From Nov 20-22, three members of the Central New York chapter of Colombia Support Network (CSN-CNY) will join thousands from across the nation at Fort Benning, GA, to demand a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy and the closure of the controversial U.S. Army School of the Americas SOA (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation).
The SOA made headlines in 1996 when the Pentagon released training manuals that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Despite this admission and hundreds of documented human rights abuses connected to soldiers trained at the school, no independent investigation has ever been taken place. This year marks the 25th anniversary Vigil to remember those killed by SOA graduates throughout Latin America.
Prof. Patricia Rodriguez (IC), Prof. Colleen Kattau (SUNY-Cortland) and Ithaca activist Beth Harris will host a workshop at the event in Georgia, and show the new film produced by CSN-CNY called 'Campesinos in Colombia: The Heart of a New Nation', which tells the story of grassroots organizations uniting to demand and propose change. A report back and showing of the film is planned for early February 2016.
for more information and schedule of events in Georgia, visit soaw.org. or contact prodriguez@ithaca.edu
more info on report back will be announced on intercom in January.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20151118085535701