School of the Americas Protest

Fort Benning Georgia

11/18/00

Photos and captions Patty Bender

1 Entertainment and more non violence training were on the marque at this local theatre welcoming activists 2 Sign on stage just outside the entrance to the fort says NO MAS CLOSE DOWN THE SCHOOL OF ASSASSINS 3 As the music got faster and faster young folks danced fast enough to keep up 4 Part of the NJ delegation Sister Mary, Carol Gay and Bob Bender listening to the speeches 5 Each cross or stone carried by the 3500 who went onto the base had the name of a murdered person
1 Entertainment ... 2 Sign on stage ... 3 As the music g... 4 Part of the NJ... 5 Each cross or ...
6 Song leaders with orange sashes reviewed last minute instructions 7 Names of the murdered were read and the crowd answered back PRESENTE to show their spirits were present 8 Inside the fort many planted crosses prayed and meditated then rejoined the march 9 Global economic system protected by SOA thugs 91 Some great puppets were part of the demonstration
6 Song leaders w... 7 Names of the m... 8 Inside the for... 9 Global economi... 91 Some great pu...

1
Saturday night after Bob, Carol and I went to the song leader training we then went to this theater for some entertainment and more non violence training (as many people there, Bob & I had already going to another non violence training session several weeks before we went down to Georgia.) That's me pointing to the marquee.

2
Stage Just outside the entrance to the fort where speakers and musicians were on all day Saturday and Sunday for the 10, to 12,000 people that came and stayed in the cold rain to demonstrate.

3
As the music got faster and faster in that well known song young folks danced fast enough to keep up .... ah, the song:

Close down the SOA,
we don't need it anyway.
North and South the people say,
Close down the SOA.

Close down the SOA
or we will civilly disobey
and you will have some hell to pay,
Close down the SOA.

4
Sister Mary, Carol Gay and Bob Bender listening to the speeches

5
3,500 people lined up on a side street preparing to go into Fort Benning
Each cross has the name, age and county of someone killed or "disappeared" by death squads trained by the SOA

6
Song leaders with the orange sashes reviewing last minute instructions.

7
Names were read, banners timed the calling of "Presente" following each name to symbolize that those murdered were remember and their spirit present.

8
Inside the fort, crosses were planted by many people. Some sat and mediated, others prayed and then rejoined those walking on.

9, 91
some great puppets were part of the demonstration.

For more information and updates, please visit the School of the Americas Watch at http://www.soaw.org/

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