Nov.21-23: Converge to Shut Down the SOA and the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia

[SOA Watch]

The preparations for the November Vigil are moving on high speed and we want to share our excitement by giving you a run-down of our three-day convergence in Georgia (November 21-23, 2014), so that you know what to look forward to. This year we will emphasize on the connections between the past and the present, the here and there by focusing on the ways in which the SOA violence that brought our movement into being 25 years ago relates to the violence that people in countries like Honduras, Colombia and Guatemala are currently experiencing and how it continues to be one the root causes of Latin American migration to the US today. Following the title of our last issue of ¡Presente! "Resist Empire at Home & Abroad: Our Struggles Stand Together," we encourage you to stand in solidarity with those who had to leave their communities and who are subjected to unjust immigration proceedings and mass incarceration here. For that reason the march to Stewart Detention Center will be on Saturday morning and our opening plenary will be on Friday evening. Make your travel plans to come down to Georgia now, and mobilize your community! Weekend schedule line-up The program is still a work in progress and we keep you updated on the November Vigil website, but this is a general run-down of the various Vigil activities. Friday, 21st of November: 3 p.m.: Workshops at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center begin 8 p.m.: Welcome plenary with concert at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center Saturday, 22nd of November: 8 a.m.: Mobilization from Columbus to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, one of the largest immigrant detention facilities in the United States. None of us are free, until all of us are free. 12:30 p.m.: Lunch and block-party style pre-programing at the gates of Fort Benning with street tabling, puppetistas, musicians and speakers 1:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Mass rally with speakers and musicians from across the Americas at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. 4:30 p.m.: Workshops at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center followed by an evening concert Sunday, 23rd of November: 8:00 a.m.: Veterans for Peace and friends march together to the gates of Fort Benning. 9:00 a.m.: Stage program with speakers, musicians, the indigenous blessing and guidelines on nonviolent direct action at the gates of Fort Benning 10:30 a.m.: Vigil and solemn funeral procession to commemorate the many victims of SOA/WHINSEC violence 1:30pm: Closing Confirmed speakers and musicians Here are some of the many artists and activists who will (re)join us this year: Karla Lara: Joining us from Honduras, Karla is a musician and one of the remarkable voices fighting for women's rights in Central America. She produces a program for the radio station of the Cooperativas Cafetaleras de Honduras, is a member of the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders of Honduras as well as the Artists in Resistance and Feminists in Resistance collectives, which consider the removal of president Zelaya in 2009 a coup d’etat and denounce the widespread impunity around human rights violations in Honduras. Olmeca: L.A.-based musician and producer Olmeca combines social commentary with energy, charisma and intelligence. He has toured Canada, Latin America and Europe and helped generate a new trend of Latin music in the United States. As an advocate for immigrant and worker's rights, he contributed to the “Not One More Deportation” and “Fast for Fair Food” campaigns. He is also an active supporter of the Zapatista movement and helped building bridges between organizations from the U.S. and indigenous communities in Mexico. Marylén Serna Salinas: Marylén is an organizer of campesina background and will travel to the Vigil from Colombia. She began her community work as a teacher in the Agriculture and Forestry Institute, then she went on to take leadership roles within Christian Base Communities and women's organizations. Later she participated in the founding of the Campesino and People's Movement of Cajibio, whose work focuses on human rights and sustainable community development projects. Padre Melo: A well-known peace activist and Jesuit priest from Honduras, Padre Melo is an advocate for freedom of expression and returns to the Vigil to speak about the human rights situation in his country. His life has been repeatedly threatened, but he continues as the director of Radio Progreso and The Team for Reflection, Research and Communication. He was a personal friend of the victims of the UCA massacre in San Salvador that jump started the SOA Watch movement in 1989. Participants from the SOA Watch Youth Encuentro: Young leaders from different Latin American countries will come to the Vigil. Earlier this year they participated in the SOA Watch Youth Encuentro in Venezuela, now they will join us in Georgi!. Help to cover their travel expenses or just look at their bios to find out more about the next generation of our movement: Ana Esther Avilés Vásquez (El Salvador), Blas de Jesús García Noriega (Colombia), Danilo Zuleta (Guatemala), and José Ángel Corrales Pérez (Nicaragua). Other important information We are organizing a rideshare board for folks who travel to Columbus. Sign up here, if you are looking for a ride or if you want to offer a space in your car or van. Are you looking for a place to stay in Columbus? We negotiated group rates with hotels in the Columbus area. Simply mention that you are with SOA Watch when you make your reservation! As you all know, putting on the Vigil is expensive and it is your kind support that has made it possible for so many years. Consider making a donation to help cover some of this year's costs! We'll see you - again or for the first time - this November in Georgia! Your SOA Watch Team

SOA Watch To make a donation to support the movement, please visit SOAW.org/donate. To make a tax deductible donation, please visit SOAW.org/educationalfund.