2005 SOA Watch/NE Schedule of Events

Click on the flier to learn more about the solidarity outreach we are doing with El Salvador

SOA Watch / NE
Fundraising* Potluck & Presentation
Tuesday, April 4

6:30 pm Potluck Dinner
7:30 pm Presentation (& photos) by

Fr. Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta

Roy & Linda - having just returned from several weeks in Argentina & Uruguay (Roy will also be visiting Venezuela)
- will give updates and show slides from their trip.

Bring your favorite dish, dessert, salad or anything else you would
like to share. Invite friends / bring your students.

Please RSVP: (215) 473-2162 to let us know what you will be bringing & how many will be attending.

Location: Jean Donovan CPC (6367 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia)

Funds raised at the April 4th event will go towards delegation* expenses. This includes the cost of printing photos taken during the trip which we will send back to the communities that we meet with during our travels to Argentina & Uruguay; they will also be used to educate and advocate for human rights in the US. Providing photos to communities has always been a very important part of our work. They not only serve as memorabilia, but are also used as organizing resources and documentation in support of social, economic, environmental and human rights. Please consider sending in a donation if you are unable to attend the April 4 event.

*The focus of the delegation will include: Meeting with human rights groups to advocate with them to lobby their governments to stop sending soldiers to be trained at the SOA/WHINSEC; meeting with government officials to request the same. Offer support and solidarity for independent media groups, and participate in strategizing with a variety of social movements for economic and social change.

In Argentina we will participate in commemoration activities, cultural events and rallies to mark the 30th anniversary (March 24) of the military coup in that country which resulted in over 30,000 people being killed and disappeared. We will meet with various groups as a follow up to the Summit of the Americas meeting that took place in Mar del Plata last November. A few other highlights include collaborating with youth involved in cultural work and circus performances, and connecting with worker movements and cooperatives. Among our initiatives will also be offering support and solidarity for the heroic work being done by torture survivor, Patricia Isasa.

SOA Watch Northeast & Optical Realities Tour:
* To organize a talk or schedule a photo exhibit call: (215) 473-2162 *

Romero Vive! ... Close the SOA March Regional Speaking Tour (partial schedule)
Speakers: Fr. Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta
Wed. March 16 - 7:30 PM
University of Pennsylvania - Newman Center
For more info contact Sue Hart: (215) 898-7575

Thursday, March 17:
Chestnut Hill College 9:30 AM - contact Marie Conn: (215) 248-7044
Rosemont College 11:30 PM - contact Robert Mulvihill: (mulvihill@rosemont.edu)
Villanova University 4:00 PM - contact Carol Anthony: (carol.anthony@villanova.edu)

Rally & Music: 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Location: 6th & Arch at the Constitution Center

St Mary's Episcopal Church (Ardmore, PA)
Sun. March 13, 2005 - 9:30 AM
Linda Panetta will give a slide presentation and speak about her experiences in
Latin America, Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti. For more info contact: (610) 649-1486

Akiba Hebrew Academy (Merion, PA) - Human Rights Conference
Thrs. March 10, 2005
2 presentations beginning at 10:30 AM
For more info contact: Yael (Yael.tarshish@gmail.com)

A.C.T. - Active & Compassionate Teens
Annual Social Justice Conference - Tatnall School - Wilmington, DE
Sat. March 5, 2005
Linda Panetta will be the keynote Speaker at this event scheduled for 2:00 PM
For more info contact: Katie Ball (kbgym13@aol.com)

Thursday, Feb 23
London Public Library - Wolf Auditorium (London, ON)
7:15 - 8:45 PM
Contact: Mark Konrad (519) 434-2553
globalimportune@sympatico.ca

Friday, Feb 24
St. Michael Catholic's School (Kitchener, ON)
8:22 AM - 2:25 PM
Contact: Dwyer Sullivan (519) 570-1323
teamwork@golden.net

Friday, Feb 24 - evening
Stirling Mennonite Church (Kitchener, ON)
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Contact: Dwyer Sullivan

Saturday, Feb 24
University of Waterloo (Kitchener, ON)
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Contact: Ray Applebaum
Rapple1635@rogers.com

Monday, Feb 28
Cardinal Leger Secondary School Library (Brampton, ON)
8:22 AM - 2:25 PM
Contact: Ann Murphy (905) 450-1344
jack.murphy@rogers.com

Monday, Feb 28 - evening
Cardinal Leger Secondary School Library (Brampton, ON)
7:30 PM - 9:15 PM
St. Marys Parish Social Action
Contact: Barry Aucott (905) 846-9382
bjaucott@hotmail.com

Tuesday, March 1
Robert F Hall Secondary School
8:22 AM - 2:25 PM
Contact: Gary Connolly (905) 846-5461
conollyparents@hotmail.com

Wednesday, March 2
Cardinal Carter School of the Arts (Toronto, ON)
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM
Contact: Marilyn Grace (416) 393-5556 ext. 80754
Marilyn.grace@tcdsb.org

Mother Teresa Secondary School (Scarborough, ON)
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM
Contact: Dave Szollosy
david.szollosy@tcdsb.org

Wednesday, March 2 - evening
International Student Center at the University of Toronto
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Student Christian Movement
Contact: Hoi Ning (416) 985-9699

Thursday, March 3
Rockway Mennonite
10:15 AM - 11:15 am
Contact: Dwyer Sullivan (519) 570-1323
teamwork@golden.net

Mons. Doyle Secondary School (Cambridge, ON)
11:50 AM - 1:10 PM
Contact: Ed Wyse (519) 624-6232
wyseones@sympatico

"Party for Peace
in the Pink Light District"
(3420 Sansom Street, Philly)

SOA Watch/NE Speaking Tour
March 15 - 18, 2005
Fr. Roy Bourgeois (Founder of SOA Watch)
Linda Panetta (SOA Watch/NE director and photojournalist) &
Call now to check the date availability and to schedule an engagement.

In addition to addressing the SOA, broader issues such as the "war on terrorism," Iraq, Colombia and Haiti can be covered in the presentations. In the past year Linda has traveled to Iraq, Colombia and Haiti and is able to share slides and photo enlargements which illustrate the affects of war and occupation (to view some of the photos visit: www.soawne.org or www.OpticalRealities.org. Call 215-473-2162 for more information or to schedule a talk.

Rally & Music: 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Location: 6th & Arch at the Constitution Center

[ At approximately 2:00 pm we will process to 4th & Arch and join the
memorial walk against the war in Iraq ]

Join Us in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Archbishop Romero's Assassination & to Call for an End to the War in Iraq!

Let Your Voice Be Heard…
No More Victims! No to Impunity! End the Occupation of Iraq! Ya Basta!
Yes! to Closing Down the US Terrorist Training Facility - the SOA / WHINSEC!

SOA Watch/NE - 2004 Holiday Celebration/Potluck

Saturday, December 18, 2004
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Jean Donovan Community Peace Center (JDCPC)
6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia
For directions visit: www.soawne.org/6367.html

Now, more than ever, we must come together and redouble our efforts to work for peace, and to celebrate our collective efforts to affect change and work for justice worldwide!

Join us on Dec. 18 to share a meal, celebrate friendship, solidarity and the holiday season.

Need a Holiday gift? Just in from our sister-community in N. Guatemala… we have an assortment of handcrafted weavings that the Copala community shipped us just in time for our party. All proceeds are returned to the women of Copala to support their educational programs and health clinic.

Also > beautifully colored photos taken recently in Chiapas, as well as never before seen photos from Afghanistan will be displayed and available for purchase. A selection of prints from Iraq, Guatemala, and the jungles of N. Colombia will also make a wonderful gift for the holidays. Several smaller (8x12) prints from the SOA protests will also be exhibited and available for purchase.

To view a partial selection of photos visit: www.OpticalRealities.org - you can also order a print in advance (for example: photos of children at play in Haiti) to be sure you have your holiday gift - All purchases can be tax deductible and support our ongoing work!

We invite you to bring your favorite holiday casserole, salad, dessert, bread, or beverage to our potluck. Please RSVP at (215) 477-5892 with your name, the number of people coming, and what you are bringing to share. Please bring family and friends - children are most welcome!

We look forward to an evening of great conversation, delicious food and lively music
- bring your voices, musical instruments and favorite songs & carols! -

Mark your calendar and we look forward to seeing you ~ Peace & Joy Always!

Rally to Close the School of the Americas/WHISC
Commemorating the life of Archbishop Romero and all Martyrs*

(*On March 24, 1980, human rights champion, Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, was targeted and assassinated by graduates of the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA) - located at Fort Benning, GA and renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC)).

Join with labor, students, people of faith, and peace activists from around the region to commemorate his life, to remember all victims of terrorism and oppression, and to demand an end to all forms of violence!

Let Your Voice Be Heard… No More Victims! No to Impunity! Ya Basta!
Yes! to Closing Down the US Terrorist Training Facility - the SOA / WHISC!

What a line-up we have!!!

R & B sensation the Chestnut Brothers will have you singing and dancing to many of their great hits, including "Stop the Violence"; Ollin Yoliztli (meaning the blood moving through the heart), an Aztec Dance Troupe comprised of immigrant workers, will perform traditional and sacred dances from Mexico, and a Mayan Blessing will be offered by Genaro Jacinto Calel.

Speakers:

Fr. Roy Bourgeois: Founder of School of the Americas Watch. Vietnam Veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart. 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.

Bishop Tom Gumbleton: (Detroit, MI) Served as the President of Bread for the World for 8 years and is the founding President of Pax Christi, USA. He travels extensively working on human rights issues, including 8 trips to Iraq, a recent trip in December to Colombia, and repeatedly serves as an expert witness defending civil/human rights.

Michael Hoffman: Recently returned from serving in Iraq with the Marines. Current member of Veterans for Peace; is a student activist and outspoken critic of the war in Iraq.

Maria Lemos: A native of Colombia she worked with homeless children in a recovery program designed to reduce violence and drug/alcohol addiction. In Guatemala, she interviewed Queqchi communities collecting testimonies of massacres they suffered.

Robert McIlvaine: Steering Committee member of Sept 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. His son Bobby was killed on 9/11/01. Robert is a former teacher of the Acute Care Facility of Crozer-Chester Hospital where he worked with children and adolescence. Robert has spoken extensively about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dr. Denise Michultka: A licensed psychologist, she has worked with survivors of war trauma & torture for 16 years. She is currently the Director of Liberty Center for Survivors of Torture in Philly and the co-coordinator of the Corazon de Quetzal/Int'l Mayan League (Philly).

Linda Panetta: Founder of SOA Watch/NE and is an accomplished photojournalist. She has been working on issues in Latin America for the past 17 years and recently traveled to Afghanistan (2002) , jungles of N. Colombia (Dec. 2003) and Iraq (Jan 2004) to document and expose the US exploits of the "War on Terrorism."

Sheila Webb-Halpern: Regional student outreach coordinator. This past November Sheila helped to coordinate dozens of students from the Philly region to go to the Ft. Benning protest.

Wendell Young III: President of UFCW Local 1776. Mr. Young has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy. He has for years defended the rights of workers regionally, nationally, and throughout Latin America.

Not Yet A Co-Sponsor? Please let us know if your group, or an affiliate organization would like to become a sponsor for the event. Contact SOA Watch/NE: 215-477-5892 or 215-473-2162.

Partial List of Co-Sponsors:

AFSCME District 47, Thomas Paine Cronin, President
American Friends Service Committee
Boyle Energy
Brandywine Peace Community
Bryn Mawr - One World
Cabrini College
Call to Action
Catholic Peace Fellowship
CATA/Farmworkers Support Committee
Catholic Coalition for Justice and Peace
Christian Association - UPenn
Central Jersey Coalition for Peace & Justice
Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
Delaware County Pledge of Resistance
El Salvador Sister Cities- Los Amates & the Garden State
Green Party of Philadelphia
Guatemala Support Network
Haverford - Students Towards a New Democracy (STAND)
House of Grace Catholic Worker
International Mayan League
Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
Jobs with Justice
Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concert (LAPOCO)
Long Island-School of Americas Watch
Mariposa Outreach Project
Martha House Catholic Worker
Maryknoll Lay Missioners
Mishkan Shalom
Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary
Optical Realities Photography
Pax Christi - Monmouth County
Peacekeepers Action Network
Philadelphia Catholic Worker
Progressive Student Alliance of NJ
Romero Center (Camden)
Romero Interfaith Center
Rowan University - Progressive Student Alliance
St. Anselm's Church-Social Justice Committee
St. Malachy’s Parish
St. Vincent's Church - Peace & Justice Committee
School of the Americas Watch/NE
Student Environmental Action Center
the Simple Way
Sisters of St. Joseph's
Sisters of Mercy
Spiral Q
UFCW Local 1776
U.S.- El Salvador Sister Cities
Veterans For Peace
Women in Black
Women's Int'l League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF) - Philly
White Dog Café
Wooden Shoe Books

SOA Watch/Northeast ~ 6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia, PA 19151
(215) 477-5892 / (215) 473-2162

It’s that time of year again when friends, old and new, gather to share a meal, to
celebrate friendship, solidarity, and the holiday season. We come together as a community dedicated to working for peace, and to celebrate our collective efforts to effect change and work for justice worldwide.

Need a Holiday gift? Photos from Afghanistan, Iraq, Guatemala, and Colombia will be exhibited and for sale during the potluck. To view a selection of photos visit: www.OpticalRealities.org We also hope to have an assortment of Guatemalan weaving shipped to us in time for the gathering. All proceeds are returned to our sister community in Northern Guatemala - Copala - to support their educational programs and health clinic.

We invite you to bring your favorite holiday casserole, salad, dessert, bread, or beverage to our potluck. Please RSVP at (215) 477-5892 with your name, the number of people coming, and what you are bringing to share. Please bring family and friends - children are most welcome!

We look forward to an evening of great conversation, delicious food and lively music
- bring your voices, musical instruments and favorite songs & carols!

Friday, December 19, 2003
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Jean Donovan Community Peace Center (JDCPC)
6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia
For directions visit: www.soawne.org/6367.html

Mark your calendar and we look forward to seeing you!!!
Peace & Joy!

We ask that you register in advance for the Strategy Meeting! Call us at: 215/473-2162

We have been getting lots of great feedback regarding the upcoming strategy meeting and the organizing committee has been hard at work pulling together your comments and suggestions in preparation. The date and agenda changes reflect the requests and recommendations from student and local organizers. While the strategizing meeting will serve as a preliminary focus group for a larger strategy meeting to be held in 2004, the nonviolence training is focused for people intending to make the trip down to Fort Benning this November.

The primary agenda points for the strategy session will focus on discussing the future of the SOAW movement (namely, how to launch a more effective campaign-especially with Congress, evaluating our strengths and weaknesses, and setting an agenda for early spring 2004 meeting). As a movement, we want to increase our effectiveness in closing the SOA in addition to working on related issues such as Colombia and the “War on Drugs” and the omnipresent “War on Terrorism.”

We are hoping that as many local organizers as possible can attend. If you are unavailable, we encourage you to recruit others from your region to attend this very important meeting. Please contact us as soon as possible regarding your availability so we can begin to plan for the weekend.

SOA Watch/NE & the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
Invites You to Our Fall Potluck Party & Fall Fundraiser
Weather permitting--it'll be an outdoor barbeque, otherwise we'll be indoors!

Photo Exhibit / Auction by:

Linda Panetta
“Collateral Damage” (Afghanistan, 2002)
& “Portraits of Iraq” (Iraq, 2003)
&
John Grant
“Latin American Legacy” (Late 1980's early 90's)
& "Return to Vietnam" (2002)

Special Guests will include:
Fr. Roy Bourgeois - Founder of SOA Watch
& Robert McIlvaine- Board member of Peaceful Tomorrows...
Family Members of September 11th Victims (his son was killed on 9/11).

- R&B Music by the Chestnut Brothers -

Bring your satirical poetry to share,
as well as instruments to play.

Please extend the invitation to your friends,
family, comrades & compadres!

As mentioned, weather permitting, we will hold the event in our
backyard, so PLEASE bring an extra layer to throw on after the sun sets!

For More Information Contact:
SOA Watch / Northeast
6367 Overbrook Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151
For directions visit: www.soawne.org/6367.html
or call: (215) 473-2162

Saturday, May 31, 2003
SOA Watch/NE & the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
Invites You to Our Summer Backyard Bash
Potluck / Barbeque!
Bring along Friends, Family and Kids!
Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM
Location: 6367 Overbrook Ave., Philadelphia
(Click on address for directions)

July 20 -31 Delegation to Argentina
Sponsored by SOA Watch, Argentina Autonomist Project & ASEJ

Saturday / Sunday March 22-23 Workshops / Rally / March
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." (For a complete list of presenters and workshops click here).

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 on Sunday, March 23. The rally will be followed by a march, led by the incredible music of acclaimed folk musicians Pat Humphries, Sandy Opatow, Kristina Olsen and the Sing it Down duo of Jolie Christine Rickman and Colleen Kattau. 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 - 1:00 PM:
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 approximtely 6:30 PM

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

PLANNED TEACH-IN TOPICS:
> War being waged against the people of Iraq, what it means to the global community if Bush persues 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, 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

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

Holiday Celebration at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
(AKA: The Maryknoll House)
Saturday, December 14, 2002
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

It's that time of year again when friends, old and new, gather to share a meal, to celebrate friendship, solidarity, and the holiday season. We come together, as a community dedicated to working for peace and justice, to give thanks for a year overflowing with joy, struggle and abundant blessings.

We invite you to bring your favorite casserole, salad, dessert, bread, or beverage to our potluck. Please RSVP at (215) 477-5892 with your name, the number of people coming, and what you are bringing to share. Please bring family and friends - children are most welcome!

We look forward to an evening of great conversation, delicious food and lively music - bring your voices, musical instruments and favorite songs and Christmas carols

Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia
for directions visit: www.soawne.org/6367.html

November 15-17, 2002 in Columbus, Ga (Joining us will be the Indigo Girls! - Amy Ray is photographed above)
Join us for three incredible days of inspiring music, testimonies, and resistance at the gates of Ft. Benning, home of the School of the Assassins/WHISC. SOA Watch/NE is helping to organize student groups, church groups, and individuals to travel to Ft. Benning. We will advise on flights, arrangements for transportation to and from the airport, hotel reservations, as well as help organize carpooling and information for buses leaving from the Phila. area for Georgia. In collaboration with the White Dog Café, a group will depart from the Phila. airport on Friday, Nov. 15 and return early Monday morning (Nov. 18). We currently have rooms reserved, but they are going fast! In addition, in collaboration with St. Vincent's Church a bus delegation will leave Phila. Friday night and return early Monday morning. For more information on the bus delegation, contact Joe Clay at 215.248.3563, or email him at jvfc3@msn.com. For information on the protest, or how to get involved in organizing against the SOA, please contact SOAWatch/NE at 215.477.5892 / 215.473-2162 or info@soawne.org

Colombia, Terrorism and the School of the Americas (Various venues listed below):
Join Linda Panetta, founder and director of SOA Watch/NE, as she explores the School of the Americas and its role in terrorism and specifically, Colombia. Rarely seen slides will document the extent of the violence and environmental devestation occurring in Colombia.

Haverford College, Chase Auditorium
Thursday, October 24
7:00 SOA Videos
8:00 Presentation & discussion
For more info please contact: Sheila Webb-Halpern 610.526.5831

The oldest, continually running, co-educational, Quaker boarding school in the country is pleased to welcome Linda Panetta as a speaker for our Friday afternoon assembly, October 25, 2002. The talk will be on Colombia and the School of the Americas: Terrorism and our tax dollars abroad. Westtown School is located in the heart of Chester County, Pennsylvania. For more information contact Melissa Schoerke 610. 399.0123

Univ. of Pennsylvania
Thursday, November 7
(Tentative) Location: 39th & Locust - Civic House
Contact: Amy (215) 386-3089 or Jessica (215) 760-7554

Ramapo College
Friday, November 8
For more info contact: John 201.684.7223

Nonviolence Training
Sunday, November 3
10:30 am - 4:00 pm
Founders Common Room
Haverford College

Sunday, November 10
11 AM - 4 PM
Saint Joseph's University
Contact SOAW/NE for more information (215) 477-5892

Join SOA Watch/NE as we prepare for the vigil at Ft. Benning. The nonviolence training is a must for all who plan on attending the protest in Georgia. This training will cover more deeply the philosophy of nonviolence as it pertains to the movement to shut down the SOA; effective group organizational strategies; nonviolent responses to several possible scenarios; and civil disobedience. This training is meant to be educational, uplifting and fun for all! Contact Sheila Webb-Halpern at Bryn Mawr College for more information (610.585.1831 - swebbhal@brynmawr.edu).

Ballet Foklorico CUTUMBA (Santiago de Cuba)
Potluck* & Fiesta!
Jean Donovan Community Peace Center (click for directions)
Sunday, November 10
5:30 pm - 8 pm

Festival Cubano proudly presents in its Philadelphia debut of the Ballet Folklorico Cutumba from Santiago de Cuba. This internationally renowned folkloric group has for over thirty years been researching, collecting, conserving, revitalizing, and performing the folkloric manifestations of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban origin dances found primarily in Cuba's eastern provinces, the "Oriente". The ensemble's choreography demonstrates the folkloric and sacred dance traditions of Gagá, Vodún, Santería, Haitian Merengue, Tumba Francesa, rumba, and son.

Former Mexican Brigadier General & Amnesty Int'l Political Prisoner to speak at the JDCPC!
Jean Donovan Community Peace Center (click for directions)
Friday, November 8 (tentative date)
6:30 pm Potluck / 7:30 Presentation
Former Brigadier General Jose Francisco Gallardo served 8 years in prison for writing an article criticizing the Mexican army in 1992. He will be visiting the United States in December on a speaking tour. Please join us at the JDCPC on Friday evening to hear his incredible testimony! For more info contact: Mark Konrad: globalimportune@earthlink.net or call us at 215.477.5892

H.I.J.O.S. (Children for Identity and Justice against Oblivion and State) to speak at the JDCPC
(Check back for more details)
HIJOS is a human rights organization that is composed of the children of the "detained-disappeared," children of political prisoners, and children of those assasinated or forced into exile by repressive regimes throughout Latin America. School of the Americas Watch/NE joins others throughout the US and the international community to demand that the US governments take responsibility for their involvement in the repression that cost the lives of tens of thousands throughout Latin America. The JDCPC will host members of the HIJOS community in November (dates have not yet been set). For more information about HIJOS, visit their website at www.hijos.org, or email them at hijosvancouver@hotmail.com.

WAKE UP EARLY TO TELL DICK CHENEY NO WAR AGAINST IRAQ
Friday, October 25th at 8am
College Green, 34th and Locust, U Penn

Vice President Dick Cheney will be at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday morning October 25th, in
order to speak to a closed reception and inaugurate a $140 million dollar academic building (Huntsman Hall of the Wharton School). Meanwhile, citizens, veterans, students, faculty and visitors from all over the mid-Atlantic will protest Cheney's pro-war policies and his efforts to obscure the deteriorating economy and eroding civil liberties behind an destructive march to war.

Join Penn for Peace, the Campaign to End the Sanctions, the DeClerye Collective and people from all
over the East Coast to protest the most powerful (and secretive) vice-president in U.S. history.

The gathering will include speakers (to be announced), music, and a march to 38th and Walnut St. at 8:30 am. The protest will end between 9:30 and 10 am. For more information, visit www.pennforpeace.org or email at welcomecheney@yahoo.com. Also, join us for a forum about Dick Cheney on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd at 6:30 pm, at the Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce.

SOA Watch/NE February Speaking Tour:
Join Linda Panetta on the road to hear about the SOA & Colombia
Tuesday, February 5
(Pittsburgh -- schedule is still tentative)

Wednesday, Feb. 6
9:30 - 11:15 AM: Lakewood HS (Cleveland)
1:00 - 3:00 PM: St Edwards HS

Thursday, Feb. 7
9:45 AM: Walsh University
5:00 PM: University of Akron (Contact Terry (330-940-2293))
9:00 PM: Wooster College

Friday, Feb. 8
12:00-3:00: Our Lady of the Elms HS (Contact Sr. Mary Ellen 330-670-8110)
6:30 PM: IRTF Potluck & Presentation (Contact Chris 216-961-0003)

Sunday, Feb 10
10:00 AM -1:00 PM: Dominican Sisters / Our Lady of the Elms Parish
4:00 PM: Univ. of Pittsburgh (Sponsored by the Thomas Merton Center & W. PA Coalition to close the SOA (Contact: Tim 412-361-3022)

Monday, Feb 11
7:00 PM: Kent State University (Contact Meagan 330-676-1943)

20 Year Anniversary of the El Mozote Massacre
Candlelight Vigil in Philadelphia
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
5:00 pm- 7:00 pm ~ City Hall

More than 900 civilians were raped, tortured and executed in the small village of El Mozote, El Salvador. A UN Truth Commission identified 10 of the 12 officers responsible for this massacre as soldiers trained at the SOA. Please stand vigil with us to say Basta... No Mas! Not in our name will these atrocities continue! For more information call: 215 / 477-5892

Holiday Celebration at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
(AKA: The Maryknoll House)
Saturday, December 15, 2001
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

It's that time of year again when friends, old and new, gather to share a meal, to celebrate friendship, solidarity, and the holiday season. We come together, as a community dedicated to working for peace and justice, to give thanks for a year overflowing with joy, struggle and abundant blessings.

This year we are asking you to bring a gift with a value of up to $10 (including handcrafted items) to be used for a Pollyanna.

We look forward to an evening of great conversation, delicious food and lively music - bring your voices, musical instruments and favorite songs and Christmas carols

Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
6367 Overbrook Ave ~ Philadelphia
for directions visit: www.soawne.org/6367.html

Hear from activists who took part in the construction of the Global Village at the gates of the Fort Benning military base and the following successful Jail/Court Solidarity Action. (Jail/Court Solidarity: The activists refused to give their names and to sign out of jail. By engaging in non-cooperation tactics, they used their collective power to negotiate with the authorities and ensured that no one was singled out.)

Also, live Music by Solstice and the screening of "A Place Called Chiapas" (a powerful documentary about the Zapatista Rebellion in the Southeast Mexicos) - admission is free!
For more information call: 215 / 477-5892

Tuesday, November 6 ~ 12:00 PM
Presentation on the SOA & Colombia by Linda Panetta
Lafayette University
For more information contact Fidel: (610) 330-4752

Wednesday, November 7 ~ Potluck - 6:00 PM / Discussion - 7:00 PM
Preparations for Ft. Benning
Martha House Catholic Worker, Germantown
Contact Liz Waugh: (215) 849-3938

Thursday, November 8 ~ 7:00 PM
History of the SOA/movement to close the school & current reality in
Colombia. (Presentation by Linda Panetta (with slides))
Holy Redeemer Church
Contact Eileen: (215) 914-4116

Friday, November 9 ~ 7:30 PM
Democratic Socialists of America Fund presents:
"Justice for All: Panel Discussion on Politics and Peace After September 11"
Arch St. Meeting House, 4th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia

Featuring: Bill Fletcher: Co-Convener, Black Radical Congress; Harold
Meyerson: Executive Editor, American Prospect; Linda Panetta: Director, SOA Watch NE;
and Cornel West: Theologian, author, activist.
For more information contact: (215) 351-0151

Co-sponsored by Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, Univ. Of Penn, Swarthmore College, & Muhlenberg College

Location: Haverford College (370 Lancaster Ave.) ~ Founders Building ~ the "Common Room"
Contact Shelia: (610) 526-5831 or SOA Watch/NE: (215) 477-5892

Co-sponsored by Fordham University, Manhattan College, Colombia University, St. Peter’s College

Location: Fordham University ~ McGinley Center (Bronx, NY)
For directions visit: www.fordham.edu/newyork/dirmaps2.html (Parking area "A")
For additional information contact Eric: (718) 817-4510 or SOA Watch/NE: (215) 477-5892

The Temple Progressive Students' Alliance is holding a teach-in entitled:
"Why War? Reasons, Reponses, and Repercussions"
Location: Bell Tower, Berks Mall Between 11th and 12th

Speakers will include: Rev. Isaac Miller, Pastor, Church of the Advocate: The Global Wealth Gap: Economic Terrorists; Linda Panetta, SOA Watch/NE: Enduring Freedom for Whom?: US Support of military regimes abroad; Justin Vitiello: Is the end in sight?: Repercussions of unclear objectives in the “war on terrorism.

Event to be followed by workshops on 11/19, 11/20, and 11/26 on ending third world debt, on ending US training and support of military regimes, and on ending the “war on terrorism” in Afghanistan and the Philippines.

For more information contact Robert T. O'Brien: 215.729.2958 Department of Anthropology, Temple University

** SOA Watch/NE Co-sponsored Events:
Buckingham Friends "Peace Fair" (Peddler's Village, Lahaska, PA)
Saturday, October 6
For More Information Contact JoAnn Seaver (215) 438 - 6106

Willow Grove Air Show Peace Presence
Saturday & Sunday, September 8 - 9
For More Information Contact : the Catholic Worker Houses: (215) 849-3938 or (610) 426-0364

Sept. 27 - 30 COLOMBIA MOBILIZATION / PROTESTS in WASHINGTON, DC:
Many of the events for these days have been postponed or changed.
* The IMF & World Bank Meetings were canceled!

"NO MAS!" SOA Watch/NE
Protest / Commemoration in Philadelphia
Saturday, March 24
Location: Love Park ~ 15th and 16th & JFK
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Speakers will include: Fr. Roy Bourgeois ~ Founder, SOA Watch
Magda Enriquez Beitler ~ Former Roving Ambassador of Nicaragua
Wendell Young ~ Vice Prez Int'l UFCW Union
Thomas Paine Cronin ~ Prez AFSCME DC 47 (pending)
Student Leaders from USAS
Music by: Sing It Down, Genero Jacinto Calel, the "Common Ground" Dance Ensemble
(West African-inspired percussion and student dance troup from Warren Wilson College) ... & Others!
Benefit Dinner: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Dinner Location: First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street
(Free parking at the DLC Parking lot -21st & Ludlow)

Co-sponsors: SOA Watch/NE, White Dog Cafe, Jean Donovan Community Peace Center, Peacekeepers Action Network, Guatemala Support Network, Students Against Sweatshops/Univ. of Penn, Romero Interfaith Center, Veterans for Peace, UFCW Local 1776, Int’l Mayan League, Green Street Friends Meeting, House of Grace Catholic Worker, Student Peace Action Network/Bryn Mawr College, Colombia Support Network, Catholic Peace Fellowship, Women’s Int’l League for Peace & Freedom, Srs. of Mercy, the simple way, St. Joseph’s Coalition for Justice, Srs. of St. Francis, St. Vincent DePaul Church, St. Malachy’s Church, Pax Christi NJ, Amnesty Int’l/Univ. of Penn, Commission for Justice/Srs. of St. Joseph, Call to Action, Philadelphia Catholic Worker, U.S.- El Salvador Sister Cities, Brandywine Peace Community, Global Importune, R2K Legal Collective, Martha House Catholic Worker, Delco Pledge, Philadelphia Direct Action Group, Witness for Peace/Mid-Atlantic/Phila./& Lancaster Chapters, Villanova Center for Peace & Justice, Redemptorist Volunteer Ministry, COMEY Institute Labor Relations/St. Joseph’s University, St. Francis Inn, American Friends Service Committee, Germantown Friends High School, Mishkan Shalom, Maryknoll Missioners, Drexel University TV, Latin American Task Force of the Main Line Unitarian Church, The Grail, Telequest Film/Studios, Rosemont College, Augustinian Justice & Peace Center of Villanova, the Wooden Shoe, A-Space, CATA/Farmworkers Support Committee, Jobs With Justice, Amnesty Int'l Group 543, Leaven House.
Contact SOA Watch/NE for more info or to co-sponsor! (215) 473-2162

Regional Speaking Tour*
with Fr. Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta
March 20 - 23
*(Accompanied by the “Common Ground” Dance Ensemble (March 23-24))

Wednesday, March 21:
White Dog Cafe (8:00 - 10:00 AM)
Temple University (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM)
Chestnut Hill College (2:00 - 4:00 PM)

Thursday, March 22:
Rosemont College (9:00 - 10:00 AM)
Villanova University (10:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
Bryn Mawr College (7:00 - 9:00 PM)

Friday, March 23:
Bishop Eustace High School (8:30 - 11:00 AM)
La Salle University: (1:00 - 2:30 PM)
University of Penn (*4:00 - 6:00 PM) *revised event time

"Human Rights In Colombia"
Potluck / Presentation at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
Monday, March 26
Colombian grassroots leaders: Regulo Madero (President of the human rights organization CREDHOS and focusing on Barrancabermeja), and Carlos Alberto Palacios (organizer of the "Putumayo Project of Peaceful Coexistence" and expert on the fumigations) will discuss the effects of "Plan Colombia," US intervention and human rights.
Potluck: 6:00 PM / Presentation: 7:00 PM
(for an article and recent photos of the fumigations click here)

SOA Watch/NE - SalAMI Nonviolence Training
Tuesday, March 6
6:30 - 9:00 PM
Location: St. Joseph's University ~ the "North Lounge" in the Campion Building

Directions: From route 76: Go South on City Line Ave (Route 1) to 54th street. Next light will be Lapsley Lane, then Cardinal Avenue. Turn left on Cardinal Ave., and left into the parking lot. Campion building will be directly in front of you. Walk to the right and go around the building until you reach the entrance. North Lounge will be on the 2nd floor. For more detailed directions contact St. Joseph’s University at: (610) 660-1111 or SOA Watch/NE (215) 473-2162

Potluck /Presentations at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center:
(Formerly called the Maryknoll House)

Saturday, November 4
Daniel Mutul ~ Director of the International Mayan League (of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala) & Filipe and Elena Ixot, Directors of the International Mayan League, USA will give a presentation on Mayan Spirituality, Culture, and Human Rights in Guatamala.
Potluck: 6:30 / Presentation: 7:30 PM

Tuesday, November 14
Alberto Climaco, Vice President of the Directorate of Las Anonas. He was involved in the revolutionary process in El Salvador throughout the war. Five of his children were killed by Salvadoran security forces. Gloria Vilma Ortiz Nunez, has worked estensively with regional women organizations and literacy programs. Together they will discuss the effects of the civil war, as well as the present situation in El Salvador. This event is in collaboration with the Romero Interfaith Center who is responsible for bringing the speakers to the region.
Potluck: 6:00 / Presentation: 7:00 PM

"SOA 5" Trial Date:
Tuesday, December 19
406 CJC: 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia
An SOA Watch presence at the Court House is being organized, please contact us if you would like more information! ~ 215/473-2162

Many Thanks to Musician Bruce Cockburn for His On-going Support of SOA Watch/NE and His Commitment to Educating the Public About the SOA. He has been a Wonderful Voice for the movement and will join us this year at Ft. Benning, Georgia!
~ Please Send him letters of thanks to ...
"True North" 260 Richmond Street, West
Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V1W5

Jorge Luis Sierra:
Friday, Sept. 29 ~ 12 - 1 PM: Vigil at Mexican Consulate (21 South 5th Street)
Saturday, Sept. 30 ~ 3:00 - 8:00 PM : BBQ Potluck at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
(Formerly called the Maryknoll House) For directions, click here!
For all activists, educators, students, and anyone working on, or looking to get involved in issues relating to human rights, demilitarization, sweatshops, and Latin America.
Please join us, along with Jorge Luis Sierra* for an afternoon/evening of music, great food, and collaboration with other activists and educators. Tables will be availble for groups to display literature, and time will be available for individuals
to talk briefly about the work they are involved in—an open discussion will follow.
(Please RSVP to reserve space on a table and to let us know how many/what dishes, desserts, etc you will be bringing. You can also contact SOA Watch for more details about Jorges tour: 215/477-5892)

*Jorge is a journalist and expert on topics of military and national security. He is currently working as a legislative advisor for the Partido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD) party in the Chamber of Representatives in Mexico. Jorge has worked extensively with non-governmental human rights organizations in Mexico and is dedicated to the investigation of the flow of money and weapons across the U.S. - Mexican border and the human rights abuses that have resulted.

Rosario PU:
“Justice & Impunity in Guatemala”
Potluck & Presentation at the Jean Donovan Community Peace Center
(Formerly the Maryknoll House)
Tuesday, October 3 ~ 6:00 - 7:30 (Potluck) 7:30 - 9:00 (Presentation/Discussion)
(Please RSVP to let us know how many/what dishes, desserts, etc you will be bringing.
For more details about Rosario's tour and to RSVP please call: 215/477-5892)

Rosario Pu, long-time Guatemalan human rights activist, will tour the Philadelphia region to address her collaboration with Rigoberto Menchu in the human rights case brought against School of the Americas graduate: Efrain Rios Montt. Rios Montt is the architect of the “scorched earth” policy in Guatemala which resulted in the torture and death of tens of thousands of indigenous people, including the complete elimination of over 626 villages. Montt, who gained power by orchestrating a bloody coup, led thecountry during some of it’s most repressive years. He is currently being indicted on charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” in a case launched by victims of his regime. Despite ongoing death threats, Rosario is committed to seeing that impunity does not prevail! Please support her by attending / organizing a talk in your region. Her tour dates in the Philadelphia region are: Tuesday, October 3 - Wednesday, October 4.

"SOA 8" Court Date:
Saturday, September 16
406 CJC: 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia
An SOA Watch presence at the Court House is being organized, please contact us if you would like more information! ~ 215/473-2162

"War No More" Peace Convergence
On Sunday, July 30, SOA Watch/NE, Fr. Roy Bourgeois, and "Sing it Down," in solidarity with the
"Unity 2000" march, P-DAG, R2K Network and many others, will join forces with thousands of regional
and national voices to speak out against the School of the Americas and related issues such as
sweatshops, militarism, racism, human rights abuses, and unfair labor practices.
Monday, July 31 ~ SOA Watch Direct Action
For more information about the two events, please come to the SOA Watch/NE meeting on
Thursday, July 13 at 7 pm at the Maryknoll House: 6367 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia
(located two blocks from the R5 (Overbrook) stop (which is just one stop west of 30^th Street Station).
To view a local map visit http://www.soawne.org/6367.html

SOA Watch Nonviolence Training... "Train the Trainers"
Chicago, August 4-6
Costs Include Airfare & Accommodations (ranging from $25 - $55/day)
Interested? Give us a call ~ 215/473-2162

SOA Watch/NE & Maryknoll House Summer Barbeque/Potluck
Saturday, July 8 ~ 5 PM - 9 PM
The entire family is welcome!
Call us and let us know how many are coming & what you are bringing: (215) 477-5892

Rally to Close the SOA... New Name - Same Shame!
Wed., May 24 ~ 4:30 - 6 PM ~ City Hall (Market side)
For more information click here!

SOA WATCH RALLY TO CLOSE THE SOA & TO
COMMEMORATE THE LIVES OF
ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO & BISHOP JUAN GERARDI
(Killed by Graduates of the SOA)
When: March 25, 2000
Where: The Steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum
(26th Street & the Ben Franklin Parkway)
Time: 2 PM - 4:30 PM
(Procession to Logan Circle will begin at 4:00)
SOA Watch Benefit Concert: 7:30 PM
Location: Community College of Philadelphia
Guests for the Events will Include:
Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Councilman Angel Ortiz,
Musicians: Tom Paxton, Mick Moloney
"Sing It Down" ~ Colleen Kattau & Jolie Rickman ,
Bluegrass Performer ~ Steve Jacobs
& Political Satirist Dave Littman

POTLUCK & PRESENTATION
by Efrian Pena & Rebecca Saldana
Sunday, March 5
6:00 Potluck 7:00 Presentation
Efrian is a farmworker from Mexico working in Oregon who was fired for
his union activism and support for farmworkers rights.
Rebecca is from Seattle University where she led successful campaigns to
support the NORPAC and Gardernburger boycotts.
Location: the Maryknoll House ~ 6367 Overbrook Ave., Philadelphia
For More Information Contact SOA Watch/NE: (215) 473-2162

SOA WATCH STRATEGY MEETING & DISCUSSION
Led by Fr. Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta
Sunday, February 20 at the Maryknoll House
Dinner (pizza) will begin at 5:30 PM ~ Discussion will follow
RSVP is mandatory if you're planning on attending.
Call SOA Watch/NE at (215) 473-2162

SOA Watch Strategy Meeting
Tuesday, January 11 at 7:00 PM
Location: The Maryknoll House
For more details call (215) 473-2162

SOA Watch Strategy Meeting
Tuesday, December 7 at 7:30 PM
Location: The Maryknoll House
For more details call (215) 473-2162

Christmas Party at the Maryknoll House
Friday, December 10 at 5:30 PM
Guatemala weavings and crafts will be available
Bring a dish to share
Please RSVP to (215) 477-5892

Join Us in Washington, D.C. to Celebrate "Dia de los Muertos...Day of the Dead"
in Support of the Native American Presence for Indigenous Rights &
for Political Prisoner Leonard Peltier.
Saturday, Nov. 6th ~ 2 PM at Lafayette Park, Washington, D.C.

Presentation/Nonviolence Training--Peacekeepers Needed!
November 2, 7 PM: Mary Trotochaud a human rights activist and potter from Atlanta, GA, who was recently released from jail after serving a year in federal prison for protesting the SOA, and Linda Panetta, Director of SOA Watch/NE and Producer of "School of the Americas: An Insider Speaks Out!" will give a presentation on the SOA and nonviolence resistance to social injustices.
Nonviolence Training will Immediately Follow the Presentation at approx. 8 PM. Location: Swarthmore College, PA at Kohlberg Hall ~ for directions contact Ben at (610) 328-0824. For further information contact SOA Watch/NE: (215) 473-2162

October 23: Tony Tenfingers ~ Lakota Healer will give a presentation on Lakota spirituality and educate people on the pipe ceremony. Tony will also speak to the violence which resulted in 60 Natives being killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and the violence at Oglala which ensued.

October 11: (From Colombia) Eulalia Yagari ~ representing the Organization of Indigenous of Antioquia and Embera Vive & (From Guatemala) Juana Tipaz Gonzalez A Mayan Quiche of the Consultative Assembly of the Displaced Populations of Guatemala.
For More Information Call (215) 477-5892

October 4: (From Haiti) Camile Chalmers ~ Executive Director of PAPDA
(Platform for an Alternative Development for Haiti) and (From Chiapas, Mexico) Gustavo Castro Soto ~ An International Policy Analyst of CIEPAC (Economic and Political Research Center for Community Action)

Bruce Cockburn Concert
SOA Watch/NE will table the concert
Tuesday, September 21, in Westmont, New Jersey.
For additonal details call SOA Watch/NE (215) 473-2162

"Columbus Day" Rally to Support the Rights of Indigenous Peoples &
to Close the SOA!
Location: In front of the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia
October 11 ~ 12:00 Noon
Speakers will include:
Philadelphia City Councilman Angel Ortiz
Eulialia Yagari (from Colombia) ~ A leader of the Indigenous Rights Organization: Embera-Chami and a State Assembly Rep. of Antioquia, Colombia
Juana Tipaz Gonzalez (from Guatemala) ~ A Maya Quiche & Popular Movement Leader for the Displaced Peoples of Guatemala
Rick Pouliot ~ A Native American from the Abenaki Nation and an outspoken Activist on Indigenous Rights.
For More Information Call SOA Watch/NE: (215) 473-2162

Maryknoll Mission Education Workshops
SOA Workshop given by Linda Panetta
Friday, September 24th, at 9 am
Ossining, New York

Special Thanks to the more than 25 Cabrini College students,
who on Tuesday, August 31, spent the day at the Maryknoll House
painting, mopping, pulling weeds, cleaning the basement, and so much more...
as part of their "Day of Service!"

MEETING AT SENATOR SPECTER'S OFFICE
A Delegation will visit Senator Specters office to discuss the upcoming
vote in the House-Senate Conference Committee
on the amendment to cut partial funding to the SOA.
Please Join Us!
Monday, August 29 -- 9:45 AM at the Philadelphia Office:
600 Arch Street in the "Green Building."
For more information call SOA Watch/NE (215) 473-2162

POTLUCK/PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION
Led by Fr. Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta
Saturday, August 21st at the Maryknoll House
(Space is limited, please RSVP by August 20th (215) 477-5892)

VETS FOR PEACE ANNUAL CONVENTION
Workshops on the SOA given by Roy Bourgeois & Linda Panetta
Friday, August 20th -- Double Tree Hotel, Philadelphia, PA