Protesters, 7,000-strong, demonstrate at SOA

Among the thousands were 20 people from the Albany Diocese. One of them was Albany Catholic Worker Fred Boehrer, who spoke to The Evangelist from Georgia.

As one of those who "crossed the line" to enter the compound, he spoke of the "sheer joy of seeing the power of what a large number of people can do in a nonviolent way. If enough people are willing to speak for an issue of justice, there's a possibility of getting a message across in a way that's very profound."

Terrorism connection

Training manuals released by the Pentagon in 1996 confirmed that soldiers have been trained at the SOA in torture techniques. SOA alumni include Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and ten Chilean officers who were among 30 recently accused of torture, terrorism and genocide along with former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Mr. Boehrer told The Evangelist that organizers of the protest expected about 1,000 people to attend; instead, the SOA was inundated by a crowd of 7,000 who gathered at the center's main gate, some to wait in vigil as the rest crossed the line.

Nonviolence and prayer

During a program in Spanish and English, Rev. Roy Bourgeois, founder of "SOA Watch" (which provides the public with information about the effect of SOA soldiers' training on the poor of Latin America), spoke to the protesters. A Native American blessing was offered, and a letter of prayer and thanks from the Oscar Romero Center in Latin America was read.

Second time

One second-timer, Elizabeth Pearson, is a member of the Interfaith Alliance from the Albany Diocese. Members of the diocesan Peace and Justice Commission were also among those who attended the vigil.

Those crossing the line entered in a funeral procession, the second-timers carrying caskets and 1,500 others carrying white crosses inscribed with the names of those who have died at the hands of SOA graduates.

Consequences

Instead of being handcuffed, patted down and driven to a processing center, those who had crossed the line were simply loaded onto buses, driven off the base to a nearby park and given "letters of ejection."

The protesters walked or rode shuttles the mile and a half back to the SOA, where they were greeted by those holding vigil with cheers and applause. "The spirit was overwhelming," said Mr. Boehrer.

The Catholic Worker said that the next step toward closure of the SOA will be support of a bill being introduced by a Buffalo assemblyman proposing just that. Those hoping to close the SOA will also hold a weekend of lobbying and civil disobedience from May 1-4 in Washington, D.C.

(11-26-98) [[In-content Ad]]