by Randy Serraglio

In late March, the U.S. Attorney's office in Columbus, Georgia, released a list of 26 people who will be prosecuted for civil resistance actions last November at Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, better known by its former name, the shamed School of the Americas (SOA).

The indictments were announced as SOA Watch activists from all over the U.S. gathered in Washington D.C. March 29-April 3 for a week of direct action and congressional lobbying on Colombia and the new SOA clone.

Hundreds gathered on the Ellipse on Sunday April 1 and then marched in a procession of puppets and props through a gloomy drizzle to the Washington Monument and down the Mall toward the Capitol. Police stalked the unpermitted march but made no arrests as activists staged a massive die-in in front of hundreds of tourists visiting for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Friday before, several SOA Watch activists disrupted the Cherry Blossom parade by moving in with an official Monsanto Roundup spray applicator (filled with water) and "fumigating" the precious cherry trees. Police and paraders were caught by surprise, the activists were dragged away, but again no arrests were made.

Monday morning, April 2, hundreds gathered at the Pentagon and staged a memorial cross planting on the ceremonial parade grounds below the Joint Chiefs' offices, and then proceeded to the tunnel entrance where cardboard helicopters and DynCorp airplanes "fumigated" campesinos and huge tree props with the handy Monsanto applicator.

Activists then linked arms and blockaded the busy entrance for two hours. Despite much pushing and provocation by Pentagon police, protesters maintained their nonviolent discipline. A simultaneous action at the Metro entrance involved the pouring of blood and a big mess when protesters were dragged away.

In all, three entrances were blocked and ten arrests were made. Eight were charged with spilling substances and other offenses and given a court date of June 14.

That afternoon, a group of six women from Oberlin College locked down in a conference room at the National Guard Memorial building, disrupting the start of a conference of Sikorsky (makers of the Blackhawk helicopter) executives and parts suppliers.

The intrepid students demanded to dialogue with conference attendees, and refused to leave until allowed to do so. They held their ground until 9 p.m. while activists held banners outside the building. All six were arrested and held overnight, then released the next day with charges of "possessing criminal tools" and a June 20 court date.

Twenty-five activists face up to six months in prison and a $5000 fine when they go to trial on May 22 in Columbus, Georgia for last November's protest at Ft. Benning. One member of the group, Steve Jacobs of Columbia, Missouri, faces two charges for a possible total of 12 months and $10,000.

The indicted activists come from 13 states, and also include Mary Lou Benson, David Corcoran, Russell DeYoung, John Ewers, Jack Gilroy, Clare Hanrahan, Martha Hayward, Rachel Louise Hayward, Dorothy Hennessey, OSF, Gwen Hennessey, OSF, Rita Hohenshell, William Houston, John Alfred Hunt, Jr., Rebecca Kanner, Joel Kilgore, Richard John Kinane, Elizabeth Anne McKenzie, Karl Meyer, Lois Putzier, Eric Robison, Sr. Miriam Spencer, Kathryn Temple, Hazel Tulecke, and Mary Alice Vaughan.

In a parallel trial, a 26th activist, Josh Raisler-Cohn, faces charges of violating his ban and bar by scaling a water tower inside the base and hanging a 1,750 sq. ft. banner reading "North and South The People Say Close the SOA!"

All 26 go to trial May 22. May 21 at 7 p.m. there will be a Festival of Resistance at the Howard Johnson's on Veteran's Memorial Pkwy., Columbus, in support of the defendants.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) is due to introduce a bill in late April to close the new SOA clone. See www.soaw.org for updates on the trial, the bill, and a comparison of the courses at the "new" SOA, which are almost identical to the old one.

SOA resister Charles Liteky remains in prison in Lompoc, California until July 31.

For more information, contact School of Americas Watch, P.O. Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 234-3440, SOAWatch@knight-hub.com www.soaw.org

Letters of support should be sent to Charles Liteky # 83276-020, FPC Lompoc, 3705 W. Farm Road, Lompoc, CA 93436.