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by Kieran Schnabel '03 The U.S. Army School of the Americas, in Fort Benning, Georgia, trains Latin American soldiers in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. Graduates of the SOA have been responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. Among the SOA's graduates are notorious dictators and soldiers responsible for the murder, torture and rape of many, including Archbishop Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians. Over 12,000 people attended the protest from 49 states and around the world. Six St. Olaf students traveled down in buses with area colleges, a 26-hour trip each way. We were supported by the generous donations of several St. Olaf professors. The protest began on Saturday Nov. 20th with music and speeches from leaders of SOA Watch, folksingers, Buddhist peace drummers, Native Americans, and prayers from many traditions. On Sunday the 21st the memorial service was held with a funeral procession led by 20 coffins bearing the names of SOA victims including the Jesuits, the two women, and others murdered by graduates. The coffin bearers were dressed in black gowns with white death masks. When they arrived at the police line on Ft. Benning, they put the coffins down, smeared fake blood on themselves and lay down next to the coffins. The clergy people in the group then proceeded to hold a funeral. About 4,500 mourners carrying wooden crosses and other grave markers followed the coffins across the line from the Ft. Benning main gate vigil site onto the base. Most of the mourners chose to sit down when approached by the police and not get on the buses for several hours. The coffin-bearers and those who had crossed the line in previous years were at higher risk for arrest. Just like last year, the police could not process 4,500 protestors, and so almost all, including the two Oles who crossed, were simply bussed back to near the vigil site to joyous welcome by the rest of the protestors.
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