More SOA protestors sentenced

Social justice news
February 2004

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More SOA protestors sentenced
Columbus, GA—Twenty-seven human rights advocates from across the country were tried in Janaury in federal court for civil disobedience to close what they call a terrorist training camp on U.S. soil: the one—time School of the Americas, now the renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHISC). Graduates of the controversial combat training school for Latin American soldiers continue to be implicated in human rights atrocities throughout Latin America.

The defendants were among 10,000 who gathered in November to call for the closure of the SOA/WHISC. The defendants included one Catholic nun, three Jesuit priests and one Jesuit brother, a Presbyterian minister, a Diocesan priest, a Franciscan priest, two Quakers, a divinity school student, a former New York City Firefighter, a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and various human rights activists.

The defendants testified in court against a double standard in the "war on terrorism," offering evidence to put the SOA/WHISC and U.S. foreign policy on trial. Defense Attorney Edward Osowski argued that first amendment rights of defendants were violated when the military blasted patriotic music toward the permitted demonstration site on Saturday, November 22.

The trial judge, G. Mallon Faircloth, adhered to his previous sentencing record and gave sentences ranging from 12 months probation to six months in federal prison, with fines ranging from $500 to $1,500.

The SOA/WHISC is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers. Its graduates are consistently involved in human rights atrocities and coups, including the El Mozote Massacre of over 900 civilians and last year's failed coup in Venezuela. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated the use of torture, extortion and execution.

SOA Watch founder Father Roy Bourgeois traveled to Venezuela to ask president Hugo Chavez to stop sending Venezuelan military personnel to the SOA/WHISC. Chavez, who continues to be popular amongst the overwhelmingly poor population of Venezuela, is taking Fr. Bourgeois request under serious consideration.

Sentences:

Elizabeth Bradley , 49, of Sacramento, CA—12 months probation, $500 fine

Leisa Faulkner Barnes , 49, of Sacramento, CA—three months federal prison, $500 fine

Louise Lynch, of Fremont , CA—12 months probation, $500 fine

Faith Fippinger , 63, of Sarasota, Fl—three months federal prison

David Corcoran , 69, of Des Plaines, Ill—six months federal prison

Scott P. Diehl , 40, of Burlington, IA—three months federal prison, $500 fine

Kathy Kelly , 51, of Chicago, Ill—three months federal prison

Craig Adams , 52, of Glenwood, WI—three months federal prison

Rich Wekerle , 67, of Moscow, ID—six months federal prison

Cynthia Brinkman , SSND, 67, Ellington, MN—six months federal prison

Ozone O’Leary , currently residing in Duluth, MN—three months in federal prison

Mary Vaughan , of White Bear, MN—24 months probation, $500 fine

Michael Walli , 55, of Duluth, MN—three months federal prison, $500 fine

Gregory Poferl , 57, of St. Paul, MN—three months federal prison, $1,000 fine

Gary Ashbeck , of Baltimore, MD—six months federal prison, 67 days credited for time served

Betsy Lamb , 65, of Columbia, MD—six months federal prison, $500 fine

Shirley Way , 42, of Stanley, NY—three months federal prison

Alice E. Gerard , 47, of Buffalo, NY—three months federal prison, $500 fine

Fr. Joseph E. Mulligan, S.J. , 60, of Nicaragua—three months federal prison

Brother Mike O’Grady, S.J. , 41, of Cincinnati, OH—32 days Muscogee County Jail

Fr. Ben Jimenez, S.J. , of Cleveland, OH—released on time served

Peg Morton , 73, of Eugene, OR—three months federal prison

Father Bernie Survil , 63, of Greenburg, PA, three months federal prison

Don Beisswenger , 73, of Nashville, TN—six months federal prison, $1,000 fine

Sarah Jobe , 22, of Nashville, TN—12 months probation, $1,500 fine

Eric Robinson , 23, of Bellingham, WA—six months federal prison, $1,000 fine

Father Jerry Zawada , 66, of Burlington, WI—six months federal prison

For more information:
The SOA Watch
Pax Christi USA

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