Close the U.S. School of Torture: Protester released from jail

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Judge Faircloth Change of Heart?

Michael Walli Released from Jail!

Today, only three days after he was sentenced to six months of federal prison for carrying the protest against the School of the Americas onto Fort Benning, Michael Walli was released from jail.

Early Thursday, Michael was ordered to pack up his belongings from his jail cell. He expected that he would be transferred to a federal facility but was then told by the wardens that he is free to go, without any further explanation.

From the jail, Michael managed to get to Father Roy Bourgeois’ apartment at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. The two celebrated his release and Michael is now on a bus headed to his home in Washington, DC.

According to the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth, who had only days ago handed down the maximum sentence to Michael, reduced Michael’s sentence to time served.

We are full of joy that Michael is out and that he will soon be reunited with the great folks at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in DC. At the same time, the human rights defenders Ken Hayes, Father Louis Vitale and Nancy Gwin, all of whom were arrested with Michael during the 2009 vigil at the SOA/WHINSEC, remain in federal prison where they serve their harsh prison sentences.

Please contact Judge G. Mallon Faircloth to commend him for doing the right thing in Michael Walli’s case and to also demand the release of ALL Prisoners of Conscience that he incarcerated. There is no justification that our friends Nancy, Ken, and Louis are spending their days and nights in prison for speaking out against the SOA, while those responsible for the training of human rights abusers and for the use of torture manuals at the SOA have never even been investigated:

G. Mallon Faircloth
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Post Office Box 117
Columbus, GA 31902-0117

Courtroom Clerk:
Terrie Smith – (706) 653-2942

Please also send messages of support to the Prisoners of Conscience who are still incarcerated in federal prisons across the United States and let them know that you are keeping up the work to close the School of the Americas and to change U.S. foreign policy! You can find their prison addresses here: http://soaw.org/about-us/pocs/150-articles/3421-write-to-the-soa-watch-prisoners-of-conscience

Consider engaging in nonviolent direct action:
Keep the pressure on! People who put their bodies on the line to speak in solidarity with the people of Latin America are crucial in the struggle to close the SOA/ WHINSEC.

Stand up for justice at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia in November:
http://SOAW.org/take-action/november-vigil
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Our mailing address is:
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA

Our telephone: (202) 234 3440

Get The Facts

The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins,” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned.

Over its 59 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

Victims Names ( 4 Articles )
Learn about massacres committed by SOA graduates and read the names of their victims
SOA/ WHINSEC Background ( 16 Articles )

On January 17, 2001 the School of the Americas was replaced by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Read more about the school here.
Reports Citing the SOA/ WHINSEC ( 7 Articles )
Read a variety of reports from international human rights organizations and agencies citing the SOA/ WHINSEC and its graduates.
SOA, Labor & Globalization ( 7 Articles )
From its beginning, the mission of the SOA has been to train soldiers to protect the interests of multinational corporations and maintain the economic status quo for the few rich and powerful in the US and their cohorts in Latin America. Labor leaders and union organizers have always been among the primary targets of SOA violence.
San Jose Massacre ( 18 Articles )
On February 21-22, 2005, eight members of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community in Uraba, Colombia were brutally massacred. Witnesses identified the killers as members of the Colombian military’s 17th Brigade, commanded by an SOA graduate.
SOA/WHINSEC Graduates ( 63 Articles )
Visit the SOA Graduate section to learn about notorious graduates of the School of the Americas. In this section you will also find a complete list of SOA graduates sorted by country.
SOA Manuals ( 3 Articles )
Read the actual text of a variety of SOA training manuals. Manuals on topics such as Counter Intelligence, and Terrorism and the Urban Guerilla are available here in English and Spanish.
Colombia ( 61 Articles )
In Colombia and the Andean Region, our taxpayer money is paying to escalate a civil war, displace hundreds of thousands of civilians, strengthen a military with a horrible human rights record, damage critical bio-diversity in the Amazon basin, and more. Learn about recent events and the connections between the SOA/ WHINSEC and Colombia.
Guatemala ( 24 Articles )

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Latest News

#	Article Title
1	Nov. 21-23, 2008: Converge on Fort Benning, Georgia
2	Change at WHINSEC, Delegations to Guatemala and Bolivia
3	We Won the Vote in Congress! Pentagon Forced to Release Information to SOA Watch
4	Obama and the School of the Americas
5	Transparency Debated in Congress; WHINSEC (Ex-School of the Americas) Continues to Spark Criticism
6	Kucinich Rejects Spending Bill Because of SOA/ WHINSEC Funding
7	Rev. Roy Bourgeois: The peace crusader on why he wants to shut down the infamous School of the Americas
8	U.S. Vote Could Close ‘School of the Americas’
9	As long as Army school remains open, abuse wounds won’t heal
10	WHINSEC Soldiers Graduate
11	Trial date set for two priests accused of trespassing on fort
12	Close Controversial School
13	Students Protest, Fast for Justice
14	Students for Social Justice Support Closing School of the Americas
15	Speaker Calls for End to US Training Camp
16	HR1707 Introduced & Updates from Latin America
17	Campaign To Stop “Mercenaries 2: World in Flames”
18	Legislative Updates & News from Latin America
19	SOA Watch in Colombia & Panama
20	Support the SOA 16 & Other Updates
21	Nation Wide Protest to Close Down Guantanamo and End War in Iraq
22	Nationwide Protests to Close Down Guantanamo and End War in Iraq
23	Webster University cuts ties with SOA/WHINSEC
24	Help Stop Repression in Oaxaca & Other Updates
25	International Day of Action to Shut Down Guant?namo
26	Torture, the Geneva Conventions and the School of the Americas
27	Close the SOA! This weekend: Converge on Fort Benning, Georgia
28	Close the SOA! This weekend: Converge on Fort Benning, Georgia
29	Media Outreach: Getting the Word Out Far & Wide
30	Over 20 SOA Supporters Lose Their Seats
31	Return to Life & Call for Direct Action
32	Midterm Elections 2006
33	SOA Grad Found in U.S. & Other Updates
34	SOA Watch Opens Latin America Office & Other Updates
35	SOA Watch FOIA Request of WHINSEC Graduates Denied
36	SOA Watch Speaking Tour Dates & Call for Volunteers
37	SOA Grad Faces Extradition & Other Updates
38	Call to Action for November Vigil & Updates
39	The Time Is Now – A Call for Truth and Reconciliation
40	Stroessner’s Death Closes Dark Chapter of History
41	SOA Grad Exposed in Chile & Other Updates
42	November Palm Cards, Arrest Warrants issued for SOA Graduates
43	Campaign Growing! – Updates from Latin America
44	Message from Oaxaco, Mexico
45	Targeting a “School for Strongmen” – <i>Time</i>
46	Herger defends military school
47	McGovern Ft. Benning amendment fails
48	Today’s the day! Congress will vote on the SOA!
49	ACT NOW: Debate delay buys WHINSEC more time
50	Should the School of the Americas be Shut Down?

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