NDNU students take a stand, travel to protest School of the Americas
Stephanie Scalise
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
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The members of the NDNU community attended the annual vigil and peaceful protest that occurs every year at the School of the Americas. The vigil is led by the School of the Americas Watch. This organization was founded by the Rev. Roy Bourgeois in 1990; its mission is to shut down the school in hope of stopping the violence in Latin American countries.
This school is not any ordinary school; according to SOA Watch, it is responsible for teaching terrorist tactics to 60,000 soldiers from Latin American countries.
"I felt motivated because I personally identify with those suffering in Latin America," said Andres Caballero. Caballero is from Argentina, which was affected by a School of the America graduate, dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, who alledgedly killed 30,000 people in the 1970s.
"I felt obligated to participate."
The weekend started with presentations and workshops about nonviolent training, human rights issues in Latin America and social transformation on Friday and Saturday. According to Caballero, they were beneficial and encouraging for a political science major.
On Sunday, the participants marched in the symbolic funeral procession, lead by Father Bourgeois, for those who have been killed by graduates of the School of the Americas.
To honor the victims, people held up crosses with victims' names as they were read off. The nonviolent protest and resistance against the school followed the procession. The actual protest was Caballero's most memorable part of the weekend.
"I was touched to see Americans going out of their way for their Latin American neighbors. It's encouraging to see these people stand up for them."
"I was inspired by Father Roy's presentation last year," said ASNDNU President Mallory Barr. "This protest is a part of the mission we learn (at NDNU). It was my way of contributing.
"Not only was it a great hands-on experience, but it gave me the ability to fight against something I think is wrong."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Lee Rials
posted 12/12/07 @ 5:05 PM PST
I am the public affairs officer for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, which was created when President Clinton signed the Defense Authorization Bill for 2001. (Continued…)
Andrew Stork
posted 12/16/07 @ 11:30 AM PST
What a great way to spend student activity money on a useless trip to an institution that closed years ago.
This is what the Center for Student Leadership does at NDNU??? Who is the advisor? Did NDNU students aprove this wasteful spending?
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