Saturday / Sunday March 22-23 Workshops / Rally / March
"Overcoming War and Terror at Home and Abroad"

Photos: Linda Panetta

SOA Watch/Northeast in collaboration with the student groups: Penn for Peace and Amnesty International (U Penn) will hold workshops on the University of Penn campus on Saturday, March 22. The teach-in will address: "Overcoming War and Terror at Home and Abroad." (See list of presenters and workshops below, as well as the list of co-sponsors).

Sunday, March 23 ~ 2:30 - 5:00 PM ~ Rally & March

Commemorating the anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Romero and all martyrs, and to call for an end to war, SOA Watch/NE will hold its annual rally on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum, the rally will be followed by a march (beginning at approximately 3:00 PM) on Sunday, March 23.

This celebration of hope and rally against the war will be led by the incredible music of acclaimed folk musicians Pat Humphries, Sandy Opatow, Kristina Olsen, Jonathan Tynes, the Sing it Down duo of Jolie Christine Rickman and Colleen Kattau, and the soulful R & B music of "The Chestnut Brothers" (Al & Ty).

Geraro Jacinto Calel will open the event with a Mayan ceremony, and presenters will include Bishop Tom Gumbleton, and Fr. Roy Bourgeois.

Saturday, March 22 ~ 12:00 - 6:30 PM

12:00 - 1:00: Registration, coffee, munchies and an opportunity to visit with co-sponsoring organizations (tables/literature) and to speak with the presenters.

Location for Registration:
Tabernacle United Church, U Penn Campus - 3700 Chestnut Street (Philadelphia).
The events for the day will conclude by approximately 6:30 PM

TO TABLE / CO-SPONSOR THE EVENTS CALL: (215) 477-5892

Directions to the Tabernacle Church and the Art Museum

To view over 100 recent photos from Iraq (Jan 2003) visit: www.soawne.org/Iraq.html

PARTIAL LIST OF SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Johanna Berrigan: Co-founded the House of Grace Catholic Worker House, as well as a medical clinic in Philadelphia to offer free healthcare for the poor. For the past 6 years Johanna has been committed to effecting change in Iraq and has led several delegations to Iraq through Voices in the Wilderness.

Fr. Roy Bourgeois is a Vietnam Veteran, and recipient of the Purple Heart. He is the founder and co-director of School of the Americas (SOA) Watch. He travels extensively lecturing about the SOA and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. He has spent over four years in U.S. federal prisons for nonviolent protests against the training of Latin American soldiers at Ft. Benning, GA.

John Braxton: Co-President of the American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO Local 2026. John worked for many years as an organizer for the Teamsters for a Democratic Union as well as at the national office of the Teamsters. He is on staff with Jobs for Justice, a social justice labor organization in Philadelphia, and has been a galvanizing leader for opposition to the war in Iraq in the labor movement.

Emmy Breton: A native of Mexico and survivor of torture, Emmy is a works with the Torture Abolition and Survivors' Support Coalition (TASSC).TASSC includes survivors and family members (representing 60countries) of the disappeared and tortured. For the past 15 years she has worked for human rights in El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States.

Frank Corcoran: A Viet Nam combat veteran and a member of Veterans For Peace. Frank has made several trips back to Viet Nam, including a recent year-long stay. In 2000, he traveled to Iraq to help repair a water treatment plant destroyed by US bombs during the Gulf War. Frank regularly speaks at schools, and participates in fasts and vigils to work for peace in Iraq, Colombia, and in opposition to the SOA.

John Grant: A Viet Nam veteran and President of the Philadelphia chapter of Veterans For Peace. He is a documentary photographer and filmmaker who has traveled extensively in Central America. He recently completed a documentary film called Second Time Around about a veteran's recent work in Viet Nam.

Bishop Tom Gumbleton: is the Aux Bishop of Detroit; he served as the President of Bread for the World for 8 years and is the Founding President of Pax Christi, USA. Bishop Gumbleton travels extensively to regions of conflict, including 7 trips to Iraq. He speaks extensively at national and international forums, serves as an expert witness, and works as a tireless advocate for peace and justice.

Denis Halliday: Served at the United Nations for 34 years. He was appointed the first UN Humanitarian Aid Coordinator for the Oil for Food Program (OFP) in Iraq which was developed in conjunction with the UN sanctions against Iraq. After serving for over one year, Halliday resigned as OFP coordinator as well as from the UN in protest of the effects that the sanctions have had on the Iraqi people.

Ed Herman: Professor Emeritus of Finance, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is an accomplished and extensively published author. His books include: Corporate Control, Corporate Power; The Political Economy of Human Rights (2 vols, with Noam Chomsky); Manufacturing Consent (with Noam Chomsky); and the Myth of the Liberal Media.

Dr. Marc Herold: Associate Professor of Economics and Women's Studies at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Herold has been published extensively. Among his works, Dr. Herold conducted a study documenting civilian deaths caused by the U.S. war on Afghanistan and found the number to be more than 3,700. His research formed the backbone for articles in the Wall Street Journal and other national papers.

Marwan Kreidie: is a native of Lebanon and has been active for many years around the issue of Palestinian rights. He works with the Philadelphia branch of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Philadelphia Arab-American Association. He currently is the director of the Arab American Community Development Corporation.

Maria Lemos: is a native of Colombia and is currently a graduate student at U Penn pursuing a PhD in immunology. During the past 5 years Maria has been involved in human rights delegations to Guatemala, Cuba, and Colombia, and has been actively working to address US foreign policy towards Colombia.

Denise Michultka: is a licensed psychologist who has worked with the Survivors of war trauma and torture for the past 15 years. She is currently the Director of the Liberty Center for Survivors of Torture in Philadelphia. Dr. Michultka is the co-coordinator of the Corazon de Quetzal/International Mayan League: Philadelphia Chapter and has worked extensively on Central American issues since 1985.

Kristina Olsen: lost her sister in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. She has been an integral part of the formation of "Peaceful Tomorrows," a group made up of 9/11 victims families who are speaking out against the war on terrorism. She has traveled on delegations to Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11. Kristina is also an accomplished musician who uses her music and experiences to bring about greater peace and justice.

Linda Panetta: is the founder of School of the Americas Watch/ Northeast in Philadelphia and an accomplished photojournalist. She has been working on issues in Latin America for the past 17 years and has recently traveled to Colombia, Afghanistan and Iraq to document and expose the US exploits of the "War on Terrorism."

Ben Waxman: is co-founder and coordinator of Unite for Peace, a grassroots interfaith network for peace and justice. Ben also works with Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty, a direct action group that works against capital punishment.

PLANNED TEACH-IN TOPICS:
> War being waged against the people of Iraq, what it means to the global community if Bush pursues his plans, and how do we respond/ work for peace.
> AFL-CIO: garment and sweatshop issues in Latin America and the role of labor in the anti-war movement.
> School of the Americas; US-based terrorist training, the "War on Drugs," and the crisis in Colombia.
> Responses to 9/11 and the present role of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq (from family members of people killed on 9/11).
> Selling U.S. oil policy and the role of the media in propagating war.
> Veterans Speak Out! Gulf War Syndrome and the effects of depleted uranium.
> Survivors of torture work for the end of impunity and the advancement of human rights.
> Slides and first-hand Witness from Afghanistan/Iraq/Colombia.
> The Patriot Act and our disappearing Civil Rights.
> Civilian toll of war in Afghanistan

In addition... Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Linda Panetta will be doing a speaking tour in the NJ / PA region from March 24 - 28. If you are interested in hosting them at your school or in your community please contact SOA Watch/NE at 215-473-2162 or 215-477-5892

Partial List of March 22 / 23 Co-Sponsors:

Amnesty Int'l - Univ. of Penn
A-Space
Boyle Energy
Brandywine Peace Community
Bread and Roses Community Fund
Bryn Mawr College - One World
Bryn Mawr Peace Coalition
Cabrini College
CATA/Farmworkers Support Committee
Call to Action
Catholic Coalition for Justice & Peace
Catholic Peace Fellowship
COMEY Institute Labor Relations/St. Joseph's Univ.
Delco Pledge
Drexel Uuniversity TV
Global Importune, Inc.
Good Shepherd Mediation Program
Green Street Friends Meeting
Guatemala Support Network
Haverford College - Left Out
House of Grace
International Mayan League
Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
Jobs With Justice
Latin Amer. Task Force--Main Line Unitarian Church
Martha House Catholic Worker
Maryknoll Missioners
Mishkan Shalom-Tikkun Olam Committee
Peacekeepers Action Network
Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network (PRAWN)
Project H.O.M.E.
Redemptorist Volunteer Ministry
Romero Interfaith Center
Signs By Tomorrow
Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Saint Joseph
Sisters of Saint Francis-Philadelphia
Spiral Q
St. Francis Inn
St. Joseph's University Campus Ministry
St. Malachy's Church
St. Vincent DePaul Church-Peace and Justice Committee
Students Against Sweatshops/Univ. of Penn
Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
The Simple Way
UFCW Local 1776
University of Pennsylvania
U.S.- El Salvador Sister Cities
Veterans For Peace
Villanova Univ. Cntr for Peace & Justice
White Dog Café
Women In Black
Women's Int'l League for Peace & Freedom
Wooden Shoe Books

Directions to the Tabernacle Church / Art Museum
Recent photos from Iraq (Jan 2003)
Home Page