The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will show the documentary film, On The Line, at the Walpole Public Library on September 16th at 7:30 PM. On The Line is an inside look at the people behind one of the largest nonviolent movements in America today: the movement to close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC, a U.S. Army school that trains Latin American soldiers. Why should the school be closed? Many of it's graduates have been involved in some of the worst human rights abuses in Central and South America. The rape and murder of four U.S. nuns, the killing of six priests, and the murder of Archbishop Romero in El Salvador are just some of the more familiar atrocities for which School of America graduates have been responsible.
The movement to close the school of the Americas was started by Fr. Roy Bourgeois in 1990 when he founded the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) and along with 9 others fasted at the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Since then, over 225 people have been arrested for performing acts of civil disobedience at these demonstrations. They have collectively served more than 95 years in a federal prison and paid thousands of dollars in heavy fines. Many of those arrested are people of faith (ministers, priests, nuns); veterans, college students, grandmothers and grandfathers. In other words, people from all walks of life from all over the country have been moved by their conscience to do what they can to close this school that operates with our tax dollars.
After our country was attacked on 9/11, President Bush said that we need to shut down all terrorist training camps around the world. Come see why Fr. Roy Bourgeois responded that a good place to start would be Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
Peace Vigil on Sat Sep 6
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is holding a peace vigil on Saturday, September 6, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the Walpole Common across from the Walpole Cooperative Bank, near the water trough. Note that we have moved the location of the vigil. The vigil will be held pending the weather and how tropical storm Hanna tracks.
We thank all those who joined us at the last vigil, especially those who traveled from other towns. We believe it is important to continue holding vigils calling for our country to withdraw all our troops from Iraq and bring them home. This war was started under false pretenses and has caused untold destruction and death. We mourn for all who have been killed in this war. We honor our service men and women and our veterans and believe the best way to support them is to bring them home.
The next speaker series will be on September 16, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library.
We thank all those who joined us at the last vigil, especially those who traveled from other towns. We believe it is important to continue holding vigils calling for our country to withdraw all our troops from Iraq and bring them home. This war was started under false pretenses and has caused untold destruction and death. We mourn for all who have been killed in this war. We honor our service men and women and our veterans and believe the best way to support them is to bring them home.
The next speaker series will be on September 16, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library.
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