Converge at Fort Benning: November 17-19, 2006
Commemorate the Victims and Celebrate the Resistance
This November 17-19, civil rights movement leaders, torture survivors, grandmothers, war veterans, faith communities, union organizers, families, puppeteers and social justice activists from across the Americas will converge on Fort Benning, Georgia, to speak out against the SOA/WHINSE Converge on Fort C and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy. At the same time, social movement activists will gather in Central and South America, calling for an end to U.S. intervention and the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC. Together, and in numbers too big to be ignored, we will take a stand for justice, peace and accountability and against the racist system of violence and domination that is represented by the SOA/WHINSEC. Repressive militaries are not the answer to the problems of our day and age.

Help Us Create a Ritual of Returning Life!

This year's funeral procession will culminate in a joyous celebration of remembrance as we make the transition from somber reflection to the celebration of life and resistance. We need you to help us make this happen! Bring flowers of all kinds (fresh, plastic, paper, cloth). Bring trumpets, drums, conch shells, and anything else you can think of to help us make a joyful noise. Join us as we encorporate a "second line" into this year's vigil and celebrate the Return to Life by spreading beauty and music where it otherwise might not be found.

Hemisphere-Wide Actions to Close the SOA/WHINSEC

On the weekend of November 17-19, 2006, simultaneous demonstrations will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Manta, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; Bogota, Colombia; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and in Davis, California! Thousands of people will be raising their voices, calling for a world free of militarism and the SOA/WHINSEC.

Read more about the Hemisphere-Wide Actions.

Log In to the NCR Cafe for Online Coverage of this Years Vigil at Ft. Benning

The folks at the National Catholic Reporter have created a webpage dedicated to this year’s vigil at Ft. Benning . The NCRcafe provides online coverage of the vigil including podcast interviews, blogs, discussion forums, updates and columns. This is a great tool for folks who will not be able to make it to this years Vigil and for those who want to express their views and experiences while participating in the events and actions in Ft. Benning, GA

To see and log into the NCR Café, visit: http://www.ncrcafe.org/node/613


A Call for Nonviolent Direct Action

Every year groups of people decide to take their message onto the base, publicly defying the laws which prevent political speech on military bases and making a bold call for the closure of the “School of Assassins.” Read more.

Nov.17-19: Three Days for Justice, Peace and Accountability. Three Days Against the Racist System of Violence and Domination

The November Vigil and Action to close the SOA/WHINSEC has grown into a major convergence point for people from across the Americas. This year's gathering at the gates is shaping up to become the biggest demonstration at a U.S. military base since the Vietnam war. The vigil features amazing musicians like Emily Saliers from the Indigo Girls, percussionists from Colombia and HipHop artists from Chicago and New York. Among the speakers are high-profile figures like Charles Steele, Jr., national President of SCLC(Southern Christian Leadership Conference), Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO and torture survivors and social movement activists from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti.

Workshops, teach-ins, trainings, organizing meetings and benefit concerts will take place in the Columbus Convention Center and Howard Johnson Hotel, covering topics such as Ending Impunity in Argentina, Alternative Security, Counter-Recruitment, Theatre of the Oppressed and more.
Click here for a Complete Schedule of Events.

For more information on the November Vigil and Action, including the Ride Board, Transportation, Hotels in the area, Speaking Tours, Accessibility, Media Outreach, Volunteer Opportunities and more, visit the November Vigil and Action Organizing Page

SOA Watch is a completely independent non-profit organization; our funding comes from the grassroots and the sales of our resource materials. Please support the growing costs of the vigil by donating now! Every dollar is needed and helps us to cover our $45,000 cost — from event meeting spaces to tables and from port-a-potties to the media and legal offices. Please Click Here to Make a Donation. Thank you!

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