Twenty war resisters from around the country are in the midst of serving six month prison terms for peacefully, persistently entering Ft. Benning, Georgia, to demand the closing of the School of the Americas, notorious training ground for Latin American death squads and dictators. Another man is set to begin serving one year in prison for anti-SOA blood-pouring actions at the Pentagon, while five more will likely face at least a year in prison when sentenced for felony criminal damage in the revealing alteration of the Ft. Benning sign last September.  The jails are not yet full, but this represents the largest number of cells occupied by peacemakers since the Gulf War against Iraq sent scores of conscientious objectors to the brig.

The twenty are among 25 people convicted in January for repeat trespass last November.  Their names and prison addresses are listed in the Inside & Out column.  

Four of the 25 are also among the five convicted in early March of malicious destruction of government property.  The five - Bill Bichsel SJ, Sr. Marge Eilerman, Ed Kinane, Kathleen Rumpf, and Mary Trotochaud - remain free, awaiting word of a sentencing date before Federal Judge Robert "Maximum Bob" Elliot in Columbus, Georgia.  Their witness added "School of Americas -School of Shame", "SOA = Torture" and blood stains to the base's large entryway sign.

The 25th convicted line-crosser, Richard Streb, is to begin serving his sentence in September.

By contrast, on February 17 a federal magistrate in Sacramento, California, sentenced nine people to community service after accepting their moral position of refusing to pay a fine as punishment for trying to carry a coffin representing the victims of SOA graduates into the downtown post office last November, to mail to the Pentagon.

In Northern Virginia, Patrick Liteky was sentenced April 10 for twice throwing red dye on the Pentagon in 1997.  His identical protests on September 29 and October 20 were taken in support of the other efforts to close the SOA.

Federal Judge James Cacheris permitted Liteky to read a statement prior to imposing a sentence of one year for each felony, to run concurrently.  Additionally, Liteky was ordered to pay nearly $3000 in clean-up costs, which he does not intend to do. An appeal is likely, but meanwhile Liteky has been ordered to turn himself in to the federal prison camp in Sheridan, Oregon on June 19.

While awaiting sentencing, Liteky traveled to Georgia and threw red dye on the walls of the School of the Americas on Ash Wednesday, February 25.  He has yet to be prosecuted for that action.

For more information, contact SOA Watch, 1719 Irving St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20010, (202)234-3440.

Letters of support can be sent to the twenty SOA prisoners, whose names and addresses are listed in the Inside & Out column. Letters of support should be sent to J. Patrick Liteky, c/o Canis, 1011 Boren Ave. #246, Seattle, WA 98104.

back to The Nuclear Resister, #112

last updated July 10 1998