Civil Disobedience Log
January 27, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - Twelve protesters were sentenced Monday to prison for trespassing at Fort Benning last fall during a demonstration against a U.S. military program that trains Latin American soldiers.
A federal judge sentenced one defendant to six months in prison and 11 others to three months. Ten defendants got one year's probation and $500 fines, and another will serve six months of home confinement.
Eighty-five protesters - including a Roman Catholic priest, eight nuns and several veterans - were arrested during the Nov. 17 demonstration targeting the School of the Americas, which was based at the Army post.
In 2000, the program was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. It still trains soldiers, but also focuses on civilian and diplomatic affairs. Human rights courses are mandatory.
A group known as School of the Americas Watch conducts demonstrations each anniversary of the 1989 killings of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador. Some of the killers had been trained at Fort Benning.
Several of last fall's protesters pleaded guilty to trespassing and have already been sentenced. Two await sentencing. Others were to appear in court Tuesday. Still others await trial.
On the Net:
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation: http://www.benning.army.mil/whinsec/
01/27/03 22:47 EST
fairfax high protest
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 14:14:52 -0800
From: Zach Bliss <zachbliss@hotmail.com>
There was a protest today at Fairfax High. They just dispersed, but in the
process of their protest, an overwhelming amount of police officers showed
up in full riot gear (incl. rifle-esque sand bag guns). There were over 200
hundred students (that's a low ball estimation). near the end of the
protest, officer vargas put into handcuffs a highschool student named Sam
Hixon while Sam was attempting to use a legal crosswalk, . Sam was in
officer vargas' police car when i spoke with him... he has not been charged
with anything yet, but officer vargas alluded to a disturbing the peace
violation. Sam was one of the orginizers of this event and he gave me his
number and is ok with people calling him about the protest. His number is
[.........]. If you like, call him to give him support and to see if he
needs any legal assistance.
If one wishes to call Sam, email us.
20 arrested in Denver anti-war protest.
AP. 27 January 2003.
DENVER, Colorado -- Police arrested 20 protesters of war against Iraq
who blocked entrances to a downtown building Monday that houses
offices of an oilfield-services company.
About 100 supporters with anti-war pins and handmade posters sang "We
Shall Overcome," chanted and cheered as officers shouted warnings to
protesters and peacefully carried away arrestees, ages 17 to 79, on
trespassing charges.
Some protesters contended President Bush is urging military action
against Iraq to protect oil interests, while others said they
disagreed with the consequences of war.
They gathered outside offices of Houston-based Halliburton Co., which
was once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.
The company said it had no comment on the protest.
World War II veteran Ken Seaman, dressed in a tan suit and tie, said
the United States has been involved in "meaningless" wars in the
Persian Gulf, Korea and Vietnam.
"I'm trying to make a statement," said Seaman, 79. "I know it's a
small statement, but if enough people say it, maybe it will make a
difference." He was one of 20 who agreed beforehand they would be
arrested.
The human blockade was part of two anti-war rallies on the day chief
arms inspector Hans Blix told the U.N. Security Council that Baghdad
had not genuinely accepted U.N. resolutions demanding it disarm.
Seaman said the news did not affect his beliefs.
The morning began with a rally that drew about 200 people, police
said, at the Auraria campus that houses three colleges.
"I don't believe anyone should fight for oil, let alone kill for it,"
Felicia Woodson shouted to a crowd as students heading to class
weaved through rallygoers.
Onlooker and Metropolitan State College of Denver student Jason
Hiester, 20, said he didn't trust Bush's arguments for war.
"I can't help it. He looks like a deer in headlights to me. I don't
believe a word out of his mouth," he said.
Carolyn Bninski, 53, of Boulder, hung signs saying "No war for oil"
and "Why is our oil under their sand?" around her neck.
"There's going to be massive civilian deaths if we go to war. That's
not acceptable to me," she said.
Meanwhile, curious office workers at the same building as Halliburton
giggled at marchers through glass walls.
Page created January 22, 2003 by Charlie Jenks.
