American Intelligence Officers in “Enhanced Interrogation” tactics such as the much-publicized water boarding).

In this talk, Fr.Louie discusses how we are training Latin American military (at the School ofAmericas ) and our own military (at Fort Huachuca ) to torture others and how this is both morally wrong and ineffective. He speaks about how torture harms both those who are tortured as well as the torturers, and he proposes alternatives to torture.

Since his release from jail in the Spring of 2008, Father Louie has given more than 50 talks at universities, communities, and church groups across the United States and in Canada . Earlier this year, Fr. Louie traveled to Iran with the Fellowship of Reconciliation as part of anIran Civilian Diplomacy Delegation to dialogue with the government and people of Iran , our supposed “enemy.”

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. HOWEVER,DONATIONS ARE WELCOME AT THE EVENT.

For more info go to: http://www.friendsoflatinamerica.org or call 410-381-4899

Co-Sponsored by: Columbia United Christian Church, Howard County Friends of Latin America , Just Peace Circles, Inc., Metro DC Pax Christi and Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service.

AMAZING NEWS FROM COSTA RICA!!!!!!!!!

Greetings, We are writing you with joy in our     hearts, as we have just returned from our meeting with Costa Rica´s president Oscar Arias. After a surprisingly moving and even emotional  meeting and a request that Costa Rica withdraw its police from the  SOA/WHINSEC, we are delighted to share the news that YES,Costa Rica will be joining Venezuela, Argentina and Uruguay in totally withdrawing its students. At this moment we are here at the Peace Center of Costa Rica celebrating this wonderful news with a large group of friends, many of whom have made this visit and this decision possible.

We met with President Arias at his office at 5:30, as scheduled, along with his Minister of Security, Fernando Berrocal, who is  head of the police force. I am assuming that all know that Costa  Rica has no military and also that Arias is a former recipient of the Nobel Peace prize.

Roy thanked Arias for  his role as a peace maker in the region, and then shared briefly about the struggle to close the SOA. Minister Berrocal informed the group that  Costa  Rica currently had 3 police studying at  SOA/WHINSEC, and one instructor. The instructor, Hector Navarro, was  apppointed in the previous administration and is currently under charges  (not specified) here in Costa Rica . The Costa Rican  government is soliciting his return for this reason. The courses which these  3 students are attending will end in June and August.

SOAW Join us in Washington, DC - April 25-27

DearFriends,

The leadership of human rights organizations, solidarity groups and religious communities will be fasting on Capitol Hill starting today for three days. If you are in the DC area, we hope that you will join us. Please see the  schedule and list of leaders involved below.

If you will be joining us to the fast on Friday night (see below), please RSVP to Eric LeCompte elecompte@soaw.org

In Solidarity,

Joao Da Silva
SOA Watch

For a full schedule of events click on the link below:

SOA Watch Staffperson Incarcerated for 3 Days by Capitol Police and the Department of Homeland Security

School of the Americas Watch www.SOAW.org
202-234-3440
March 28, 2007

The Criminalization of Dissent:

SOA Watch Staffperson Incarcerated for Three Days by Capitol Police and the Department of Homeland Security

This past weekend, Hendrik Voss, a volunteer in the SOA Watch national office and an organizer in the struggle to close the School of the Americas, was being detained on an order from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was held for three days in DC's Central Cellblock, the DC Jail and at a Homeland Security Detention Center in Northern Virginia.

Due to swift and successful organizing, solidarity, and movement contacts, Hendrik was released from custody on Monday evening. Many thanks to all the people who have worked over the past few days to secure Hendrik's freedom! See below for more information on Hendrik's situation.

This incident is a reminder to all of us about the repressive political climate in the United States. Here are some more examples of how this climate is manifesting itself in regards to the movement to close the School of the Americas:

Sixteen human rights activists who crossed the line onto Fort Benning to call attention to the human rights abuses connected to the SOA were found guilty in federal court and received sentences from 1 year on probation to six month in federal prison. Click here to Support the Prisoners of Conscience. The FBI has placed SOA Watch under "Counterterrorism Surveillance".

Bus Trip to Fort Benning, Georgia

SOA Watch
November 17 - 19, 2006
Washington; DC  to Fort  Benning Georgia

Bus $125

$125 for one person, round trip to  Fort  Benning . Leave from a Metro Station Friday night November 17th and  return early Monday morning when Metro is  running.
Riders maybe dropped off and picked up in downtown Columbus or stay with the bus. Transportation will be provided to and from the Amerihost Hotel (706) 885-9002 in  La Grange , Georgia (45 miles from Columbus on Highway I-85).

The rooms are $64 a night for up to four.  Wire-less Internet, continental breakfast, an indoor pool and Jacuzzi are part of the package. You must make your own  hotel reservations. Please give the code SOA DC  when making the reservations.

Bus contact: soa_dc@yahoo.com
AmeriHost Hotel: (706)  885-9002
SOA Watch Information: www.soaw.org