We are no longer organizing a bus to the Annual Vigil in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is time for someone else to organize that.

About SOA Watch Austin

School of the Americas (SOA) Watch Austin is a coalition of local organizations and individuals that seek to close the US Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called, through demonstrations and nonviolent protest as well as media and legislative work. Each year, we rent a commercial bus and take concerned people to the annual November protest in Fort Benning, Georgia, where last year over 22,000 congregated and peacefully demanded the school’s closure. See our brochure for costs and registration information for the 2009 trip.

School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) Austin is part of a larger nationwide diverse, grassroots movement rooted in solidarity with the suffering poor of Latin America. The goal of SOAW Austin is to close the SOA and to change U.S. foreign policy in Latin America by educating the Texas public, lobbying Congress and participating in creative, nonviolent resistance. The Pentagon has responded to the growing nationwide movement with a PR campaign to give the SOA a new image. In attempt to disassociate the school with it's horrific past, the SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001.

We are grateful to our sisters and brothers of Latin America for their inspiration and invitation to accompany them in their struggle for peace and justice. Join us in our fight to close this terrible terrorist training school. Contact us for meeting times and location or to request a presentation on the SOA for your group.

Projects:

We are encouraging everyone to send letters to their congressmen urging them to support HR 2567, a bill to close the SOA. A sample letter may be downloaded here.

To see the Incarnate Word newsletter covering the 2005 vigil (approximately 2 MB) download it here

Austin Contacts
General Information or to request a presentation for your group:
SOA Watch Austin
1304 E Sixth St Ste 3
Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (512) 474-2399
Email: soaw_Austin@yahoo.com

Contact the national SOAW office:
SOA Watch
PO Box 4566
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: (202) 234 3440
Email: info@soaw.org
Website: http://www.soaw.org

To report website problems: surfersanta@yahoo.com