COMMENTARY


A group of concerned students is going to D.C. this weekend to talk to their politicians about closing the School of the Americas. We caught up with a few of them and asked them what they hope to accomplish.


Amy Pandjiris is a college sophomore:
The representative in my district is undecided on the bill to close the school, so I'm going to talk to him. There was a bill just introduced in the senate to close the school, so I'm going to talk to my senators about that. My objective is to convince them to pass either bill to close the school.


Laurel Paget-Seekins is a college sophomore:
I am going to Washingon D.C. to join thousands of other people to tell the United States government that we want the School of the Americas closed. The School of the Americas is just one example of the U.S. policy of supplying Third World militaries with weapons and training so they can repress their own people. I am meeting with my Congressman to convince him to co-sponsor the bill in Congress to shut down the School of the Americas as well as attending rallies at the White House, Capital and the Pentagon.


Katharine Cristiani is a college sophomore:
I was in Guatemala for winter term and had the opportunity to talk to survivors of the violence during the 80s that was orchestrated by the CIA and commanded by several SOA graduates. While I was there, I realized the important relationship we as US citizens have to the people in Latin America; how we have the political space to change our country's imperialistic policies; how we have the responsibility to do so. Closing the SOA is just a start, but an important one, as it is a physical institution of violence-of teaching torture, rape and murder-all funded by our tax dollars.


Brendan Cooney is a college sophomore:
I am going down because I see the SOA as part of the larger pattern of U.S. imperialism which is exploitative and racist. I don't believe that Uncle Sam has the right to rape, pillage and slaughter in the name of global capitalism.

My objectives are first and foremost to convince my congressman and others to close the SOA. I also hope to raise consciousness amongst protesters, people I meet in D.C., politicians, Pentagon officials, and people here at Oberlin about the wider pattern of U.S. imperialism in Latin America.


Sarah Green is a college first-year:
I risked arrest at Fort Benning last November because I felt strongly about the school being shut down. After crossing the line that day, reading victims' testimonials, etc., that initial concern has grown into a deep commitment to the cause. It will be terrific if the school is closed within the next year - a new Senate bill was just introduced - but however long it takes to dismantle the 'school of assassins,' I hope to continue to be an active part of the movement.


 

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Copyright © 1999, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 19, April 9, 1999

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