Thousands of peace and justice activists demonstrated this week at the School of the Americas (SOA) at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The School of the Americas Watch (SOA Watch) demands that the SOA be closed, asserting that, “evidence of atrocious human rights abuses that have been committed against the people of Latin America have come back to point to those trained at the SOA.  This evidence abounds.”

Twenty-six people were arrested, including three journalists who were recording the demonstration.

Throughout the United States, local demonstrations were held in support of the efforts to close the SOA.  Here is a video of scenes from a local demonstration, in support of those gathered at Fort Benning, calling for the closure of the School of the Americas.  The video includes a short excerpt of a phone call, from Fort Benning.

For further information about the School of the Americas Watch, and a link to its informative website, please see the Peace and Justice Online Directory of Resources.  The SOA Watch website includes updates and video of the Fort Benning demonstration.

On a different note, I want to wish my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am inspired by and extremely thankful for the work that so many are doing, to help us to achieve a more peaceful and just world.

My next post will be up on Friday.  Have a great holiday.

Peace!