The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia last week released new evidence that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting counterterrorism investigations into School of the Americas Watch. As we’ve seen time and again when the FBI targets social change organizations, the files demonstrate a clear attempt to stifle political opposition.

In the released documents, the FBI noted that “the [SOA Watch November vigil] has grown dramatically over the past several years.” The FBI elevated its concern to “priority” level and subjected SOA Watch to “counterterrorism” surveillance. The Bureau monitored the media attention that the annual November vigil and the trials of people arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience received, and agents noted which court tactics had chilling effects on people’s decisions to participate in civil disobedience.

Instead of responding to political opposition with political means, the U.S. government is responding to it as a threat. This same type of mindset responds to Latin American protests against social inequalities with the training of repressive militaries at the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC).

When military action is the default solution for any problem abroad and the FBI is being employed against social justice activists in the United States, it becomes vividly clear that none of us are safe. The actions and values of the U.S. government are out of alignment with the majority of the people of the Americas.

Read more about the release of the FBI files.

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2006 Lobby Days a Success!

On April 24 and 25, torture survivors, students, nuns, veterans and other SOA Watch activists flooded the halls of Congress in Washington, DC to knock on doors for hundreds of meetings with staffers, Representatives and Senators. At the same time, many of you called in to Congress to ask for support of HR 1217. Because of your efforts, we've already added two new co-sponsors to the bill to suspend training at the SOA/ WHINSEC!

NOW IS THE TIME TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!

Email your Representative today. A new feature on the SOA Watch website allows you to send an email to your Congressperson directly from our site. Click here to send your email today.

Call Congress toll free at 888-355-3588. Make sure your Representative knows that people in her district support human rights and HR 1217. Ask for her support and her vote. If your Rep has already signed on, take a minute to thank him for his support.

The SOA Watch Lobby Days were preceded by workshops and trainings at American University that included a panel featuring terrific speakers from partner organizations, workshops, a theater piece, and an update from Father Roy Bourgeois. Lobbying began in full force on Monday following a spirited march to Upper Senate Park, where musicians performed and speakers from the Torture Abolition Survivors and Support Coalition, the Nicaragua Network and others addressed the crowd.

Read more about the Lobby Days.

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About the School of the Americas / Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

The US Army School of Americas (SOA), based in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American security personnel in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians. (See Grads in the News).

In an attempt to deflect public criticism and disassociate the school from its dubious reputation, the SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) in 2001. The name change was a result of a Department of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001, at a time when SOA opponents were poised to win a congressional vote on legislation that would have dismantled the school. The name-change measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bi-partisan amendment to close the SOA and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten-vote margin. (See Talking Points, Critique of New School, Vote Roll Call.)

In a media interview, Georgia Senator and SOA supporter the late Paul Coverdell characterized the DOD proposal as a "cosmetic" change that would ensure that the SOA could continue its mission and operation. Critics of the SOA concur.

SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent. We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout Latin America for their inspiration and the invitation to join them in their struggle for economic and social justice.